How Long To Soak Lentils Before Cooking

How to Cook Lentils: A Stride-past-Step Guide

Learn how to cook lentils perfectly on the stove and in the Instant Pot.

There are so many reasons to love lentils. These versatile legumes are rich in fiber and poly peptide, making them an essential part of any vegan or vegetarian nutrition. They're also extremely shelf-stable, making them the perfect pantry item to stock up on.

Apply them year-round for soups and stews in the winter months and common cold salads in the summer months. And unlike beans, they don't crave soaking. They're then fast and easy to cook, the hardest part is not overcooking them.

Lucky for you, we take stride-by-stride instructions for how to cook dried lentils 2 means.

How to Cook Lentils: Two Easy Means

lentil salad with bell peppers and dressing

Here are two easy methods for cooking lentils: the classic stovetop method and the Instant Pot method. Both ways are quick and easy, merely if y'all have an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker, using it to cook lentils keeps you from spending fourth dimension bent over the stove. And because lentils are and so small, they don't require soaking like beans. Keep reading for step-past-step instructions on how to cook lentils.

How to Cook Lentils on the Stove

This classic method doesn't require whatever fancy gadgets. Here's how y'all practise it:

Rinse. Place the lentils in a strainer and option out whatever debris or shriveled lentils. Thoroughly rinse nether running water.
Eddy. Combine 3 cups of liquid (water, goop, etc.) with 1 cup of dried lentils in a saucepan. Add seasonings such equally garlic or bay leaves (but don't add salt nevertheless), and bring to a boil.
Simmer. Reduce heat to low and cover. Let the lentils simmer until they're soft but not falling autonomously. Refer to cooking times beneath for how long to cook each blazon of lentil.
Strain. Strain lentils and return them to the pan and table salt to gustatory modality. And there you take it!

Stovetop Lentil Cooking Times:

fifteen to xx minutes: Cherry-red lentils, yellowish lentils
twenty to 25 minutes: Black lentils
20 to thirty minutes: Brown lentils, green lentils

How Long to Cook Lentils in the Instant Pot

If you're lucky plenty to have an Instant Pot, you know it makes everything easier to cook, including lentils. Here'south how you do it:

Rinse. Place the lentils in a strainer and pick out any droppings or shriveled lentils. Thoroughly rinse under running water.
Cook. Combine two cups of liquid for every one cup of dried lentils in the inner pot. Season as yous like (try adding garlic and bay leaves for added flavour). Turn the pressure valve to the sealing position and cook on high force per unit area. Refer to cooking times below for how long to cook each type of lentil in the Instant Pot.
Release pressure. Once the timer is upwards, allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes. And so plough the force per unit area valve to the venting position to quickly release the remainder of the pressure.
Stir. Open the lid and stir the lentils. Note there will exist some extra liquid — allow the lentils to soak information technology up every bit y'all stir and serve.

Instant Pot Lentil Cooking Times:

1-ii minutes: Red lentils, yellowish lentils
6-7 minutes: Blackness lentils
8-ten minutes: Brown lentils, light-green lentils

What Are Lentils?

Boring Cooker Mediterranean Lentil Stew

Irksome Cooker Mediterranean Lentil Stew

| Credit: Lutzflcat

Lentils are the small-scale, round, dried seeds of the lentil plant, a legume. They are a staple ingredient in Southward Asian, Due west Asian, and Mediterranean cuisines.

Because they're high in fiber, carbs, and protein, lentils are the perfect ingredient to contain into vegan and vegetarian diets. Color, shape, size, and taste tin vary greatly among different types of lentils. Got more questions? Read our guide to lentils.

Types of Lentils

dried yellow lentils with label on white background

Credit: Blaine Moats/Meredith

At that place are just almost a dozen varieties of lentils, merely only a few are usually constitute in well-nigh grocery stores. They can vary greatly in gustation and texture, so make sure y'all're ownership the right ones for your cooking needs.

Dark-brown lentils: This is the most mutual variety, sometimes you'll find them in the supermarket simply labeled every bit "lentils." They take a mild flavor, making them the almost versatile of all lentils.
Red lentils: Red lentils, also called dissever lentils, are more orange in colour than red. Because their seed coat has been removed, they cook very fast and can become mushy, making them platonic for soups or stews.
Greenish lentils: Light-green lentils have a sleeky surface and a slightly firmer texture. They hold their shape well making them ideal for salads.
Blackness lentils: These tiny lentils resemble caviar, and they accept a rich, earthy flavor. Because they hold their shape fairly well, they're best for utilize in salads.
Xanthous lentils: A staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, yellow lentils melt fairly quick and tin can get mushy, and then salve them for use in soups and stews.

How to Store Lentils

Dried lentils can be stored in an closed container for up to a year. Cooked lentils tin be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to five days.

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