If you've ever wondered how to rinse quinoa, you're going to love our Easy Rinse Method for Quinoa!
We have a few quinoa recipes here on Platter Talk. Quniona is the ancient power food that is making a resurgence in the 21 century.
I try to use more of it in our menu planning and one of my favorites quinoa recipes is Costco's Quinoa Salad. (That's on my list of must-make copycat recipes!)
How to Rinse Quinoa
As you may or may not know, quinoa needs to be rinsed with cold water before cooking it. This simple process will help get rid of the bitter-tasting compound (saponin) that coats the tiny seeds; if you don’t do it, it’s going to taste wrong and you'll never want to use this ancient power food again in your diet. We don't want that!
Because the quinoa seeds are so tiny, you don't want them to disappear down your kitchen sink drain when you rise them. Here's where things get fun: Use a fine-mesh strainer.
This basket-style coffee filter stores easily in your kitchen drawers and make for a handy fine-mesh strainer for rinsing quinoa and so much more! Order yours from the Amazon below!
Platter Talk is an Amazon affiliate and receives a very small commission on any sales which help us to keep bringing you the best recipes and food ideas around!
How Do You Strain Without a Strainer?
If you don't have a fine-mesh strainer in your kitchen (like me) , use a coffee filter. It does a great job of holding the quinoa while that nasty bitter-tasting stuff goes down the drain and leaves the good tasting seed for you to enjoy!
Be sure and use a clean, dry filter. Fortunately, the quinoa doesn't leave a residue, unlike those pesky coffee grounds.
Do You Rinse Quinoa Before Cooking It?
If so, let us know your methods and we will be happy to pass them on to our readers. We always love learning new ideas and techniques for useful kitchen hacks.
Be sure and check out our other Platter Talk Kitchen Tips like how to grease a cake pan and what plates are safe to use in an air fryer. Who knows what you may learn to make your life in the kitchen just a little easier and less complicated?
Updated from the original publication date of November 8, 2013
Dianne Fudge
I have been eating red quinoa for a week now with lots of veggies and an egg for breakfast with a liitle hot sauce and I feel so good with lots of energy!!!
Lynne Crew
Go Gurl!!! Haven’t tried it yet, soon…
Christine
Every morning i have about a cup of quinoa,1 banana and the formola i must drink at least 4a day (medical reasons), i blend that with my smoothie maker and drink,i forgot i also add a handful of bluberries☺
Lilly Craigen
I rinse the quinoa in filtered cold water in a pot, swishing it around with a spoon. Then I strain off the water using a large fine mesh strainer. I repeat until the water looks clear. Then I cook the quinoa in vegetable stock, in the same spot.
Kyle
This is absolutely brilliant! I had to give up caffeine a few years ago, but kept my coffee maker and all the filters. So happy it can all be used as a quinoa strainer! Worked great!
Julia
That's a great tip. I'm fed up of losing most of my quinoa down the sink. Unfortunately I don't use a coffee machine like you've mentioned but a rummage through my kitchen drawers and hey presto! I have a jelly bag which will do the job just fine.
maur
I forgot to rinse bulk quinoa for a bread recipe but toasted and ground it to a fine flour . The 4 ounces of quinoa was added to the recipe along with 5 ounces of potato 5 ounces of sorghum and 5 of gabanzo flours .When baked I didnt detect a bitter taste.
Dan from Platter Talk
Baking may alter the compound that causes the bitterness in quinoa; I'm not sure. Also, the other ingredients in your bread may have countered any bitter flavor that would have been there and finally, some quinoa is pre-rinsed.
maur
Thank You
Glenda S. Corpuz
I loved to cook quinoa and never rinse it. And i never ever taste the bitterness.
Beth
I didn't have a fine mesh strainer so I googled to see what I could use and this was the first thing that came up! I wouldn't have thought of this on my own so thank you!!
Dan from Platter Talk
So happy you found found this too, Beth. Please don't be a stranger to Platter Talk!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
Such a great idea!! Thanks for sharing, I will definitely be trying this one out!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
Great tip about using the coffee strainer. I will try this out
Heather @Boston Girl Bakes
Oh fantastic! Love this...and thanks for the coffee filter/strainer idea..totally doing this!
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction
Wow, thanks for such a great advice! I love quinoa!