How to Cook Quinoa On Stove

I don’t know about you, but I can eat quinoa every day. That probably explains why I have so many quinoa recipes on this blog. In today’s post, we are going back to basics, and I am sharing everything you need to know about How to Cook Quinoa on the Stovetop Perfectly.

I have already shared my foolproof recipes for Microwave Quinoa, Rice Cooker Quinoa, and Instant Pot Quinoa. So, consider this a sequel.

If you need a refresher on basic cooking methods like this one, be sure to check out my detailed 101 posts on How To Cook Wild Rice, How To Cook Bulgur Wheat and How To Cook Black Rice posts as well.

How To Prepare Quinoa

• Measure Quinoa: Whether you cook white, red, black, or tricolor quinoa, I recommend measuring it first. I usually use a cup measure, but you can find detailed weight information for measuring different types of quinoa below:
  • 1 cup dry (raw) white quinoa: 6.7 ounces – 190 gr.
  • 1 cup dry red quinoa (aka brown quinoa): 7 ounces – 198 gr.
  • 1 cup dry black quinoa: 7 ounces – 198 gr.
  • 1 cup tricolor quinoa (aka rainbow quinoa): 7.1 ounces – 201 gr.

• Rinse Quinoa Under Cold Running Water: To rinse quinoa, place it in a fine-mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly under cold water for 30 to 60 seconds or until the water runs clear. 

Quinoa To Water Ratio (Quinoa Proportions)

When it comes to cooking quinoa on the stovetop, regardless of the type/color of the quinoa you are using (i.e., white, red, black, and tricolor quinoa), the ratio of quinoa to water is 1 to 2. 

In other words, for every 1 cup of quinoa, you use 2 cups of liquid. In terms of liquid, you can use water, chicken stock, or vegetable broth. 

With that being said, the question of how much water to use for cooking quinoa has been a source of discussion in some popular websites like TheKitchn and Goop. Both websites swear by a 1 to 1 ¾ cup ratio (meaning 1 cup of quinoa to 1 ¾ cups of liquid) when cooking quinoa on the stove. 

Intrigued, I put both ratios to test and cooked a batch of each type of quinoa in my kitchen. In the end, I honestly thought that the difference in taste was very minimal. 

Yes, the 1:2 ratio was moister (and perhaps a tiny bit more watery), whereas the 1: 1 ¾ ratio had a drier and denser texture, but I felt like they were pretty similar.

In all my testings, I felt the more important thing was to let it rest for at least 10 minutes after the cooking was completed. In my opinion, as long as you are using a pot with a tight-fitting lid and letting it rest after it is cooked, you will end up with a perfectly cooked and fluffy quinoa in either ratio.

How To Make Quinoa? Step By Step Instructions

The basic process for cooking quinoa on the stovetop is as follows:

1. Place rinsed and drained quinoa, water (or chicken broth or veggie broth), and a pinch of salt (optional) into a pot with a tight-fitting lid. Stir it and put the lid on.
2. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring it to a boil. It should take about 3-4 minutes for it to come to a boil.
3. As soon as it comes to a boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer. 

Even though the step-by-step photos I am sharing here show cooking instructions for white quinoa, you can use the same method for cooking black quinoa, red quinoa, and tri-color quinoa.

How Long To Cook Quinoa:

Now, you might be asking yourself, what is the ideal cooking time for quinoa? During my testing for the best quinoa recipe, I found that the timing changes based on the type of quinoa you are using. 

Once it comes to a boil, the optimal simmering time for each type of quinoa is below:

• White quinoa (aka Pearl Quinoa): 15 minutes
• Red quinoa (aka Brown Quinoa): 18 minutes
• Black Quinoa: 20 minutes
• Tri-Color Quinoa ( aka Multicolor or Rainbow quinoa): 18 minutes (the timing might change based on the brand you are using)

How To Tell When Quinoa Is Cooked?

You will know that the quinoa is done cooking when most of the liquid in the pan is absorbed with tiny air holes on the surface, and some of the quinoa seeds look like they have popped open, revealing the germ of the kernel.

What If I Am Left with Liquid in The Pan After It is Cooked?

During my testings, I learned that while the general 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid work for most packaged quinoa brands, with a few brands, I was left with some liquid at the bottom even after the cooking time was completed and my quinoa looked like it was fully cooked.

If that happens to you, you can do one of two things:

• Drain the liquid: Let your quinoa rest for 10 minutes and drain the liquid using a strainer.
• Let it rest longer: Let it rest with the lid on for 30 minutes or so. It should absorb all the liquid as it sits. The texture might be a little bit mushy, but you’ll still have a perfectly cooked quinoa.

