How to Cook Barley

Barley is a whole grain and quite delicious too. Preparing barley properly doesn't require any complicated culinary skills or cooking techniques. You have two choices when you cook barley: pre-soaking the barley overnight or simply cooking barley without any advanced preparation. If you're interested in convenience, then pre-soaking the barley is definitely your best option. Read on to learn how to cook barley.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Barley
• Water or broth
• Pot with a tight-fitting lid

1. Rinse barley first using a strainer. Pick out any debris that might have made it through processing.

2. Allow barley to soak overnight in water if you want to reduce your cooking time. Use two cups of water for each cup of barley.

3. Decide whether you'll be using water or broth to boil your barley.

4. Use 2 1/2 to 3 cups liquid to 1 cup barley. Add your liquid to the pot.

5. Bring water or broth to a boil.

6. Add barley to boiling water or broth and stir together. Cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes if you pre-soaked your barley overnight. Otherwise, cook your barley for 35 to 40 minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy barley in bulk to save money. Natural food stores and larger grocery stores usually have bulk bins with a variety of grains available, including barley. Just make sure you store your barley in a container with a tight-fitting lid when you get home and not in the plastic bags the grocery store offers.

• Use leftover barley in soups or stews to prevent wasting it.

• Barley makes a great side dish, and you can substitute barley when you would normally use rice for a different dinner experience.