Should I rinse it before cooking?

I always rinse my grains before cooking, to remove dust and debris. Just rinse buckwheat briefly under running water.

Do I need to soak buckwheat?

No, soaking is optional. The main reason to soak grains is that it might make them easier to digest. Keep in mind that pre-soaking grains also shortens the cooking time by quite a bit. If you soak buckwheat, the cooking times listed here will be too long. To soak buckwheat, put it in a deep bowl covered by several inches of water. Let it soak at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight. Rinse the kernels after soaking.

Can I cook it on low pressure in a pressure cooker?

I tried both high and low pressure and didn't notice a difference in the texture.

Why is my cooked buckwheat/kasha mushy?

Most likely because you cooked it too long. Buckwheat can also get mushy if it absorbs too much liquid while it cooks. Toasted buckwheat is less likely to get mushy than un-toasted. Also, different brands from different countries vary slightly in texture and flavor. Find a brand that you like, and make several batches to find the perfect cooking time for that brand.

How do I store buckwheat before it's cooked?

Keep buckwheat in an airtight container, like a glass jar. Store in a cool pantry, or in the refrigerator for longer storage.

How do I store cooked buckwheat?

Cooked buckwheat will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. You can also freeze cooked buckwheat in a freezer safe jar or freezer bag. Defrost frozen cooked buckwheat in the refrigerator.

Is buckwheat gluten-free?

Yes, it's naturally gluten-free

A groat is the hulled kernel of a grain. Almost all types of grains come in groat form, such as oat, wheat, or barley groats.

What does hulled mean?

Hulled means that the hull (or husk) of the grain has been removed. The hull (or husk) is the outermost layer of a grain. This layer exists to protect a kernel of grain while it grows. Underneath the hull are the bran, the germ, and the endosperm.

How do I know if a grain has gone bad?

Just give it a good sniff. Like most seeds, nuts and grains, old buckwheat will have a dusty, musty or rancid odor.

How much cooked buckwheat will I get from 1 cup raw?

One cup of raw buckwheat makes about 4 cups cooked.

How to Cook Buckwheat (Stovetop, Instant Pot & Oven)

Name: How to Cook Buckwheat (Instant Pot, Stovetop & Oven)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Eastern European
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups water; 1 cup buckwheat (raw or toasted); 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

How to Cook Buckwheat (Instant Pot, Stovetop & Oven)

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5 from 7 reviews

Choose from the Instant Pot, stovetop or oven to cook buckwheat for cold salads, warm pilafs or porridge.

No matter how you cook or serve buckwheat, the flavor is improved by a generous pat of butter after it's cooked!

See the blog post above for detailed tips and more information about cooking buckwheat.

Author: Jenny Meier | Kitchen Skip blog
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 10
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 cups cooked 1x
Category: side dishes
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Eastern European
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup buckwheat (raw or toasted)
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)

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Instructions

Stovetop

Bring the water to a boil.
Add the buckwheat and bring the water back to a boil.
Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer (medium-low or low).
Put a tight lid on the pot and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat. Fluff gently with a fork. To absorb excess moisture, place a cloth dish towel over the pot, then put the lid back on. Let sit for at least 5 minutes.

Instant Pot

Combine the water, buckwheat and salt in the Instant Pot
Cook on high-pressure for 2 minutes
Let the pressure release naturally (about 20 minutes)
Fluff gently with a fork
Transfer it from the hot Instant Pot immediately, into a large bowl where it can cool

Notes

Oven Steamed

Ingredients:
2 cups boiling water
1 cup buckwheat
¼ teaspoon salt

Method: Heat oven to 350 F. Grease or butter the bottom of a 2-quart or slightly larger baking dish. Combine boiling water, buckwheat and salt in the dish. Stir well. Cover very tightly with foil or a lid. Bake 20 minutes without lifting the lid. Remove from the oven and fluff immediately with a fork.

Porridge

For stovetop and Instant Pot porridge, add 2 cups water for every 1 cup buckwheat. Cook slightly longer for a softer texture (5 minutes in the Instant Pot, 12 to 15 minutes on the stovetop).

This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot

1 cup of raw buckwheat will make 3 to 4 cups of cooked buckwheat.

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/how-to-cook-buckwheat-stovetop-instant-pot-oven/