Microwave Quinoa (Quick and Fluffy)

4.66 from 23 votes

Learn how to cook quinoa in the microwave. This is the fastest way of cooking quinoa. Make a batch, use it in soups, salads, and breakfast.

Prep Time1

Cook Time10

Resting Time5

Total Time16

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: servings

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.

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.

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