How To Cook Quinoa (Stovetop, Instant Pot, Rice Cooker)

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Learn how to cook quinoa perfectly every time with this fail-proof method. This fluffy grain is great for meal prep and served as a versatile side, in salads, soups, and more.

Suitable for vegan and gluten free diets. Post included Weight Watchers points.

A bowl of cooked quinoa on a table

This easy to cook quinoa is a great recipe to have on hand. It is a fluffy dish that makes a great side to serve with anything that goes with a grain, in salads, soups, with curries, stews, in bowls and more.

And it is great for cooking a big batches and storing in the refrigerator for weekly meal prep. This post takes you through the steps and tips on how to cook quinoa perfect quinoa every single time. It is pretty easy and fail-proof. And only needs 3 essential ingredients to cook.

What Is Quinoa?

Quinoa is an excellent alternative to pasta and rice. It is quick and easy to cook with a fluffy texture and a delicate yet nutty taste. This gluten free grain is 100% protein and packed with fibre and lots of goodness. A super food that sounds as healthy as it can get.

a bowl of cooked quinoa on a table

Why Make This

  • Quick and easy – 5 minutes prep, 3 essential ingredients, 20 minutes of cook time, one pot.
  • Fail proof – Works perfectly every single time.
  • Great for meal prep – Cook once, refrigerate and eat all week long.
  • Dietary – Suitable for vegan and gluten free diets.

One Important Tip

The main thing to remember is to wash the quinoa under a running tap for about 3 minutes – scrubbing it through your fingers as you do to remove its natural bitter coating called saponin. Some store-bought quinoa may already be rinsed, but it is worth doing it again just in case.

the ingredients needed to learn how to cook quinoa

Ingredient Notes

  • Quinoa – You’ll need uncooked quinoa. I used white but feel free to use a mix of the colors.
  • Water – You’ll need plain water but you can use a broth or stock instead.
  • Oil – This is optional and adds a nice flavor. I used olive oil but you can use other oils or some butter if not vegan.
  • Salt – Use your favorite salt flakes. And omit if you prefer or depending on what you are going to use it for.

How To Cook Quinoa On The Stovetop

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh sieve and rinse under a running tap and thoroughly wash the quinoa (rubbing through it with your fingers) for about 3 minutes to remove any bitter outer coating.
  2. Let the quinoa drain for a few minutes to remove the excess liquid.
  3. Place the quinoa into a saucepan and add in the water, oil, and salt and bring to the boil.
  4. Reduce to a simmer, cover and let cook for 15 minutes – you will see tiny spirals (aka the germ) coming out of the seeds.
  5. Remove the quinoa from the heat, open the lid and fluff the grains, then cover again and let stand for about 10 minutes.
  6. The cooked quinoa should have a slight bite to it.
image collage showing the steps for learning how to cook quinoa

Cook It In The Instant Pot

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

Prefer to cook it in the Instant Pot? Then head over to the Instant Pot Quinoa post to find out exactly how.

Cook It In A Rice Cooker

Prefer to cook it in the Rice Cooker ? Then head over to the Rice Cooker Quinoa post to find out exactly how.

Recipe Tips

  • If you have time, let the rinsed quinoa drain for between 15-30 minutes to get rid of the excess moisture.
  • If you want, toast the quinoa before cooking which adds an extra depth of nutty flavor to it.
  • Do not reheat your quinoa more than once.

Delicious Variations

  • Use broth – use vegetable or chicken broth for extra flavor.
  • Add aromatics – add items like fresh herbs, garlic, onions, citrus zest, and more.
  • Add butter – add in a little bit of butter, use vegan butter if vegan.
  • Add vegetables – during the simmer phase you can top it with some sweet corn and carrots.
cooked quinoa in a white saucepan on a table

Storage

  • Store – Store the cooled cooked quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 
  • Freeze – Transfer cooled quinoa into convenient freezer bags. Squeeze out all the extra air and seal the bags. Label the bags and then lay them flat in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  • Reheat – To make reheating easier, freeze in the right portion sizes that you need for the future. Thaw overnight. Add to a microwave safe bowl, and add 1 1/2 tablespoons of water for every cup of cooked quinoa. Warm on high for about 2 minutes or until warmed through fluffing half way through.

