How To Cook Barley In A Rice Cooker
Quick Answer
To cook barley in a rice cooker, follow these simple steps:
- Rinse 1 cup of pearl barley under cool running water.
- Add the rinsed barley and 2 cups of water to the rice cooker.
- Add a pinch of salt and stir gently.
- Set the rice cooker to the “brown rice” setting and cook.
- Once done, let it sit for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Read on for more detail
Barley is a versatile and healthy grain that really doesnโt get enough praise! But if you do make barley at home, you likely cook it on the stovetop, which can be time-consuming and quite tiresome.
A great way to include barley in your diet (without having to cook it on the stovetop) and get it perfect each time is simply to cook it in a rice cooker!
How do you cook barley in a rice cooker? To cook barley in a rice cooker, you need to measure out 1 part barley to 2 parts water, place the ingredients in the rice cooker with some salt, and set it to the “brown rice” setting. After this, the barley should be left for up to 15 minutes before being served.
If cooking barley in a rice cooker seems like the best option for you, read on for a step-by-step guide on how to do it, and some handy tips to get it perfect each time!
Why You Should Cook Barley In A Rice Cooker
Cooking barley on the stovetop comes with quite a bit of preparation, and it does take some time. Other than this, it can be difficult to get the barley cooked right, and there is a chance that the barley might burn during the cooking process.
Here are some of the reasons why you should cook barley in a rice cooker!
1. Easy Cooking
A rice cooker takes out all of the work for you, so you can place the barley into the rice cooker with the right amount of water, and let it do all the work.
Just by choosing the right setting, you can leave the barley to cook to perfection, without having to do much else.
2. Time-Saving
When cooking barley on the stovetop, you need to be present to check on the barley to make sure it is cooking properly, and stir it to ensure that the barley doesnโt burn.
However, when using a rice cooker, you can leave the barley to cook on its own without having to keep watch, meaning you can get on with other things as the barley cooks!
3. Cleaning Is Easier
Cleaning a rice cooker pot after cooking barley is much easier than scrubbing a pot that has been used on the stovetop. There arenโt going to be any burnt bits to scrub off, and the non-stick of the rice cooker will make washing up a breeze!
4. Consistent Results
There will be no variation in the cooking process with the rice cooker, as long as you add the right amount of barley and water each time.
This means you can rely on getting perfectly cooked barley each time, unlike with the stovetop, which can give you inconsistent results.
How To Cook Pearl Barley In A Rice Cooker โ Step-By-Step Guide
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook barley in a rice cooker. Keep in mind that this is for pearl barley โ we will include tips on how to cook hulled barley later on.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 2 cups water
- Salt
Instructions
- Rinse the barley under cool running water for a few seconds to remove any residual powder โ this will ensure the barley does not have a grainy consistency when cooked.
- Put the rinsed barley into the pot of the rice cooker.
- Add the water to the barley in the rice cooker pot.
- Place a pinch of salt in with the water and barley, then give it all a gentle stir.
- Place the rice cooker pot into the rice cooker โ make sure the lid fully covers the pot.
- Turn the rice cooker to the “brown rice” setting, then leave it to cook.
- Once the rice cooker turns to “keep warm,” switch the rice cooker off.
- Leave the barley to stand for between 10โ15 minutes and serve.
Notes
Even though cooking barley in a rice cooker is simple, there are some tips that can help your barley turn out right each time:
- Make sure to choose the right setting on the rice cooker. The right setting should be “brown rice” as this cooks the barley perfectly. It also allows the barley to absorb all the water, so it is nice and plump, and slightly moist instead of soggy.
- A good trick is to slightly grease the rice cooker pot before placing the water and barley into it. This prevents any barley from sticking and makes cleaning up much easier.
- You can obviously cook more barley at a time if there is space in the rice cooker โ just remember to stick to the ratio of 1 part barley to 2 cups of water. This way you will get the perfect texture of barley, without it being too dry or too soggy.
How To Cook Pearl Barley In A Rice Cooker
A great way to include barley in your diet (without having to cook it on the stovetop) and get it perfect each time is simply to cook it in a rice cooker!
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl barley
- 2 cups water
- Salt
Instructions
- Rinse the barley under cool running water for a few seconds to remove any residual powder — this will ensure the barley does not have a grainy consistency when cooked.
- Put the rinsed barley into the pot of the rice cooker.
- Add the water to the barley in the rice cooker pot.
