How to cook quinoa in the microwave

Step by Step

Step 1

Begin by rinsing your quinoa under warm water to remove residue.

Step 2

Then, transfer the quinoa into a large microwave-safe bowl or container that has deep sides. We recommend a glass pyrex mixing bowl. Add in 2 cups of water.

Step 3

Cover your bowl with a microwave safe plate. This is going to "steam" the quinoa.

Step 4

Cook on high for 6 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir. At this point, more than half the water should be absorbed. Place the bowl back into the microwave, covered, for about 2 more minutes on high.

Step 6

At this point most of the water should be absorbed. If it's not, cook for an addiitoal 1 minute. Finally, let the bowl sit covered for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until all of the water is absorbed.

Tips and Warnings

Quantity: you can make as much or as little quinoa as you want. It really depends on the size of the bowl you have. The bigger the bowl, the more quinoa you can make. Just make sure you use a 1:2 ratio of quinoa to water.
This recipe was slightly updated on July 9, 2023. We recommend white quinoa over red/tri as it cooks more evenly. We also added a note about a large, deep bowl to make sure your quinoa does not overflow.