Today, I am here to show you how to cook quinoa in a microwave. To be honest, I had no idea that cooking quinoa in the microwave was possible until I read it in a magazine as I was doing research for another recipe.
Come to find out, this is the fastest way to cook quinoa. It takes 15 minutes, and it is just as fluffy as quinoa cooked in an Instant pot, quinoa cooked on the stove, or quinoa cooked in a rice cooker.
Table of Contents
- The Ratio of Quinoa To Water
- How much cooked quinoa do I get from 1 cup microwave quinoa?
- How To Make It?
- Why Not Cook It Longer In The Microwave?
- Would This Method Work With Other Types of Quinoa?
- Can You Reheat Cooked Quinoa In The Microwave?
- Recipes To Use Cooked Quinoa
- Microwave Quinoa (Quick and Fluffy)
So, if you are in a rush and want to use it in your meal prep, various quinoa salads, or weeknight meals like Mexican Quinoa, Quinoa Black Bean Tacos, or Butternut Squash Quinoa, read on. I will show you how to make it with step-by-step photos.
The Ratio of Quinoa To Water
The ingredients list is pretty short. You will need 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of cold water to cook quinoa in the microwave. You can use vegetable or chicken stock if you would like.
The ratio to follow is 1 to 2. If you want, you can multiply this quick quinoa recipe. You can also add salt and oil to the bowl for more flavor, as I did with my microwave quinoa porridge recipe.
How much cooked quinoa do I get from 1 cup microwave quinoa?
1 cup uncooked quinoa yields about 2 ½ to 3 cups cooked quinoa.
Even though you end up with only 3 cups, quinoa bubbles up a lot as it cooks, so choose a bowl that holds at least 7 cups (approximately 1.75 quarts).
If you decide to multiply this recipe, you will need an even bigger bowl.
How To Make It?
- Rinse the quinoa: Start by rinsing your quinoa under cold running water. If you are wondering why it is important to do so, feel free to check out the post I shared on how to and why rinse quinoa.
- Place quinoa and water in a microwave-safe bowl: Use a large bowl (at least 7 cups) that will hold 3 cups of cooked quinoa. If you prefer, add a pinch of salt, a splash of olive oil, or a tablespoon of butter.
- Stir to combine: Make sure that the quinoa is fully submerged in water.
- Cover it with a plate: Place a microwave-safe dinner plate (large enough to cover the bowl fully) on top. Or you can also use a microwave cover (affiliate link).
- Place in the microwave: Place it in the microwave and set it to cook for 6 minutes.
- Give it a stir and then cook some more: Carefully remove the plate (I used a kitchen towel because it is super hot) and give it a stir. Put the plate back on and set it to cook for 4 more minutes.
- Remove from the microwave: At the end of the 4 minutes, you might still have some liquid at the bottom of the bowl, which is okay. It should look like the quinoa seeds popped open. If there is still a lot of them that are not open, put it back in the microwave for 1 more minute.
- Let it rest until the water is absorbed: Let it sit on the kitchen counter for 5 minutes, covered. As it sits, most of the liquid will be absorbed. In the end, if there is still water in the bowl, remove the plate and wait for a few more minutes.
- Fluff it with a fork and enjoy!
Why Not Cook It Longer In The Microwave?
At this point, you might be wondering why not let it continue to cook in the microwave until the liquid is fully absorbed? Well, I had the same question, so I tested it.
Come to find out, if you cook it for longer, you end up with mushy and somewhat dry quinoa. It is obvious it cooked longer than it should.
That is why I find that the best timing is to cook it for 6 minutes first, give it a stir, and cook for 4 more minutes.
Would This Method Work With Other Types of Quinoa?
Yes. I have tested this method with white, red, and tricolor quinoa. Some readers have found that certain tricolor brands take a few minutes longer.
Before you take it out, look closely at the seeds. Cooked quinoa seeds should have a thin white ring curling around them. If most seeds still look like tight little balls, keep cooking in 1-minute intervals, stopping to check each time.
