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How to Cook Super Fluffy Quinoa

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We love trying and using alternative grains, but we always come back to Quinoa.  It is so easy to make, delicious in a variety of recipes, and a great substitution for rice (which we eat a lot of)  I change up the method I use to cook quinoa depending on what else I am making and if I am already using the stove, etc.  Each method has its advantages, but I think that to make SUPER fluffy quinoa, cooking on the stovetop wins.  The fastest method is to cook in a pressure cooker.  A rice cooker is extremely simple and a more common appliance.  Which ever method you choose to make your quinoa, it will come out fluffy, delicious and ready to use in a variety of recipes! 

How to Cook Super Fluffy Quinoa. Make the perfect quinoa with these simple tips!

These are the three most common varieties of quinoa.  I read somewhere that there are actually over 1,400 varieties!  Aside from color, there are really only a few subtle difference between the three.

How to Cook Super Fluffy Quinoa. Make the perfect quinoa with these simple tips!

Cooking Methods

Tips:

  1. For all of these methods, a critical step is to rinse your quinoa thoroughly.  The outside of quinoa has a bitter taste that is easily removed by rinsing well.  You will want to use a fine mesh strainer so that the tiny seeds can’t escape through the holes when you are rinsing.
  2. You will use a 2:1 ratio of liquid to quinoa.  For every cup of quinoa, you will need 2 cups of liquid.  You can use water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth to add a savory flavor.  It is also delicious when you use aromatics like garlic, or fresh herbs.  You just need a little to go a long way 🙂

Stove Top:

This method has the most steps, but I love the incredibly fluffy quinoa it produces!

How to Cook Super Fluffy Quinoa. Make the perfect quinoa with these simple tips!

Stove Top:

  1. Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer.
  2. Add 1 tsp of oil and rinsed quinoa to a pot. Toast for 1-2 minutes until the quinoa is dry again.
  3. Add your liquid.  2 cups for every 1 cup of quinoa.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 15 minutes.  Let stand for an additional 5 minutes before lifting the lid.
  5. Fluff!

Rice Cooker

A rice cooker is a common appliance in many kitchens, requires only 3 steps and does the work for you!

How to Cook Super Fluffy Quinoa. Make the perfect quinoa with these simple tips!

Rice Cooker:

  1. Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer.
  2. Pour quinoa, and liquid into your rice cooker.
  3. Follow the directions for your rice cooker, and cook!
  4. Fluff with a fork when done.

Pressure Cooker

A pressure cooker is a great appliance to have, because it cooks food so much faster.  In a rice cooker and stove top, quinoa takes about 20 minutes. In a pressure cooker it takes twelve minutes!   It also makes your food incredibly tender.  The ratio of quinoa to water is a tiny bit different than other methods.

How to Cook Super Fluffy Quinoa. Make the perfect quinoa with these simple tips!

Pressure Cooker:

  1. Rinse quinoa thoroughly in a fine mesh strainer.
  2. Pour quinoa, and liquid into your pressure cooker.  You will need 1 1/2 cups quinoa + 2 1/4 cups liquid
  3. Follow the directions for your pressure cooker, and cook!
  4. Fluff with a fork when done.

Recipes

These are some of our favorite Quinoa recipes:

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

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7 Comments

My chef/husband rinses the quinoa, sautes some shallots and minced garlic in olive oil, then adds the rinsed quinoa for a few minutes, then adds the low sodium organic chicken broth. NOTE: He uses 1:1 = 1 cup quinoa and 1 cup chicken broth. Then he puts some dried savoury in and puts the pot in the oven at 350 F for 35 a 45 minutes.
This is a drier way to serve quinoa where the grains are separate – not wet.
Leftovers become a salad where we reheat the quinoa before adding the salad dressing and fresh vegetables.

I agree with Susie, 1:1 quinoa to liquid is the correct ratio. Your quinoa will come out fluffier and tastier. 2:1 is a mistake that keeps getting repeated on the web for some reason.

Have you tried making it in a pressure cooker? When we make it in the pressure cooker, there is no bitter taste at all!

Hi, thanks for the quinoa ideas. We make a polar, to get a different side dish from the usual rice. I sauté onion an mushrooms in oil and when they’re soft add top cooked quinoa.