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5 from 1 vote

How To Cook Quinoa

How to cook perfect quinoa in a rice cooker, microwave, instant pot or on the stove.
Prep Time1 minute
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time13 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: South american
Servings: 3 cups
Calories: 216kcal
Author: Maria

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • cups vegetable broth if cooking on stove top, rice cooker or microwave
  • 1 cup vegetable broth if cooking in instant pot
  • 1 teaspoon seasonings of choice

Instructions

Instant pot directions

  • Rinse the quinoa with a fine mesh strainer (otherwise it will taste dirty and gritty)
  • Put the vegetable broth or water and quinoa in your instant pot. Add any seasonings you’d like. Quinoa definitely needs seasoning, since it’s pretty bland, so make sure you either season with salt or cook in vegetable broth.
    1 cup quinoa, 1 cup vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon seasonings of choice
  • Close the instant pot and set the valve to seal. Cook on high pressure for 1 minute. Let it slow release for 12 minutes.
  • Take off the lid and fluff up the quinoa. My favorite way to eat this is to drizzle a little olive oil on top with some salt.

Stove top directions

  • Rinse the quinoa with a fine mesh strainer (otherwise it will taste dirty and gritty)
  • Put the vegetable broth or water and quinoa in your sauce pan. Add any seasonings you’d like. Quinoa definitely needs seasoning, since it’s pretty bland, so make sure you either season with salt or cook in vegetable broth.
    1 cup quinoa, 1¾ cups vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon seasonings of choice
  • Set stove to high and bring quinoa to a boil. After getting the boil, immediately turn heat down to medium low until you get a gentle simmer, add a tight fitting lid and simmer on low for 10-15 minutes, or until water is mostly absorbed.
  • After 15 minutes, turn off the heat and set the quinoa aside for 10 minutes without taking the lid off or touching it.
  • After letting it sit for 10 minutes, take the lid off and fluff the quinoa up My favorite way to eat this is to drizzle a little olive oil on top with some salt.

Rice cooker directions

  • Rinse the quinoa with a fine mesh strainer (otherwise it will taste dirty and gritty).
  • Put the vegetable broth or water and quinoa in your rice cooker. Add any seasonings you’d like. Quinoa definitely needs seasoning, since it’s pretty bland, so make sure you either season with salt or cook in vegetable broth.
    1 cup quinoa, 1¾ cups vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon seasonings of choice
  • Close the lid and set the rice cooker to cooking white rice
  •  Let the quinoa sit for 5 minutes after it’s been cooked, then open the lid and fluff with a fork. My favorite way to eat this is to drizzle a little olive oil on top with some salt.

Microwave directions

  • Rinse the quinoa with a fine mesh strainer, otherwise it will taste dirty and gritty.
  • Add the rinsed quinoa and vegetable broth to a large microwave safe bowl that is big enough to fit 3 cups of cooked quinoa. Add any flavorings you’d like, such as garlic powder or onion powder or some salt. Quinoa definitely needs flavoring, as it’s pretty bland.
    1 cup quinoa, 1¾ cups vegetable broth
  • Cover the bowl with a microwave safe plate. Place the bowl in the microwave and cook on high for 6 minutes. Carefully take the plate off with some oven mitts and stir, add the plate back on and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  • Let the quinoa sit for 5 minutes with the lid on after cooking. Take the lid off and fluff with a fork.

Notes

Quinoa will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. It starts to smell bad when it is no longer good to eat. 
You can freeze cooked quinoa for up to three months in a freezer friendly bag. 

Nutrition

Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 630mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 3mg