Sure they can. Rice and quinoa are almost the same things. So you are going to cook them in the same way. 2:1 ration of water to quinoa, mix in a pot and cook for approximately 30 minutes.
Well, this is my shortest article ever. Have a beautiful day and easy cooking until next time….
Naaah, I am just kidding.
There is more to it than just one sentence. Even though they are almost the same, you should approach them with different expectations in terms of cooking and the final product.
Are you interested in more general information about rice cookers? Check out my article here.
So let’s take a look at them one by one.
Rice
If cooked perfectly, it is fluffy, a little sticky, nicely any shape-holding, and in most cases, a white ingredient that you use with a wide range of foods.
It is an excellent addition to a plethora of sauces, meats, and veggies. It can be used hot or cold. Reheated tastes almost as good as fresh and is available in every shop.
The variability of this little thing is beyond impressive. This home staple is used across the world, and in most Asian countries is considered to be an essential ingredient.
This vast source of carbohydrates (simple sugars) has a lot of additional benefits. Amongst those are things like B vitamins, iron, and manganese.
It can sustain you, on its own, for long periods and is used in many diets as a great low sodium addition.
Overall excellent choice in cooking or eating.
Quinoa
Similar to rice, but not quite.
This particular beast is much closer in its structure to couscous. While uncooked, it is quite a bit smaller than rice and way looser. It feels like rough sand in your hands.
But what quinoa lacks in size it compensates for more than enough in its benefits. The biggest one being its amount of protein. A 1 cup (about 100 grams) of cooked quinoa has about 1 tablespoon (14g) full of this goodness inside.
It has gained popularity in the past years, mainly for its similarity, easy cooking, and health benefits, and the fact that it is gluten-free.
You can use it in both hot and cold foods, but I personally like it most in my salads. As a fresh side dish to a nice chunk of meat.
Handling is slightly different from rice.
You should always wash it in cold water first. The reason for this is that if you don’t, it will have a quite nasty taste of bitterness.
Once washed, you can cook it 2:1 ratio (two parts of water or if you can stock and one part quinoa) as you do rice, over medium heat for 10-15 minutes. But that’s the standard way of doing it in a pot or saucepan.
Let’s get to the most crucial part
How it fares in a rice cooker?
As mentioned before, quite well.
You add one part of rinsed quinoa, two pieces of water or broth, mix it together in a rice cooker, and start the process. In most cases, it takes about 30 minutes, and you are done.
You have to bear in mind one thing. Quinoa is quite a bit thicker than your rice would be. So after it is done cooking, remove the lid of your rice cooker and flip/fork it a couple of times.
This way, you will separate and lighten it, so it is easier to be eaten or used for any other creation of yours.
Final thoughts
So there you have it. The answer to the question:
Can rice cookers cook quinoa?
I believe that they are more than capable of doing that with the added benefit of you not having to do anything special to reap all the greatness.
I hope that this article helped you and we will ‘see’ each other next time.
Until then, I wish you a happy and carefree cooking.
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