Cooking quinoa is easy, but there is an important step you must follow, or you risk developing a sensitivity or allergy to quinoa.
Quinoa is a very nutritious grain, and an ideal food as part of a gluten-free diet. It is very popular with celiacs and those with a gluten allergy.
However, a small minority of people report becoming sick after eating quinoa, usually after consuming it for some time. This is a real shame, as quinoa is very tasty, extremely nutritious, and easy to cook. It is versatile, and can be used in many ways.
The most likely problem is saponin, which protects the plant from insect and fungal attack. This is a soapy substance which can be washed out of the quinoa pseudograin. It has a bitter taste, and possible minor toxic effects.
Because of the bitter taste and possible toxicity, it is important that you wash out most saponin before cooking the quinoa. It certainly is not a very dangerous substance, nor is it as bitter as fish bile, so you do not have to take the same care with washing your quinoa as you would with preparing a puffer fish or something.
Washing Quinoa
There are several ways to wash quinoa.
You can put it into a sieve, one with a fine enough mesh to trap even the smallest seeds. Then run it under the tap, shaking the sieve gently from side to side, until the water runs clear.
Or you can immerse the sieve in a bit bowl of water. Rub the seeds with your fingers to help shift the saponin. Repeat two or three times until the water is clear and no foam forms on the surface.
Or you can put the quinoa in a blender with some water, and pulse it a few times to agitate the mixture, but not actually chop up the seeds. Drain it through a sieve.
Cooking Quinoa
Put quinoa in a pot, with water in a 1:2 ratio (twice as much water). It takes approximately 12 minutes to cook. Allow a little longer (15 minutes or so) if cooking with other acidic ingredients.
A dash of salt brings out the flavor, although some people prefer to cook without salt and are used tot he reduced flavor.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
nausea after eating quinoa
I have twice experienced severe nausea and vomiting after eating boiled quinoa – maybe the saponin – I had eaten it numerous times in the past year but the last two times I got severe nausea about 3 hours after eating it – my husband did not experience the illness. The first time I had cooked with applejuice to eat for breakfast and yesterday I cooked with 2 percent milk. Don’t know if I will be brave enough to try it again.
Give quinoa a rest for a while
I understand why you might not be brave enough to try it again.
Certainly you should give quinoa a rest for at least a month, before deciding if you want to try it again.
Good luck!
stomach issues after eating quinoa
i have been eating quinoa for about a year and love it. i have used it in salads and as a side dish with sauteed vegatables. recently i have cooked it plain for breakfast with different fruits. the last batch i cooked and ate for breakfast gave me severe stomach pain about 2 hours after eating it and lasted for several hours. i dont plan on giving up on it, since it is the “super grain of the future” i will try rinsing it as suggested above.
Quinoa
Quinoa makes me feel nausiated and sick to my stomach. I have tried it 4 or 5 times and it is off my list as a food to eat.
Mild allergy can only be related to quinoa
I have had an allergic reaction now on 2 occasions that seemed bizarre to me because I don’t usually have allergic reaction to foods. Several months ago I had some crunchmaster crackers from Sam’s and experienced a strange swelling (anaphylactic type response) around my mouth — it went away with benadryl. Yesterday I made quinoa veggie burgers for the family and had a more severe swelling again around my mouth along with back pain and also leg pain. I also experienced mild cramping in my intestinal area. Again, I took benadryl and the swelling subsided gradually. I rinse the grains always very well and cook according to directions. I’m guessing they did the same in the crackers. I have had quinoa years before without reaction although I do not eat it often. I’m saddened to now relate these reactions to quinoa and probably won’t risk a more severe reaction by continuing to try it being the second reaction was worse than the first. No one else in my family seems to have this same reaction….
Love quinoa
My family loves quinoa and we have never had any problems with it. Even our dog enjoys it with us from time to time!
Good news quinoa!
So glad to hear some good news about quinoa!
Most people are fine with it.
This post seems to attract a lot of comments from people who have had problems with quinoa, but of all the people that eat quinoa, only a tiny minority have problems.
Nice to hear from the happy segment!
I have tried quinoa twice. On both occasions I developed severe resperitory infection the next day. Not 100% positive it is due to quinoa, but have an overwhelming suspicion since both instances were very similar.
My mom ate quinoa. Had to admit her to the hospital. Thirty thousand dollars later they could not find her problem. They determined that she had a miny stroke, but now I know that it was the quinoa. Makes me wonder about the medical care when they could not figure out that it was an allergic reaction.
My daughter has been diagnosed with quite a few allergies. Quinoa is something she likes and we’ve purchased by the box in a health food store. There were no directions that stated it should be washed prior to cooking. Is there other ways to purchase this, or does it only come in “box form”?
You can buy quinoa in bulk. Stores that sell it in bulk may sell you a 10 or 20 pound bag at a discount.
I too have also eaten quinoa many times in the past and felt fine afterwards but the last two times I have become severly nauseous afterward and vomited. I dont think I will take the chance again. Can rinsing really make that much difference? why is that not said on the cooking instructions?
I suspect that once you become sensitive to quinoa, rinsing will not on its own reverse the problem.
You may lose the sensitivity if you cut it out of your diet for a few months (try a year since the symptoms are nasty) – then if you are brave enough to try it, rinse the quinoa before eating it.
No one will blame you if you never want to try it again!