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This Instant Pot Quinoa Recipe comes together in no time and is super easy to set and walk away! Perfect fluffy quinoa never looked so easy.
Serious question- do you own an instant pot/ have you been tempted to buy one? I mentioned this last week when posting my Instant Pot Cheese Grits recipe but we have been LOVING our Instant Pot for the past couple years.
At first (and by that, I mean the whole first year we owned it) all I cooked in it was rice. I LOVE INSTANT POT RICE. It comes out so perfect and fluffy. It takes half of the time and most importantly, I LOVE how easy it is to throw the rice and water in, press start, and walk away. I can’t tell you HOW many times I have over cooked rice because I started it on the stove top and then just forgot about it for a few too many minutes (I’m a chronic multitasker and I’m not always great at it).
If you make rice on a regular basis, do yourself a favor and get an instant pot. You’ll LOVE IT! Speaking of which, I’ve had several questions lately about how I like to cook my rice in the instant pot. I almost always cook basmati rice and for that, I cook it with a 1:1.5 ratio of rice to water on high pressure for 8 minutes. But different kinds of rice require different amounts of liquid and cook for different lengths.
My good friend, Lorena, has an AMAZING post ALL about how to cook a bunch of different kinds of rice in the Instant Pot.. She did TONS of research and testing and it’s such a great post. You can check it out HERE.
I digress. Today, we’re talking about Instant Pot Quinoa, not rice (but I do LOVE my rice).
Table of Contents
How to Cook Perfect Instant Pot Quinoa
I’ve tried QUITE a few different methods for cooking instant pot quinoa and at the end of the day, my all time favorite method is simply what the instant pot manual recommends. A 1:1.5 ratio of quinoa:water. So I almost always cook 1 cook up quinoa with 1 1/2 cups of water. You can add a dash of salt but I never do. I set the instant pot to high pressure for 8 minutes and then quick release the pressure once the quinoa is done cooking.
I do typically give my quinoa a good rinse in a mesh strainer before throwing it in the Instant Pot with the water.
And THAT’S IT! No stirring or checking on it every minute or two. Just set the timer and when you hear that it is done, quick release the pressure. SO STINKIN’ EASY!
How Long will Quinoa Keep in the Fridge?
Like rice, I really like to make a big batch of quinoa to keep in the fridge for easy meals throughout the week. Your cooked quinoa will last in the fridge for about 3-5 days. The longest I have ever kept it is 4 days.
Just make sure that it is in an air tight container.
Can you Freeze Cooked Quinoa?
So, can you freeze cooked quinoa? YEP! And it’s awesome. I’v read several resources that says you can keep cooked quinoa in the freeze for up to 9 months. The longest I have ever kept cooked quinoa in the freeze is 3 months.
Looking for yummy ways to use your Instant Pot Quinoa? Check out these Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Bites, these Black Bean & Quinoa Burgers, these Southwestern Quinoa Bowls, and these Kale and Quinoa Patties.
What Instant Pot staple recipes would you like to see next?? I’m having a lot of fun experimenting more with my Instant Pot!
Here are some great recipes using quinoa:
See how to make quinoa in your Instant Pot here:
Instant Pot Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup of quinoa
- 1 ½ cups of water or broth/ stock
Instructions
- In a fine mesh strainer, rinse your quinoa.
- Combine the rinsed quinoa and water (or broth) in the instant pot, close the lid, and set the valve to seal.
- Cook the quinoa on manual HIGH PRESSURE for 8 minutes. Once the Instant Pot beeps to indicate that it is done cooking, quick release the pressure.
- Once all of the pressure is out, fluff the quinoa and ENJOY!
HERE ARE SOME MORE BASIC INSTANT POT RECIPES THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE:
I’m so bad at over or under watering quinoa on the stovetop. Your recipe made it turn out perfect!
Wow! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. This looks so delicious, I want to make it today but can I use jasmine rice instead?
I’ve actually never made jasmine rice in my instant pot. I do have a recipe for basmati rice in the instant pot here: https://foodwithfeeling.com/perfect-instant-pot-basmati-rice/
And here is a recipe I found for jasmine rice in the instant pot. Looks like it’s done a little different: https://www.meatloafandmelodrama.com/instant-pot-jasmine-rice/
I don’t know why I never cooked quinoa in my Instant Pot before, but it’s the only way I’ll cook it now. Thanks!
haha I feel the same way! For some reason, cooking grains on the stovetop is one of my least favorite things ever!