If you've ever wondered how to rinse quinoa, you're going to love our Easy Rinse Method for Quinoa! It's one of our most popular kitchen hacks and tips.
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 top tips to make you a better cook. You may also be interested in 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
Just Jo
Thanks for the tips! I don't use quinoa but I feel I should give it a go now.
Luci's Morsels
I didn't realize it was so important to give quinoa a good rise and what a genius way to do it! Thanks for sharing!
Alyssa @ A Bite of Inspiration
I eat a ton of quinoa and I always rinse it before I use it. I never thought of using a coffee filter. That's a great hack if you don't have a strainer. Thanks for the awesome tips!
Lisa Bryan | Downshiftology
Such a great tip (and good reminder!). Love the coffee strainer idea as well!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
Using a coffee strainer is genius! Those little guys are so hard to rinse.
Christine | Mid-Life Croissant
I love quinoa and this is always a problem for me! Thanks for the clever solution. Thanks for linking up at #SaucySaturdays.
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks for the nice comments, Christine. I hope you enjoy this food flash for rinsing quinoa!
Anna and Liz Recipes
Excellent tip Dan, and yes you really have to rinse that quinoa. Some times I get the already rinsed quinoa to save some time. 🙂
Dan from Platter Talk
Thanks for the comments, it's good to know there is pre-rinsed quinoa available as well!
Montie D'Angelo
Where is the pre-rinsed available?
Dan from Platter Talk
Check with your local grocery store or maybe look on line.
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen
Excellent tip, Dan! This is great for all those cooks without fine mesh strainers. I think I have at least 5 fine mesh stainers varying in size. LOVE this easy method! Thanks for sharing!
Dan from Platter Talk
Stacy,
I can't even begin to imagine how many strainers, of all sizes, that you must have in your kitchen! (Just realized that I would like to have a look in THOSE cupboards!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, I love to hear from you. 🙂
Andj
This is genius!!! I always end up getting quinoa all over my sink when I rinse it. Can't wait to try this!
Dan from Platter Talk
It's great to here from you and I'm happy that you can benefit from this idea! Thanks for the comments!!
Joanne
We actually use saponin (in powder form) in some of my experiments in lab! So yes, rinse rinse rinse that quinoa!
Dan from Platter Talk
Joanne,
Sounds like a bitter experiment.... 🙂 Thanks for the comment and wish you a great weekend