How To Make Fluffy Quinoa:

Once the quinoa is cooked, turn off the heat and let it sit covered for 10 minutes. When ready to serve, gently fluff it with a fork.

During my recipe testings, I found out that letting it rest covered without touching is the secret to perfectly cooked quinoa that is perfect every time. If you skip this step, you will likely end up with mushy quinoa that is somewhat sticky.

How Much Does 1 Cup Quinoa Make?

The answer to this question depends on the type of quinoa you are using. I tested every kind of quinoa and measured each type in my kitchen using my own kitchen scale. Below you will find the weight measurements of each type of cooked quinoa.

• White Quinoa: 1 cup of dry quinoa yields approximately 3 ¾ cups of cooked quinoa that is equal to 19.50 ounces.
• Red Quinoa: 1 cup of red quinoa yields approximately 4 cups of cooked red quinoa that is equal to 24 ounces.
• Black Quinoa: 1 cup black quinoa yields approximately 3 ½ cups of cooked quinoa that is equal to 21 ounces.
• Tri-Color Quinoa (aka Multi-Color): 1 cup multicolor quinoa yields approximately 4 cups of cooked quinoa that is equal to 18.80 ounces.

How To Flavor Quinoa?

If you look at the stovetop quinoa recipe below, you will see that it is a basic one. While you can certainly enjoy it by itself, you can make it super flavorful and delicious with just a few minor changes.

And since there are so many ways you can flavor your quinoa, I wrote a detailed blog post about How To Make Quinoa Taste Good. However, below are a few ways to get you started:

• Add some seasoning to the pot during the cooking process: Some of my favorite quinoa seasoning ingredients are a dried bay leaf, a clove of garlic (used as a whole), fresh herbs (like chopped parsley or dill), or a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Simply add the seasonings of your choice into the pot at the same time with the liquid and cook as directed.
• Add in a tablespoon of butter or coconut oil: Adding a little bit of fat into the cooking liquid enhances the flavor. I love a tablespoon of butter, but you can use any oil (i.e., coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil) you have on hand. Simply add your favorite oil into the pan while you add the liquid and cook as directed. 
• Cook quinoa with chicken stock instead of water: Cooking quinoa in vegetable or chicken stock is probably the easiest way to flavor it. You can simply swap the water with your choice of stock and use the same amount for cooking your quinoa. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can also use half water and half stock. As long as you follow the 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups of liquid ratio, you should be fine.

Best Way To Store Cooked Quinoa:

Store cooked quinoa in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze quinoa to have it on hand in a quick and efficient way. If you want to know more about freezing quinoa, be sure to read my post on How To Freeze Cooked Quinoa.

Equipment Needed to Cook Quinoa on Stovetop: 

To cook the perfect quinoa, you will need the following equipment:

• Fine Mesh Strainer: Using a fine mesh strainer is by far the best way to rinse quinoa. This fine mesh strainer (affiliate link) is the one I use and recommend. 
• A Pot with a lid: I recommend using a pot with a tight-fitting lid that does not have a hole in it so that you can easily trap all the water (and steam) in the pot. Since I usually cook one cup of quinoa, I prefer this pot (affiliate link) that is 7-inches in diameter. It is the white pan you see in the photos.
• A Fork: Once the quinoa is cooked and rested, I use a dinner fork to fluff it.
• Airtight Container: I am a big fan of these meal prep containers (affiliate link) to store cooked quinoa.

The Best Quinoa Recipes:

The best thing about quinoa is that it has various uses and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. With its mild and nutty flavor, it is easy to incorporate into various dishes. Below are a few of our favorite easy quinoa recipes:

• Breakfast: For a bowl of healthy plant-protein, start your day with one of the following recipes:
  • Microwave Quinoa Porridge
  • Quinoa Porridge
  • Quinoa Crunch
• Lunch: Healthy Quinoa Salad Recipes are some of the easiest ones to make for lunch. I make a big batch of quinoa every week during meal prep and use it throughout the week. Some of the reader favorites include:
  • Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
  • Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
  • Southwestern Quinoa Salad
• Dinner: Putting dinner on the table is easy as quinoa can be cooked in many ways for dinner. A few favorites include:
  • Mexican Quinoa or Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa
  • Quinoa Chili 
  • Quinoa and Black Bean Tacos
• Side Dish: Fast and easy quinoa dishes are my go-to whenever I need a side dish to serve with main dishes.
  • Lemon Quinoa
  • Butternut Squash Quinoa