Do you rinse quinoa?

[1GoldenSun]

I never read the directions on the quinoa bag, but tonight I noticed that apparently you're supposed to rinse the quinoa before cooking it. I don't know if all the quinoa I've ever bought had these instructions or just this bag. I know some types of rice instruct you to rinse it first. Do you rinse your quinoa before cooking it? How do you even do that? It's so small. I did try, but it's way too small for my colander so I just tried to rinse it in the measuring cup and hold it in with my hand and let the rinse water run through my fingers. A lot of the grains went right down the sink. I think from now on I'm going to read the bag before I buy it and make sure I get the kind that's been pre-rinsed, if there is such a thing, like there is with rice.

 

[Meriweather]

I get mine at Costco and it is prewashed

 

[Imzadi]

Yes, I rinse all the quinoa. It can be rather bitter if it isn't washed.

I wash it, rather than rinse it, the same way I do rice or beans. Simply pouring water over it in a collander doesn't do it, in my opinion. I place it in the pot I'm going to be cooking in. Add only about a couple inches of water on top. Too much more, and the quinoa just floats around and I can't get to it. I scoop up some quinoa in one hand and gently rub it with the flat of my other hand. Drop it, pick up another scoop, rub that between my hands. Repeat. Then I pour out the water, add 2 inches again, rub the quinoa again, swish the water around, empty it, refill and repeat, then change the water out until the water changes from cloudy to clear. About 3-4 times total. Then fill up the pot with the required amount of water to cook. The quinoa then has kind of a nutty flavor instead of a bitter one.

Hmm. . . I think I'll have quinoa tonight.

 

[soccerdad72]

No, I don't

 

[MamaLema]

Yes, unless the bag says prewashed. Otherwise it get too foamy and bitter.

 

[ronandannette]

Yes, unless the bag says prewashed. Otherwise it get too foamy and bitter.

I don't use a ton of quinoa but when I do, it's always this brand. It doesn't say anything either way about it being pre-washed or requiring rinsing. The instructions don't call for it to be rinsed but then again, maybe they assume people just know? Not sure now if I'm doing it right.
https://casbahnaturalfoods.com/product/organic-quinoa-whole-grain/

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

On the very slim change quinoa ever ends up in my house, I never rinse it. Why should I rinse quinoa when I'm just going to throw it in the trash where it belongs anyway? By the way op next time you decide to rinse it through your fingers, I suggest you open your fingers wider so it ALL goes down the sink.

 

[LilyJC]

My favorite is the Costco quinoa which does not need to be rinsed. If it needs to be rinsed, the packaging will definitely state this as you will need to remove the bitter coating. I’ve always used a mesh type colander with handle.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

I wash all quinoa, rice, lentils, pulses etc. You never know how it has been shipped and what creatures have been loaded with it. I also use a metal mesh sieve with small holes and a handle.

 

[mjkacmom]

I wash all quinoa, rice, lentils, pulses etc. You never know how it has been shipped and what creatures have been loaded with it. I also use a metal mesh sieve with small holes and a handle.

Same.

 

[Shellsbutt]

On the very slim change quinoa ever ends up in my house, I never rinse it. Why should I rinse quinoa when I'm just going to throw it in the trash where it belongs anyway? By the way op next time you decide to rinse it through your fingers, I suggest you open your fingers wider so it ALL goes down the sink.

Yep- I'm never eating quinoa again, only my reason is because I must be allergic to it. It has made me sick every time I've tried it. It only took me 4 times to realize that was the culprit though Just google it- upset stomach after eating quinoa, lots of comments. Yes, I even rinsed it and it didn't help. I was trying to eat healthier and this is considered a "super food". Oh well.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yep- I'm never eating quinoa again, only my reason is because I must be allergic to it. It has made me sick every time I've tried it. It only took me 4 times to realize that was the culprit though Just google it- upset stomach after eating quinoa, lots of comments. Yes, I even rinsed it and it didn't help. I was trying to eat healthier and this is considered a "super food". Oh well.

Yes, about 10% of the US population cannot comfortably eat it, no matter how much it is washed.

I did the same thing you did, hoping to cut down on carbs, but discovered that I'm in the 10%. I like it and wanted it to work, but no go. At one point I tried soaking it overnight and changing the water 3X, but nope, still sick. A lot of people don't believe this is a thing, and will insist that people who say they cannot eat quinoa are just preparing it incorrectly. Believe me, I've tried every rinse method you can think of, tried different brands and different varieties, ordered it off restaurant menus -- sick every. single. time.

 

[BrianL]

I never read the directions on the quinoa bag, but tonight I noticed that apparently you're supposed to rinse the quinoa before cooking it. I don't know if all the quinoa I've ever bought had these instructions or just this bag. I know some types of rice instruct you to rinse it first. Do you rinse your quinoa before cooking it? How do you even do that? It's so small. I did try, but it's way too small for my colander so I just tried to rinse it in the measuring cup and hold it in with my hand and let the rinse water run through my fingers. A lot of the grains went right down the sink. I think from now on I'm going to read the bag before I buy it and make sure I get the kind that's been pre-rinsed, if there is such a thing, like there is with rice.

Yeah, you are supposed to but you need a strainer with fine-mesh. It's too much trouble so I just eat rice.

 

[John VN]

I have never washed. The Organic I now have does recommend rinsing, did not wash and there is no bitter taste in the batch I cooked up on Sunday. It is very fluffy that is great by the spoonful right out of the container.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Well now I know why my quinoa is occasionally a little bitter. When that happens I usually just add some ingredients and make a salad out of it--enough feta, basil, etc. and you don't taste any bitterness.

I guess it can't hurt to rinse it even if the instructions don't say to, and a wire mesh strainer is a great idea!

I've never heard of quinoa making people sick; that's really interesting to know. My son doesn't like it, but I don't think it's because it makes him sick. He's never eaten enough to find out if he's in that 10% or not!

 

[nene0182]

Yes but I find it to be a pain. I love quinoa however my soon and husband would be happy if I never made it again.

 

[Imzadi]

Yes, unless the bag says prewashed. Otherwise it get too foamy and bitter.

I guess it can't hurt to rinse it even if the instructions don't say to

I bought some brand, I think it was Target's own brand and even though it said it was pre-rinsed it was foamy, bitter and had a weird texture after cooking. I ended up washing it anyway. And I went back to getting it from the bulk bin at my local health food store.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

You should rinse dry beans, rice, and quinoa. The only time I don't rinse is if it's one of those box mixes where the seasoning is already combined with the dry rice or quinoa.

You don't need a colander to rinse, you can just rinse in a bowl with a lid or even in the pot you are going to cook in. Dry rice, quinoa, and beans will all sink to the bottom so you run water over them in the bowl and give them a little stir, wait for them to settle to the bottom, drain, and repeat that a couple times. Anything that floats probably isn't good to eat so I let that drain out with the water.