- Place a pinch of salt in with the water and barley, then give it all a gentle stir.
- Place the rice cooker pot into the rice cooker — make sure the lid fully covers the pot.
- Turn the rice cooker to the “brown rice” setting, then leave it to cook.
- Once the rice cooker turns to “keep warm,” switch the rice cooker off.
- Leave the barley to stand for between 10–15 minutes and serve.
Notes
Even though cooking barley in a rice cooker is simple, there are some tips that can help your barley turn out right each time:
- Make sure toย choose the right settingย on the rice cooker. The right setting should beย “brown rice”ย as this cooks the barley perfectly. It also allows the barley to absorb all the water, so it is nice and plump, and slightly moist instead of soggy.
- A good trick is toย slightly grease the rice cooker potย before placing the water and barley into it. This prevents any barley from sticking and makes cleaning up much easier.
- You can obviously cook more barley at a time if there is space in the rice cooker โ just remember toย stick to the ratio of 1 part barley to 2 cups of water. This way you will get the perfect texture of barley, without it being too dry or too soggy.
Tips To Cook Hulled Barley In A Rice Cooker
Pearled barley is really easy to cook as it does not contain the germ (seed), which means it is quicker to cook as well.
Hulled barley has the hull removed, but still has the germ. This means that it is a whole grain and thus it contains more vitamins and minerals than pearl barley. However, this also means that it takes longer to cook!
When cooking hulled barley, you will need to allow for 20 minutes longer cooking. Additionally, you will need to use less water (about 1 cup of barley to 1 cup of water) as hulled barley does not absorb as much water as pearled barley.
Fully cooked hulled barley is nuttier and chewier than pearl barley, but many people prefer this and do not mind the extra cooking time.
Do I Need To Soak Barley Before Cooking?
If you are making pearl barley, then you do not necessarily have to soak it before cooking. You can, however, soak it for softer results.
It is advised to soak hulled barley before cooking. You can soak the barley for 30 minutes before cooking, and you can even soak it for longer if you have the time.
Soaking the barley helps it to be less chewy when cooked, but this is also up to your preference on how you prefer your barley texture.
Different Types Of Barley
There are a few different types of barley to choose from, and they all require different cooking times and methods.
Here are the most popular types of barley!
Pearl Barley
Pearl barley has been polished and does not contain the seed and outer shell. Pearl barley is not considered a whole grain, but it is still a healthy option.
When cooking, pearl barley cooks quicker than other types, and it is the most popular variety of barley sold at stores.
Hulled Barley
Hulled barley is a whole grain that has had the shell removed, yet still has the germ. It is rich in fiber and nutrients and has a chewy texture to it once cooked.
It takes longer to cook hulled barley compared to other types of barley.
Barley Flakes
Barley flakes look similar to rolled oats and are made in a similar way too. The barley is steamed, rolled, and then dried up.
This is a fast-cooking form of barley as it has a larger surface area, which absorbs water more quickly.
Barley Grits
Barley grits are made by removing the outer shell of the barley, then cutting the interior into very fine pieces.
It takes generally 30 minutes to cook barley grits, and they will have a porridge-like consistency once done.
Is Barley Gluten-Free?
Barley is not gluten-free, so this is something to keep in mind when deciding to cook it.
The three grains that cannot be eaten on a gluten-free diet are barley, wheat, and rye. If you are gluten-intolerant or cannot have gluten in your diet, then you should avoid eating barley.
Final Thoughts
Cooking barley in a rice cooker is a great option, as you can set the rice cooker on to cook the barley and then go about doing other things without having to stand around stirring the barley on the stovetop.
Using a rice cooker to make barley also helps it turn out perfectly each time as long as you prepare the barley with the correct ratio of 1 cup of barley to 2 cups of water.
Make sure to read our step-by-step guide on how to cook barley in the rice cooker, as well as some helpful tips, so you can use a rice cooker to cook barley to save you time and effort in the kitchen!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve learned about the different forms of barley and how to cook them in a rice cooker, here are some additional questions that we thought you might have.
How long does barley take to cook in a rice cooker?
A rice cooker does a great job at switching off once the barley is cooked, and the time would vary depending on the type of barley being used. Generally, it might take around 40 minutes to fully cook barley in a rice cooker.
Can hulled barley be cooked in the rice cooker?
Hulled barley can be cooked in the rice cooker, but you would need to follow a ratio of one cup of barley to one cup of water. The rice cooker will cook the barley until it is done.