Place quinoa in a wire mesh strianer and rinse 2 to 3 times, massaging it gently to reomve the outer covering of saponin. Drain the quinoa.
To cook Quinoa directly in the main pot:
Add drained quinoa to the Instant Pot insert.
Add water and make sure all the quinoa is evenly submerged under water.
Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure release handle to sealing.
Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook (Hi) for 1 minute. Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any remaining pressure by moving the pressure release handle to venting and open the Instant Pot. Gently fluff the quinoa with a fork or silicone spatula.
To cook Quinoa using pot in pot method:
Add 1 cup of water to the main pot.
Add drained quinoa and water to a stainless steel pot and place the pot over the trivet.
Carefully place the trivet inside the main pot.
Close the Instant Pot lid with pressure release handle to sealing.
Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook (Hi) for 4 minutes. Allow 10 minutes of natural pressure release. Release any remaining pressure by moving the pressure release handle to venting and open the Instant Pot. Take the inner stainless pot and the trivet out using heat resistant mitts. Gently fluff the quinoa with a fork or silicone spatula.
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Notes
If you are planning to use the quinoa in savory dishes or salads, add a pinch of salt while cooking. You can also use broth instead of water for added flavor.
If you are making lesser than 1 cup of quinoa, it is best to use the pot in pot method.
When cooking quinoa directly in the main pot, you can also spray the bottom on the Instant Pot insert with oil. This prevents the cooked quinoa from sticking to the bottom of the pot.