Can You Reheat Cooked Quinoa In The Microwave?
You sure can. However, I recommend adding a splash of liquid (water or stock) as it might get dry as it warms up. I find that a minute of cooking time for 2-3 cups of cooked quinoa is sufficient. However, if it is not warmed to your liking, you can continue to cook it in 30-second increments.
Recipes To Use Cooked Quinoa
I can almost hear you say, now that I have cooked quinoa, what do I do with it?
Well, I am glad you asked because I am a big fan of quinoa and have so many recipes that you can choose from.
- Add it to salads: You can easily turn a salad into a meal by adding in a few cups of quinoa. I especially like my Quinoa Tabouli Salad, Avocado Quinoa Salad, Thai Quinoa Salad, and Mediterranean Quinoa Salad recipes.
- Microwave Porridge Bowl: For years, I cooked my quinoa porridge on the stove top. But if I am short on time, I cook my quinoa in the microwave, divide it into small bowls, pour in a splash of milk (or almond milk if you are following a dairy free diet), and top it off with fruit (and perhaps a drizzle of maple syrup) to turn it into a quick quinoa porridge in the morning.
- Need more ideas to make your cooked quinoa taste good? Check out the post I shared that outlines everything I know about How To Flavor Quinoa.
Microwave Quinoa (Quick and Fluffy)
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa*, rinsed under cold water
- 2 cups water, or vegetable or chicken stock
Optional:
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, or butter
Instructions
- Rinse quinoa: Place quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water.
- Place ingredients in a bowl: Put rinsed quinoa and water in a large microwave-safe bowl (at least 7 cups) so it does not bubble over. Add the salt and oil, if using. Stir to make sure that the quinoa is fully submerged in the water.
- Cover it with a plate that is large enough to fully cover the bowl. You can also use a microwave cover.
- Cook for 6 minutes on high in your microwave. Carefully remove the plate using a kitchen towel. Give it a stir. Put the plate back on and cook for another 4 minutes on high. When you take it out of the microwave, carefully remove the plate on top and check the quinoa. If there are still a lot of seeds that are not opened, put it back for one more minute.
- Remove from the microwave. At this point, you might still have some liquid in the bowl. This is normal.
- Let it sit covered on the counter for 5 minutes. As it sits, most of the liquid will be absorbed. In the end, if there is still water in the bowl, remove the plate and wait for a few more minutes.
- Fluff it with a fork and serve.
Notes
- Yields: This recipe makes 3 cups of cooked quinoa, with 2/3 cup per serving.
- This recipe and timing work perfectly with white quinoa. However, some readers have reported that some tricolor quinoa brands take longer to cook. To photograph this recipe, I used Trader Joe’s tricolor quinoa so this was not an issue for me.
If this happens to you, place the quinoa back in the microwave and cook in 1-minute increments until you see the quinoa seeds pop open, revealing the germ of the kernel. - I tested this recipe in a 1200-watt microwave on high. If your microwave is less powerful, or your quinoa is older, it will take a few more minutes. Keep cooking in 1-minute increments, checking for liquid in the bowl each time you check.
- How to store: Let it cool to room temperature, place it in an airtight container, and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you are making it for meal prep, divide it into single portions before it goes into the fridge. To keep it longer, here is how I freeze cooked quinoa.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
8 minutes to cook and resting time 2 minutes total 10 minutes like the recipe said
love it with real Vermont maple syrup!
YAY! So happy to hear that Paula.
Thanks for helping me eat healthy easily without heating up my house this summer. Cook time should show 10 minutes, not 8.
Happy to hear that Renee.
Thank you for this recipe. I eat quinoa a few times a week. Today, I needed to make it quickly. I rarely use the microwave for anything, so I had my doubts. Literally, best quinoa I’ve ever had. Texture was perfect. I have a new routine and simpler routine from here forward. I appreciate the share.♡
I am happy to hear that it worked for you Elle. Thanks for coming by.