What Rice Cooker Setting Should You Use For Quinoa?

Cooking quinoa in a rice cooker can be a convenient and time-saving option for a nutritious meal. However, using the correct rice cooker setting is crucial to achieve perfectly cooked quinoa. In this blog post, I will explore the ideal rice cooker setting for cooking quinoa.

Which Rice Cooker Setting For Quinoa?

Most modern rice cookers come with different settings such as white rice, brown rice, and even a multi-grain option. These settings are designed to adjust cooking time and temperature to suit specific grains and ensure optimal results.

Quinoa, a popular superfood known for its health benefits and versatility, can be easily cooked in a rice cooker. But what setting should you use to ensure fluffy and well-cooked quinoa every time?

When it comes to cooking quinoa in a rice cooker, the ideal setting to use is the white rice setting. This setting is perfect for cooking quinoa, as it provides the right amount of heat and cooking time to yield fluffy quinoa grains without overcooking them. The white rice setting is typically good enough to cook quinoa to perfection.

What Is The Quinoa To Water Ratio For Rice Cookers?

To achieve optimal results when cooking quinoa in a rice cooker, use between a 1:1.5 to 1:2 ratio of quinoa to water. This means for every cup of quinoa, add between one and a half to two cups of water. The rice cooker will efficiently steam the quinoa to perfection using this ratio. Avoid deviating too far from this general proportion to ensure well-cooked and fluffy quinoa every time.

Tips For Cooking Quinoa In a Rice Cooker

  • Start by rinsing one cup of quinoa under cold water to remove any bitterness.
  • Add the rinsed quinoa to the rice cooker along with one and a half cups of water.
  • For a flavor boost, try cooking quinoa in vegetable or chicken broth instead of water.
  • Experiment with adding herbs or spices to the cooking liquid for a delicious twist.
  • Close the lid of the rice cooker and select the white rice setting.
  • Avoid lifting the lid while the quinoa is cooking to prevent heat and steam from escaping.
  • Once the cooking cycle is complete, fluff the quinoa with a fork and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
A simple video about cooking quinoa in a Zojirushi rice cooker (using a 1:1 ratio!).

I have written reviews for some rice cookers that have a specific menu setting for cooking quinoa. I will link to a few of these rice cookers with quinoa settings below.

First, the Zojirushi NL-BAC05 is a small 3-cup rice cooker with menu settings for both steel cut oatmeal and quinoa. My Zojirushi NL-BAC05 review can provide you with more details about this model.

Second, both the Instant Zest and Zest Plus rice cooker models have a cooking program for quinoa. You can read my Instant Zest rice cooker review to learn more about those rice cookers from the Instant Pot brand.

Third, the Cuckoo CR-0375F is a compact fuzzy logic rice cooker that has a menu option for quinoa. You may read my review about the Cuckoo CR-0375F to see what it can do.

Last, but definitely not the least, the Zojirushi NW-QAC induction heating rice cooker is on the expensive side of things. However, it does have a flat-top design, which is something new for Zojirushi rice cookers. In addition, it also has a self-cleaning function. Most importantly, it has a menu option for cooking quinoa. You can read my Zojirushi NW-QAC right here.

At the end of the day, you can probably get away with using a rice cooker with a white rice setting for cooking quinoa. If you already have such a digital or fuzzy logic rice cooker on your kitchen counter, then you do not have to buy a model with a quinoa setting right this minute. For the most part, you should be able to cook quinoa with just about any rice cooker, even with a cheap single-switch model that only has one cooking function.

Conclusion

Cooking quinoa in a rice cooker is a convenient and foolproof way to enjoy this nutritious grain. By using either the white rice setting or the quinoa setting, and following a few simple tips, you can achieve perfectly cooked quinoa every time. So, why not give it a try and elevate your meals with fluffy and delicious quinoa straight from your rice cooker!

Image by Rose224 from Pixabay.