If you are looking for an alternative grain to rice or some other grain meals, quinoa is your way to go. This is a healthy grain that can be added to eating plans and you can be ascertained of another type of meal for your dinner. Quinoa takes a longer time to cook when compared to rice, this means if you want to save yourself some time, you will likely need to cook quinoa as a batch so that use it throughout the whole week.
After cooking in a batch, the question we will ask is if you can reheat your quinoa. Quinoa can be reheated, being an easy grain to freeze or refrigerate, you can also easily reheat it. The fastest way to do this is to use a microwave, you can also use a stovetop and oven to reheat your quinoa. You will need to find out the techniques you can use so that when you reheat your quinoa, it will taste fresh every time you eat it.
The Complete Guide to Reheating Quinoa
What we will discuss here are the best methods that can be used to store quinoa and also reheat the meals.
How to Store Cooked Quinoa
You must ensure to perfectly store your quinoa first before you can also perfectly reheat it. It is quite easy to store quinoa but you have to ensure that the quinoa is allowed to completely cool before you pack them inside your Ziploc bag or a sealable airtight Tupperware container. The next thing you need to do is to remove the excess air in the container so that your quinoa will be allowed to stay fresh in the fridge for a long time.
If you do it properly by following the instructions above, your cooked quinoa can last fresh inside the fridge for about five days. If you have added some additional ingredients to the quinoa, you might want to only keep it in the fridge for the time frame the ingredient quickest to go off will use. If you have mixed meat or eggs with the quinoa, you might need to reheat them within two to three days. If you want to know if the quinoa has become bad, check the texture, it would have become harden after losing its moisture. If you have stored it improperly or you leave it for too long, mold may grow on it and it will be very visible.
Can You Eat Quinoa Cold?
You can eat cold quinoa, this is one good thing about quinoa because it tastes wonderful even when cold. You may even make yourself a salad by mixing fresh veggies with it. You can also add raisins, nuts, and milk to get a substitute for cereal. It is not everyone that likes cold quinoa most especially when it is the winter that hot meals are always craved for.
Simple Steps to Reheating Quinoa
To reheat your quinoa, there are a few ways you can do it, find out below.
Reheating Quinoa inside an Oven
You must have a casserole dish that has a good cover if you want to reheat the quinoa in the oven. This is to keep the quinoa from becoming dry as you reheat. You can also use an oven-safe container or baking pan covered with tinfoil if you do not have the casserole dish.
You will need to add a little water to your quinoa before you put it into an oven. About four tablespoons can be added to one cup of your cooked quinoa so that they will not dry out because quinoa soaks up liquid in a large amount. Heat the quinoa for 10 to 15 minutes at a temperature of 350°F and ensure you check and stir as necessitated.
Reheating Quinoa on the Stove
If you want to warm your quinoa on a stove, there are two options for you, check below:
- Steamed version:
Add a little water to the pan containing your quinoa if you wish to see the quinoa to give you a freshly boiled feeling.
- Cover your grains tightly so that they will rehydrate from the steam even as you heat on low.
- Frequently stir the grains and do not hesitate to put additional water if they look like they will get sticky or dry.
- Pan-fried version
- You will get a fried-rice kind of meal if you fry cooked quinoa inside oil because the outer sides will be a little crunchy.
- Put your deep pan or pot on the stove, add some oil, and then add the quinoa.
- Endeavor to continuously stir it and heat it until warm-up.
- The grain will begin to become dry if you allow it to cook for too long. Heating should only take between five to seven minutes.
Using The Microwave To Warm Up Your Quinoa
Reheating your quinoa in a microwave is easy and very quick but you will need to follow the proper steps to get the desired result. Break up the quinoa as much as you can and ensure to use your largest plate that can fit into the microwave. If you leave a big clump in your microwave, the heat will not get to the center and the outside of the quinoa will dry out.
If you want to ensure that your quinoa is heated moist and nice, try to make a small opening at the center of the meal and add one or two tablespoons of water. Through this process, some steam can be added as it heats up.
Allow the quinoa to warm up for 30 to 45 seconds. You should also try to distribute the moisture and heat evenly by stirring it in between. You can use your microwave cover to help keep the steam contained in the grain. In case you do not have a lid or cover, lay one or two sheets of moistened paper towel on the quinoa so that the moisture will be protected. Ensure you do not use a plastic container to heat the grains because it can allow harmful chemicals to leach into the food. Always endeavor to use a ceramic or glass container inside a microwave.
Alternative Methods for Reheating Quinoa
You could use any of the tools below for an alternative method to get your quinoa reheated:
- Add the quinoa to freshly cooked soup
- Instant Pot
- Crockpot
- Steamer
- Toaster Oven
Can Quinoa be Frozen? – How to Freeze Quinoa
It is very easy to freeze quinoa. You must ensure that the quinoa is cooled completely before you put them into the freezer. It is either you put them in your freezer-safe Ziploc bag or Tupperware container. You must ensure that they are tightly packed so that excess air will be removed from the container and that each grain will not be exposed to air. This will protect it from having freezer burn because there will be the formation of ice crystals if there is excessive air.
Defrosting Quinoa From Frozen
When you want to defrost your frozen quinoa, all you need to do is to remove the quinoa from the freezer and allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight. You may also leave it on the counter or inside the sink to thaw to room temperature, this is a quicker method. In case you are rushing, you may also thaw by filling your sink or bowl with lukewarm water (not hot please) and carefully place the sealed quinoa inside the water. For every 30 minutes, try to swap it out of the water until they are all defrosted.
It is not too good to thaw your quinoa inside a microwave because it will not evenly thaw and you will result to get a combination of sticky and dry quinoa. After thawing completely, then use any of the methods above to reheat it.
Related Questions
Does quinoa cause bloat and/or gas?
Because quinoa is easier to digest than beans or wheat, it is most times used as a substitute for foods that do cause bloating and gas. Quinoa can be used to make delicious, nutritious, and light flour that is more beneficial than wheat flour and it also has fewer digestive problems. Quinoa contains high protein and can be used as an alternative to beans and lentils that cause gassiness.
Do you need to rinse quinoa before cooking it?
Unless your quinoa grain package states that it has been pre-rinsed, you must always rinse your quinoa before you cook it. Even if it is stated that it is pre-rinsed, it is still not bad to wash. There is this natural pesticide coating referred to as saponin that is contained in quinoa, though it is not dangerous when eaten, it does have this bitter flavor associated with it and it may lead to mild irritation in case your stomach is sensitive to it.
Can quinoa be eaten raw?
It is not harmful if you eat your raw quinoa if you can carefully rinse it, though it is not tempting. If you want to get the best texture and taste, sprout or cook it and you may also make flour out of it by grinding the raw quinoa grains into a very fine powder.
Can quinoa be cooked in a rice cooker?
Your quinoa can be cooked really well inside the rice cooker. All you need is two cups of water to every cup of your quinoa (rinsed). The cooking should get done between 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff it with your fork after cooking and allow it to rest for a minimum of five minutes before you serve it. You can replace water with coconut milk if you want to add a twist to the flavor. You can also mix water and coconut milk.