FAQs

How Much Does 1 Cup of Quinoa Make?

One cup of uncooked quinoa makes around three cups of cooked quinoa.

How Much Quinoa Per Person?

You should aim for a half-cup (93g) of cooked quinoa per person. This contained about 110 calories (source USDA).

Why Do I Need To Rinse Quinoa?

Because it naturally has a bitter outside coating called saponin. So rinsing it before cooking helps get rid of this coating. Some store bought quinoa may already be rinsed but it is worth doing it again just incase.

What Is The Best Quinoa To Water Ratio?

I use one and three-fourths cups of water to one cup of rinsed quinoa. If you want a little softer quinoa, you can add a little bit more water. While most people recommend 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water, I find that rinsing the quinoa first means you don’t always get rid of the excess water, so I reduce the amount of water for cooking to avoid getting mushy grains.

How Long To Cook Quinoa

After bringing the quinoa to the boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and let cook for 15 minutes. You will see tiny spirals (aka the germ) coming out of the seeds.

cooked quinoa in a galss meal prep container

Quinoa Recipes And Serving Suggestions

More Cooking Basics

Weight Watchers Points

If you omit the oil or replace it with calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 2 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving.

Originally published April 2014.

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a white saucepan full of cooked quinoa
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4.67 from 3 votes

How To Cook Quinoa

A quick guide on how to cook this fluffy grain.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Western
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
Servings: 2
Calories: 344kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Stovetop Version

  • 1 cup (170g) quinoa
  • 1 ¾ cups (420ml) water or stock
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil optional
  • salt optional and to taste

Instructions

  • Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh sieve.
  • Rinse under a running tap and thoroughly wash the quinoa (rubbing through it with your fingers) for 3 minutes to remove any bitter outer coating.
  • Let the quinoa drain for a few minutes to remove excess liquid.
  • Place the quinoa into a pot, add in water, oil, and salt and bring to the boil.
  • Reduce to a simmer, cover, and let cook for 15 minutes – you will see tiny spirals (aka the germ) coming out of the seeds.
  • Remove the quinoa from the heat, open the lid and fluff the grains. Then cover again and let stand for about 10 minutes.
  • The cooked quinoa should have a slight bite to it.

Instant Pot Version

Cook It In The Rice Cooker

  • Oil the rice cooker insert, add the quinoa, water, oil and salt.
  • Cover the rice cooker and press cook and let it cook until done.
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Video

Notes

  • If you have time, let the rinsed quinoa drain between 15-30 minutes to get rid of the excess moisture.
  • Toasting the quinoa before cooking adds an extra depth of nutty flavor.
  • Do not reheat cooked quinoa more than once.
  •  Store the cooled cooked quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
  • If you omit the oil or replace it with a calorie-controlled cooking spray, there are 2 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of this.

Nutrition

Serving: 2servings | Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 7g | Sodium: 964mg | Potassium: 478mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 3.9mg

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21 Comments

  1. I’m a big fan of quinoa at the moment, it’s great in a pilaf as an alternative to rice. I read on the Kitchn recently that you can cook quinoa 1:1 with water for a more textured dish but I wasn’t too impressed with this method when I tried it, seemed to make the quinoa more prone to stick to the pan; the texture was fine for me but less appealing for my two-year-old daughter. Your method sounds perfect, and I love the Hodmedods British grown stuff.

  2. Just lost my rather long winded comment, so this is a very short version. Nice series. Love quinoa but don’t use it nearly as much as we used to as it’s become very expensive. It’s pronounced keen-wah.

    1. I know – it has risen in price somewhat. I guess the trick is to bulk it out with tons of veg etc.

  3. It’s so helpful to have an easy tutorial for ingredients like quinoa. The name always sounds so exotic and makes one think the cooking process might be tough… This is perfect!

  4. I will have to make this now I’m moving back to Barcelona and it’s very common in the latin american communities.