How to Cook Quinoa in a Pressure Cooker
Once you know how to cook quinoa in a pressure cooker, you’ll opt for this hands-off method every time. With only one minute of pressure cooking time, you’re only 20 minutes away from perfectly cooked, fluffy quinoa.
What is quinoa?
Although quinoa is commonly grouped with grains, it is actually an edible seed. Quinoa is commonly included in vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based diets because it’s the only plant-based protein that is a complete protein. This means quinoa contains all 9 essential amino acids our bodies can’t make on their own.
I love my air fryer and my Instant Pot, they make so many kitchen tasks easier or quicker.
What I love the most about my Instant Pot is that it makes recipes where you need to simmer or steam ingredients at specific temperatures and watch for clues so much easier, like rice and quinoa.
Hard-boiled eggs come out perfect every single time in the Instant Pot.
The same can be said for cooking quinoa in the Instant Pot. You’ll get perfect quinoa every time. And the instant pot method is much easier than the stovetop method. Just add the ingredients, seal the lid, and walk away. It’s a pretty fool-proof method and makes meal prepping for bowls throughout the week easier.
Nutritional Benefits
1 cup (185 grams) of cooked quinoa contains 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.
Ingredients
This is a brief overview of the ingredients used in this recipe followed by substitution ideas. Read the recipe card for measurements.
Substitutions
Instructions
Prep Tips
Rinse the quinoa.
This is the most important part of this recipe and shouldn’t be skipped.
Why should you rinse quinoa?
Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin which helps protect it from pests and fungus. It has a bitter flavor and rinsing the quinoa will clean off the saponin, leaving behind only the natural light and nutty flavor.
How to rinse quinoa
- Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer.
- Run cold water over top.
- Rinse for about a minute, shaking every few seconds. I like to agitate the quinoa around by hand also while the water runs over it.
- Let the quinoa drip drain and then use it in your recipe.
How cook quinoa in a pressure cooker
- Rinse the quinoa before cooking.
- Add the rinsed quinoa to the inner pot of the Instant Pot.
- Add broth or water. You can also add a pinch of salt.
- Add the lid and lock it in place.
Make sure it’s set to sealing and not venting. (If you have the Instant Pot Duo Ultra as I do, it’s automatically set to sealing and only has a steam release switch.)
- Set the Instant Pot on High Pressure for 1 minute. The Instant Pot will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure and then cook for 1 minute.
- When the cooking time is done, allow a Natural Pressure Release for 5 minutes. This means, leave it alone, don’t touch it. The pressure gradually releases. After 5 minutes, do a quick pressure release by turning the sealing valve to venting. Mine has a switch that is like a button you press down on.
I found in testing that leaving the quinoa for longer than 5 minutes can cause it to soften too much.
- The remaining pressure will be released through the top of the Instant Pot.
- When the silver float valve beside the sealing valve drops down again the pressure has been released and you can open the lid.
Fluff the quinoa with a fork and serve.
Tips for making perfect Instant Pot quinoa
What to serve with quinoa
You can use this fluffy instant pot quinoa in grain bowls or salads. Try my sweet potato quinoa bowl recipe, it includes roasted sweet potatoes and a spicy peanut sauce. Or try a broccoli quinoa salad with fluffy quinoa and toasted quinoa.
Storage
Store the cooled leftover quinoa in the fridge in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
To freeze the quinoa, allow it to cool completely and then store it either in freezer bags or freezer containers for about 6 months.
FAQ
To help eliminate a bitter taste in the cooked quinoa, it’s best to rinse the dry quinoa well before cooking it. Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin which helps protect it while it grows. Rinsing gets rid of this and it’s bitter taste.
For my Instant Pot quinoa recipe I use 1 cup of quinoa to 1 1/2 cups of water. This results in fluffy quinoa without extra moisture in the pot. Brands of quinoa may vary slightly.
Instant Pot Quinoa
Equipment
- 6 QT Instant Pot Duo Ultra
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 1/2 cups broth - or water
Instructions
- Place the quinoa in a fine mesh sieve and run water over top to rinse the quinoa well.
- Add the quinoa and broth or water to the inner pot of the pressure cooker.
- Add the lid and make sure it's set to sealing. (Mine does this automatically.)
- Set on high pressure for 1 minute.
- Once the cooking time is done, allow for a natural pressure release for 5 minutes.
- Do a quick pressure release by sliding the sealing lever from sealing to venting. (My model has a pressure release button to push down on.)
- Once the pressure is released the float valve will switch from the up position to the down position and then you can remove the lid.
- Fluff with a fork and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
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