There's a shelf full of tasty grains to discover, and most are remarkably easy to prepare. With these tips, you have the exact grain-to-water ratio for fluffy, tender rice, a hot hack for adding extra flavour and more.
Common grain-to-water ratios for cooking grains
Amaranth
1 cup grains to 2 cups liquid. Cook for 10 to 20 minutes.
Pot barley
1 cup grains to 3 cups liquid. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes.
Brown rice
1 cup grains to 2½ cups liquid. Cook for 25 to 45 minutes.
Quinoa
1 cup grains to 2 cups liquid. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes. Pre-rinse in a fine-mesh sieve to prevent bitterness.
Buckwheat
1 cup grains to 2 cups liquid. Cook for 20 minutes.
Spelt/wheat berries
1 cup grains to 4 cups liquid. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes. Soak overnight before cooking.
Bulgur
1 cup grains to 2 cups liquid. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes.
Steel-cut oats
1 cup grains to 4 cups liquid. Cook for 30 minutes.
Couscous
1 cup grains to 1½ cups liquid. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Bring liquid to a boil; turn off heat and add couscous to pot, stirring evenly to moisten. Cover and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
Teff
1 cup grains to 3 cups liquid. Cook for 20 minutes.
Farro
1 cup grains to 2½ cups liquid. Cook for 25 to 40 minutes.
White rice
1 cup grains to 1½ cups liquid. Cook for 16 to 18 minutes.
Millet
1 cup grains to 2½ cups liquid. Cook for 25 to 35 minutes.
Wild rice
1 cup grains to 3 cups liquid. Cook for 45 to 55 minutes. When rice is cooked, turn off heat and let stand, covered, for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork.
Tips
- For extra flavour in savoury dishes, substitute broth for water.
- Bring grains to a boil in water or broth, then turn down the heat and let simmer until they absorb all the cooking liquid.
- Cooking times can vary depending on grain variety, age, storage, presoaking time, and cookware, so follow package instructions and taste-test for doneness. A grain is ready when it's tender yet chewy.
- With the exception of couscous, all grains can be presoaked for two to three hours to save on cooking time. Time savings will vary.
