How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker

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Love quinoa and want to make it perfect every time? Learn to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker!  It is easy, fool-proof, and perfect for meal prep.  If you like fast and easy you are going to love this way of cooking quinoa.

Can You Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker? Absolutely!

As the author of two quinoa cookbooks, I get asked a lot of questions about cooking quinoa. One of the most common questions is what method for cooking quinoa is the easiest.

For years I cooked quinoa on the stove top, and I still believe that is an excellent way to cook quinoa. (You can see this post on how to cook quinoa on the stove top for the two different methods that I use.)

The first time someone asked me how to cook quinoa in a rice cooker, I had to confess that I’d never tried.

Obviously, that had to change!

I gave it a try and have been hooked ever since. Cooking quinoa in a rice cooker has become my go-to method.

How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker

1. Rinse quinoa in a fine metal strainer.
2. Spray the bottom of the cooker with oil. (This is optional but I find it helpful to avoid sticking.)
3. Add the quinoa and liquid to the cooker. You will use two parts liquid and one part quinoa.
4. If your cooker allows you to add in herbs and spices, you should go ahead and do that now. Quinoa is great at absorbing the flavors that it is cooked with!
5. Once you turn your rice cooker on, it will take between 15 and 25 minutes for your quinoa to cook.  Times will vary depending on the rice cooker and the color of quinoa you are cooking.
6. Allow a bit of additional time when cooking red quinoa. (See my note below about soaking red quinoa. If you do soak, it will reduce the needed cooking time.)
7. Every rice cooker is a little different, so you will need to experiment with your cooker. Generally speaking though, you will want to use your white rice setting. The first time you try it, I would cook red quinoa for 25 minutes and white quinoa for 15. You can make adjustments from there.

Tips and Tricks

• Don’t forget to rinse your quinoa before you cook it! You will want to rise it in a fine mesh strainer under a steady stream of water for three to five minutes, or until the water runs clear. It is possible to buy quinoa that is pre-rinsed – it will explicitly say so on the packaging. In this case, you may elect to skip rinsing. Quinoa bought in bulk bins should always be well rinsed.
• You may want to soak quinoa before cooking it. Many people find that soaking helps to make it more digestible. To soak quinoa, rinse it well and then cover it with water and 2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 12 hours, and then rinse again. If you are going to cook red quinoa in a rice cooker, I recommend soaking it since it tends to be firmer than white quinoa.
• Unless you are planning on using the quinoa in both sweet and savory dishes, I recommend cooking in something other than water. Homemade broth, in particular, adds a tremendous about of flavor to quinoa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Dishes Can I Use Cooked Quinoa In?

• Quinoa Breakfast Scramble – If a wholesome hot breakfast in less than 10 minutes sounds good to you, you are going to love this recipe. With egg, avocado, and salsa, this is a flavor packed way to start the day.
• Turkey Meatballs – Give meatballs a nutrition boost with this delicious dish. This is one that even those who think they don’t like ground turkey love!
• Broccoli Quinoa Casserole – This cheesy casserole is one of the best ways I’ve found to get kids excited about eating quinoa. This deserves to be a weeknight staple!

Tools Used To Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker:

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Rice Cookers to Consider:

• Vitaclay Chef 2-in- 1 Rice and Slow Cooker – This 6 cup rice cooker is a nice alternative to nonstick cookware. It has a clay post that helps to bring out the earthy flavor in foods and natural sweetness.
• Breville Risotto Plus – This multi-purpose cooker has settings for rice, risotto, steam, slow cook and saute. I like that this has a steamer basket for vegetables.
• Aroma Digital Rice Cooker – This is a budget-friendly option! With a delay timer that allows you to prepare ahead, this 20-cup machine is a great option for families.
• Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker – When only the best will do, this is the rice cooker for you. It uses computer technology to fine-tune cooking times and temperatures.
• Instant Pot with Rice Cooker Function – If you like multi-function cookers, it doesn’t get much better than this! This unit is a Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, and Sterilizer

Other Tools

• Olive Oil Sprayer

If You Like This Post You May Also Like:

• How to Cook Red Quinoa
• Spicy Red Quinoa Pesto Bites
• Vegan Black Bean Soup
• Quinoa Mac and Cheese

How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker

Eating right gets so much easier when you meal prep. One of the must do’s on my meal prep list is to cook quinoa. Cooking quinoa in a rice cooker is so simple that even a novice cook can get it perfect every time.

Print Recipe

5 from 5 votes

How to Cook Quinoa in a Rice Cooker

Want perfect quinoa in less than 30 minutes? Your rice cooker is about to become your new favorite kitchen appliance.   It is a game changer for cooking quinoa.   Here is how to cook perfect quinoa in a rice cooker every time!

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: Gluten Free, Healthy, Quinoa

Servings: 6

Calories: 104kcal

Author: Wendy Polisi

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• Olive Oil Spray or a spoon of coconut oil
• 2 cups liquid chicken broth, vegetable broth, juice or water

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water for three to five minutes, until the water runs clear.
• Spray the bottom of the rice cooker with olive oil.
• Place the quinoa in the rice cooker.
• Add 2 cups of liquid.
• Turn the rice cooker on and cook for 15 minutes. (Use the white rice setting if you have one.)
• Unplug the rice cooker and allow to sit for 5 to 10 more minutes.
• Fluff and serve.

Notes

Tip: I often buy pre-rinsed quinoa but I still rinse it. Whether you do or not is a personal choice, but I find well-rinsed quinoa easier to digest.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 1.6% | Iron: 7.2%

Other Great Rice Cooker Recipes to Try:

• 17 Surprising Ways to Use a Rice Cooker By Greatist 
• Rice Cooker Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya by Let’s Dish Recipes