How to Cook Quinoa on the Stove

5 from 1 vote

Learn How to Cook Quinoa on the Stove for perfectly fluffy, tender results every single time!

Prep Time1

Cook Time15

Resting time5

Total Time21

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: servings

Calories: 156kcal

In a medium pot, add quinoa, water and pinch of salt.
Cover and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer for 12 minutes. Do not open the lid!
Turn off heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
Fluff with a fork and serve as a side dish for your favorite protein, use in quinoa salad recipes, or make quinoa falafel.

Store: Refrigerate quinoa in the pot you cooked it in or airtight containers for up to 1 week.
Freeze: Freeze cooked quinoa laying flat in resealable plastic containers or airtight containers. It freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Make sure to fluff quinoa first and then add a splash of water or broth. Reheat by simmering on low heat in a pot while covered, stirring and checking if it needs more liquid a few more times.
Do I have to rinse quinoa? Some quinoa recipes recommend rinsing quinoa before cooking it. This is more of a recommendation than a requirement. Quinoa has a natural coating of compounds called saponins that some may find bitter or soapy. Meanwhile, others might say that it just has an earthy flavor. You can rinse, if you wish.