If you love quinoa, there’s no easier way to make it than in the Instant Pot. In just a few minutes, you can have perfectly tender and fluffy Instant Pot Quinoa, ready to be put into a bowl with your favorite toppings.
If you haven’t cooked your quinoa this way, you’re doing yourself a disservice. I’m not kidding when I say it’s the fastest, easiest way to make perfect quinoa every time. In fact, it takes just 2 minutes of cook time.
Why You’ll Love It
- The Instant Pot method for making quinoa is absolutely fool proof. This popular seed turns out fluffy and pretty much perfect, without the need for soaking or cooking for a long time on the stove.
- With the Instant Pot, cooking quinoa becomes incredibly efficient. It’s a one-pot wonder where you can simply add the quinoa and water, set the timer, and let it do its thing.
- One of the challenges of cooking quinoa on the stovetop is achieving the perfect consistency. It’s easy to end up with mushy or undercooked grains. However, the Instant Pot takes all the guesswork out of it.
What is Quinoa?
Quinoa (pronounced: KEEN-wah) is a seed that is popular in many vegetarian dishes. It’s high in fiber and contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a good option for vegetarians and vegans. There are three main types of quinoa : white, black, and red.
Although many people think of quinoa as a grain, it’s not actually. But it does cook similarly to a grain and it has a similar texture and consistency to barley or rice. It’s become a really popular choice for things like bowls and stir fries that were usually made with rice.
Quinoa is naturally gluten free and you can easily find organic brands. Quinoa contains all nine essential amino acids. One serving has calcium, iron, and six grams of protein. It’s also a good replacement for rice when you need a lower glycemic alternative.
» You might also like Easy Instant Pot Black Beans(No Soak Necessary) and Easy Instant Pot Barley.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Quinoa – You can cook any type of quinoa you want with this recipe: white, black or red. I like to use a blend.
- Water – You can also use broth, but it doesn’t add a lot more flavor.
- Salt – A little bit of salt will add great flavor to your quinoa.
Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus to make all of my recipes, but you can use any size or brand of electric pressure cooker. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more water to build steam.
- Fine mesh strainer
Helpful Tips
- We think that cooking for 2 minutes is perfect. However, everyone’s preferences are different. If you like slightly firmer quinoa, cook for 0 to 1 minute. Some Instant Pots don’t allow for zero minutes, but one is very similar outcome. For softer quinoa, cook for 3 minutes.
- Make sure you let out remaining pressure and unlock the lid after 10 minutes or the quinoa can become soggy and overcooked.
- You can use water or vegetable or chicken broth for more flavor. Use low-sodium broth or don’t add extra salt.
What to Know Before You Start
There are three things to keep in mind:
- Rinse = Be sure to rinse the quinoa to remove bitterness on the outside of the quinoa, caused by natural saponins.
- Water to Seed Ratio = You need 1 part quinoa to 1.5 parts water
- Cook Time = 2 minutes (go with 1 for more firm, and 3 for super tender)
- Release = 10 minute natural release then release any remaining pressure
Questions About the Recipe
Do you have to rinse quinoa?
Quinoa has a protective coating called saponin that tastes bitter. Rinsing helps remove this bitterness. You just need to run it under water for about 30 seconds. However, some packaged quinoa has been pre-rinsed, so you’ll want to check the package to see if it requires rinsing or not.
How do I store left over quinoa?
It’s easy to store any left overs you might have. That’s great news because you can make a large batch once and use it for many different meals, or for meal prep for lunches. To store, just allow it to cool completely then put it in an air tight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Do I need to toast the quinoa first?
Some recipes will call for you to lightly toast the seeds in a pan with light oil for a few minutes to give it extra roasty nutty flavors. This is certainly something you can do, but it’s not at all necessary.
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Simple Instant Pot Quinoa
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
- Fine mesh strainer
Ingredients
- 1 cup (170 g) quinoa rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups (355 ml) water or vegetable broth
- 1/4 teaspoon (2 g) salt
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh colander for 30 seconds.
- Combine the quinoa, water, and salt in the Instant Pot. Stir to keep it from sticking to the bottom.
- Lock on the lid and set the vent to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 2 minutes. Allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes, then release remaining pressure. Open the lid, stir to fluff, and serve.
Notes
- We think that cooking for 2 minutes is perfect. However, everyone’s preferences are different. If you like slightly firmer quinoa, cook for 0 to 1 minute. Some Instant Pots don’t allow for zero minutes, but one is very similar outcome.
- For softer quinoa, cook for 3 minutes. Make sure you let out remaining pressure and unlock the lid after 10 minutes or the quinoa can become soggy and overcooked.
- You can use water or vegetable or chicken broth for more flavor. Use low-sodium broth or don’t add extra salt.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
I love quinoa on salads. It adds great texture. I hate cooking it on the stop. It always boils over. Thanks for turning me on to cooking it in the Instant Pot. It is a life saver.
I’m trying to eat better and my daughter bought me a huge bag of quinoa. I tried cooking it in my Instant Pot. Worked great.
So easy!!
Thanks for the great tips. I didn’t burn my first batch. That is more than I can say for the first time I cooked it on the stovetop.
I hear ya Opal! So happy we could help!