How to Make Quinoa in a Rice Cooker
This blog is all about easy ways to live a little healthier, which is why I’m so excited to share this kitchen hack with you! I’ve had a rice cooker for a few years (it was a gift from my sister in law!) and I love it. But I’m kicking myself for not trying this sooner. Sure, it cooks rice perfectly, but did you know it’ll cook quinoa perfectly, too?
It makes sense but for some reason, I’d just never given it a shot. And if we’re being honest, quinoa was always one of those foods that seemed tough to get exactly right. Mine wouldn’t be quite as fluffy as I hoped, or there would be a few spoonfuls stuck to the bottom of the pot. Nothing awful, but it just wasn’t quite right.
Then I dumped my quinoa into this magical contraption and the result was perfectly fluffy quinoa! Magic!
I know it probably seems like I’m overreacting but as someone who is trying to get more into meal prep, being able to make a batch of quinoa on Sunday and then dole it out during the week, this is a game changer! Alright, so here’s the “recipe” (but it’s so easy, it barely needs one!)
Benefits of quinoa
- Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs!
- Quinoa is a great source of protein and fiber, so it will keep you full and give you sustained energy
- It’s very budget friendly! To save even more money, look for it in the bulk bins
How to Make Quinoa in a Rice Cooker
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Rice cooker
- Cuisine: American
Description
Making quinoa in your rice cooker is a fast and easy way to get perfectly cooked quinoa!
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups water or broth
- 1/2 tsp salt (optional)
Instructions
- Rinse your quinoa.
- Pour the quinoa and broth or water into the rice cooker. If you’re not sure what you’re going to use it for, you might want to just use water. If you know your future plan, broth can be a good option to give it more flavor.
- Add in salt and turn on the rice cooker.
- Most will be done cooking in around 30 minutes.
- Once it’s done cooking, wait a few minutes and then fluff it with a fork.
- It will end up making about 3-4 cups of quinoa.
Notes
Don’t remove the lid while the quinoa is cooking.
Once it’s done, fluff it with a fork before serving.
Keywords: Quinoa in a rice cooker
I was so excited about this, I already made this kale and quinoa salad with my first batch of quinoa!
The recipe was already easy, but now I can whip this together in minutes before popping it in the oven!
If you’re looking for a rice cooker, this one makes a perfect batch of quinoa.
This is the rice cooker that I have (affiliate link) and it works great! I’m sure it would work in pretty much any sort of rice cooker though so if you already have one at home, give it a try!
Thank you for doing this. My rice cooker comes with a steamer basket, and I use it to make hardboiled eggs while I make rice. I thought I would have to give up this method with Quinoa.
As long as you are using the same measure for both the water and the quinoa, the ratio (i.e., 2-to-1) will be correct. You will need to adjust the salt if you are not using a standard cup.
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I’ve used a rice cooker for years for all kinds of rice, but I hadn’t tried it for quinoa. I will give this a try soon.
Be-aware: Metal fork can damage the non-stick lining of the rice cooker
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is it rice cooker cup or regular cup size
Just a regular cup size!
This recipe is well written and easy to follow. The whole family loved it. Thank you for sharing.
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I don’t have a timer on my rice cooker
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Mine doesn’t either! I actually looked into why many rice cookers don’t have timers, and I found the reason here: https://home.howstuffworks.com/rice-cooker1.htm
“The process for cooking the rice is simple. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius), and once it reaches a steady boil, it won’t get hotter. As long as there is water in the pan, the temperature should be stable. Once the rice absorbs all the water in the pan, the temperature will start to rise. The rice cooker senses this change and will either switch off or switch to a warming cycle. At this point, the rice has finished cooking and entered the resting stage.”
I come to this website and use this recipes every time I make quinoa. Thanks!!
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It didn’t work.
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What I’ve noticed with my cooker is that for some grains it takes less water than indicated, for example when I make sticky rice I use slightly less, you may try again adjusting depending whether it was dry or too watery.