Can You Cook Quinoa and Rice Together in a Rice Cooker?

The Challenge of Mixed Grains

Quinoa and white rice make an excellent nutritional pairing. Quinoa provides complete protein and fiber, while white rice provides a fluffy, comforting base.

However, cooking them together presents a challenge: they have different starch profiles and slightly different water requirements. If you aren’t careful, the quinoa turns to mush before the rice is fully cooked.

The Secret: Ratios and Soaking

To cook them simultaneously in a rice cooker, you need to use a specific blend. A 2:1 ratio of Rice to Quinoa yields the best texture.

For more on this topic, see our guide on How to Cook Lentils in a Rice Cooker.

The Ingredients

• 1 cup Long-grain White Rice or Jasmine Rice
• 1/2 cup Quinoa (white, red, or tri-color)
• 2.5 cups Water or Broth
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Olive oil (crucial to prevent foaming)

For more on this topic, see our guide on How to Cook Perfect Basmati Rice in a Rice Cooker.

The Instructions

1. The Double Rinse Place both the rice and the quinoa in a fine-mesh strainer together. Rinse them under cold running water for a full minute, rubbing the grains together. This removes the surface starch from the rice and the bitter saponin coating from the quinoa.

2. The Soak (Crucial Step) Place the rinsed grains in the inner pot of the rice cooker. Add the water/broth. Let it sit for 15 minutes before turning the cooker on. Quinoa absorbs water faster than white rice. Soaking them together allows the rice to get a head start on hydration, ensuring they finish cooking at the same time.

3. Add Oil and Salt Add the salt and the olive oil. Quinoa foams aggressively when boiling. The small amount of oil breaks the surface tension of the water, preventing the starchy bubbles from erupting out of the steam vent and making a mess of your counter.

4. Cook Close the lid and press “Cook” (or use the standard “White Rice” setting on a fuzzy logic machine).

5. Rest and Fluff When the cycle is complete, leave the lid closed on “Keep Warm” for 10 minutes. Then open and fluff gently with a rice paddle. The quinoa germ (the little white tails) will have popped, and the rice will be tender.

What About Brown Rice and Quinoa?

Do not try to cook brown rice and quinoa together using this method. Brown rice requires 45-60 minutes to cook, while quinoa only needs 15-20. If you cook them together, the quinoa will completely disintegrate into a paste before the brown rice is even soft. If you want a brown rice and quinoa blend, you must cook them in separate batches and mix them afterward.