| Whole grains are easy to cook on the stovetop | | | | grains in a colander if there is excess liquid. Note: I |
| (as you would cook rice or pasta), or in a | | | | let the grains sit for at least 20-30 minutes after |
| countertop steamer. I always cook one pound | | | | the timer rings before removing the lid. |
| (2½ cups) of whole grains at a time (as | | | | On the stovetop: Any of the whole grains can be |
| much as my steamer will hold), since they keep | | | | cooked in a pot just as you would cook white |
| well -- refrigerated or frozen. Leftovers can be | | | | rice, but they take longer and will use more liquid. |
| reheated in a microwave or used in salads. I | | | | This is my least favorite method because you |
| make my own "instant grains" by packaging | | | | have to stand around and watch the pot. After |
| ½-1 cup portions in baggies and storing | | | | you've done this once or twice, you'll want to go |
| them in the freezer. They take a minute or less | | | | out and get your countertop steamer. |
| to thaw in the microwave. | | | | Use a medium-size pot with a tight-fitting lid. Bring |
| The first time you cook a new grain, check them | | | | six cups of bouillon to a boil in the pot, stir in a |
| 5-10 minutes before the end of the cooking time | | | | pound of the grains (2 1/2 cups) and return to |
| to make sure they are not getting mushy. If they | | | | boiling. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and |
| aren't tender enough to suit you at the end of | | | | simmer until the grains are tender and most of |
| the recommended time, cook a little longer. You | | | | the water is absorbed, usually 45-60 minutes. |
| do not need to rinse or pre-soak whole grains. | | | | You can add raw grains to soups or stews while |
| Cook grains in bouillon or other flavored liquid; 1 | | | | they cook. My only concern is getting everything |
| cup bouillon = 1 cup water + 1 bouillon cube or 1 | | | | done at the same time without overcooking any |
| teaspoon bouillon granules, or 1 cup of any other | | | | of the ingredients. Some of my recipes use this |
| flavored liquid of your choice. If you don't use | | | | method, but most recommend cooking the grains |
| bouillon that contains salt, be sure to add a little | | | | separately. Do whatever seems easiest for you. |
| salt to the cooking liquid. Whole grains cooked | | | | Other appliances can be used to cook whole |
| without salt taste hopelessly flat. Vegetable or | | | | grains; try what you have on hand: |
| chicken flavored bouillon yields neutral-flavored | | | | Rice cooker: if you have a rice cooker with a |
| grains that can be used for anything - breakfast | | | | metal container and no timer, you may be able to |
| cereal, main dishes, salads or desserts. | | | | use it to cook your whole grains, but you will |
| Cooking whole grains in an electric countertop | | | | need to experiment. These cookers use a sensor |
| steamer: If you are serious about healthful eating, | | | | to determine when the liquid has been absorbed. |
| I recommend that you invest one of these | | | | Crockpot: Put grains and liquid in the crockpot or |
| inexpensive, handy appliances. This is by far the | | | | slow cooker, turn it on and leave it for 6-8 hours. |
| easiest, most convenient way to cook all of the | | | | Microwave: you can cook whole grains in one of |
| whole grains. Mine is a Black and Decker brand, | | | | the plastic rice steamers specifically designed for |
| with an 8-cup capacity rice bucket and 75-minute | | | | microwave use, but I haven't been too pleased |
| timer. Countertop steamers come with instruction | | | | with the results. You don't save much time, and |
| booklets with detailed information on cooking | | | | you have to stick around to change the power |
| vegetables and seafood. Follow these instructions | | | | setting and stir midway through the cooking |
| for cooking whole grains, using the times and | | | | process. |
| amounts shown in the chart. | | | | Pressure cooker: If you're comfortable using a |
| Fill the steamer base with water to the top line. | | | | pressure cooker, they work just fine for whole |
| (Do not use the drip tray.) Place the steamer | | | | grains. Adjust the cooking times as you would for |
| basket on the base. Place 1 pound of grains and 4 | | | | any other food (usually about half the regular |
| cups of bouillon in the rice bowl and set the rice | | | | time.) |
| bowl in the steamer basket. Cover, plug in, and | | | | Recipes: You'll find hundreds of recipes using whole |
| set the timer for 75 minutes. When the timer | | | | grains, more details on specialty whole grains (with |
| rings, let the grains sit until cool OR remove the | | | | cooking charts), and nutritional information at my |
| cover carefully to avoid steam burns. Drain the | | | | web site; see the link below. |