How to Cook Quinoa - Four Different Methods For Preparing Quinoa

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How to Cook Quinoa - Four Different Methods For Preparing Quinoa

How to Cook Quinoa - Four Different Methods For Preparing Quinoa

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How to Cook Quinoa - Four Different Methods For Preparing Quinoa

How to Cook Quinoa - Four Different Methods For Preparing Quinoa

Quinoa is often thought of as a grain but in fact seeds from a plant. These seeds are small and come in a range of varieties. The most common variety is white which has now become readily available in the uk being stocked by Tesco, Sainsbury's and numerous health Food shops. Red quinoa has recently become available in the uk although I understand that it has been on sale in the U.S. for quite some time.

The truth about rinsing

For most types you do not need to rinse it. This is because the large manufacturers realized that they would sell more if it was prewashed before going on sale. So I have not found quinoa on sale that has not been rinsed in the last few months. If it tastes bitter then you need to rinse it by running it under a cold tap for 2 - 3 minutes before Cooking.

What does it taste like?

This superFood has a unique flavour and feel to it. It is compared to rice but it has a definite crunch to it. If you overcook it, it will become soft and fluffy like rice but it will not become sticky and stodgy like overcooked rice does. The flavour is unique but is similar to other grains which is probably why it gets confused with other grains. The best description I can think of is like a mildly crunchy porridge.

How do you cook it?

The simplest method is to boil it. You take one part of quinoa to two parts of cold water. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 10 - 20 minutes. There are 2 factors that effect the Cooking time.

You can slightly under cook the grains for 8 - 10 minutes which gives a much nuttier and crunchy feel. This is the way I prefer it. When it is subsequently added to other ingredients for a bit more Cooking it is better to undercook it. In fact one method of Cooking (shown below) includes no pre-cooking at all.

How to microwave these grains

It can be cooked in a microwave quite simply. Using the same ratio of 1 part quinoa and 2 parts water place them in a microwave dish and cook for 3 minutes. Then leave to stand. Stir for a moMent and cook for a further 3 - 5 minutes. Allow to stand for 2 minutes. Any remaining liquid can be drained - it is important that the grains in a microwave are not allowed to go dry.

Cooking soups and casseroles

This method simply includes quinoa in soup recipes and casseroles. There is no need to pre-cook the grains in the ways shown above. In soups it can add substance and flavour just by adding it to a favourite recipe. It really is a matter of trying out different soup recipes to find out what you like. Casseroles are very similar.

How to sprout

Quinoa sprouts are the least impressive sprouts you will ever see.It takes only 2 - 3 days to sprout and must be eaten straight away as it does not keep well. The sprouts are tiny. The benefit of preparing the grains this way is that you can eat it raw. A huge boost for those on a restrictive diet demanding raw food. The protein content is almost legendary and raw it really packs a punch as it is full of nutrients and vitamins. It is best combined with other salad vegetables as it can be quite bland on its own.

How to Cook Quinoa - Four Different Methods For Preparing Quinoa

Different Solar Oven Designs Pros and Cons

Most decisions in life require a balance of sorts and choosing to purchase or build a solar oven (solar cooker) is no exception. There are literally a handful of main solar oven design types and these are the solar box oven, the panel cooker, parabolic cooker, kettle, solar hybrid solar cooker and a funnel cooker.

Different Solar Oven Designs Pros and Cons

Different Solar Oven Designs Pros and Cons

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Different Solar Oven Designs Pros and Cons

Different Solar Oven Designs Pros and Cons

There are other solar oven designs in addition to these six categories that are used, for example in hot dog solar cooker, but by-and-large the majority of solar cookers fall into one of these categories.

The box cooker is probably one of the most basic solar oven designs and is literally a box concept that is designed to allow maximum sunshine to enter the insulated innerbox and heat the Food in an appropriate solar Cooking pot or pan. The heating effect is amplified by having the unit sealed with a transparent material, either buffered glass or a thick polyethylene-type plastic.

A very popular example is the Global Sun Oven, arguably the most widespread solar oven in the world. These cookers are generally good value for money, easy to use, commercially produced, effective and popular. On the downside is these cookers can be quite bulky and not as portable as some of the smaller designs. A smaller home-made variant is the solar pizza oven.

The panel cookers use flat, shiny, reflective panels to focus and concentrate sunlight onto a Cooking pot that is enclosed in a clear plastic bag. In essence it is similar to the boxcooker concept except in the majority of panel cooker designs there is no internal box. An example of a panel cooker is the CooKit solar oven. These cookers are very easy to use and light-weight, although do not quite achieve the same internal temperatures as the solar box oven peer.

Solar kettles are somewhat less conspicuous and less common compared to the other cooker designs. The solar kettle uses an evacuated due solar glass tube (solar vacuum glass tube) constructed from borosilicate glass glass to capture and store energy from the sun. This design is also referred to as a solar kettle-thermos flask. An advanTAGe is that these cookers can heat liquids to high temperatures and retain a relatively high temperatures for most of the eveningoutside of daylight hours. Whilst some Cooking of Food is possible, this is limited compared to the conventional solar cookers.

Parabolic cookers are a more sophisticated solar cooker design and while extremely effective in both domestic and industrial applications, these cookers do tend to be more pricey than their peers and as such are largely unaffordable for the entry-level solar user. These designs also tend to be quite large and not particularly portable.

Different Solar Oven Designs Pros and Cons