Instant Pot farro is really easy to cook. Whether you're making pearled farro, semi-pearled farro or whole grain farro, this recipe will answer all your questions about how to cook farro in a pressure cooker.
Farro is a grain with a nutty, earthy flavor and hearty, slightly chewy texture. Farro is often turned into a grain salad or tossed with salad greens. It can also be added soup and stew or served on the side to soak up rich, flavorful broth.
A pressure cooker makes cooking all types of grains really easy and straightforward. Just combine the grain with water and salt, set the cooking time and let your Instant Pot do all the work while you focus on something else!
In addition to Instant Pot farro, you can easily make Instant Pot barley or Instant Pot buckwheat. or Instant Pot millet. A pressure cooker is also a great way to make rice - try Instant Pot brown rice or Instant Pot brown rice with quinoa.
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Types of Farro
There are three varieties of farro: emmer, spelt and einkorn. Packages of farro don't always indicate which variety of farro is in the package. All three varieties of farro are very similar in taste.
Each variety of farro is sold either as a whole grain or pearled (or semi-pearled). Whole grain farro and pearled farro have different cooking times.
Whole Grain Farro: Contains the germ and the bran, which means it retains more nutrients and takes longer to cook. This is the most hearty type of farro, and is less likely to become mushy when cooked.
Pearled and Semi-Pearled Farro: The most common type of farro sold in grocery stores. Often the package will just say “farro” on the front and you’ll have to look at the back ingredient list to see “pearled farro.”
Semi-pearled farro has part of the bran removed and pearled farro has all of the bran removed, so neither one is considered a whole grain. Pearled and semi-pearled farro cook faster than whole grain farro. The texture is slightly softer than whole grain farro.
Quick Cooking or Instant Farro: This type of farro has been partially cooked and dried, so it’s considered the most processed. Quick cooking farro cooks in just ten minutes on the stove, which is really convenient!
I always boil quick-cooking or "instant" farro on the stove rather than using a pressure cooker. I'm worried that a pressure cooker will overcook it. Trader Joe's quick-cooking farro is the brand I always buy. It has a softer, less chewy, texture than regular farro.
Farro to Water Ratio
You've probably noticed that recipes for Instant Pot farro have many different farro to water ratios. Understandably, this is confusing! I prefer to cook farro using the "pasta method" which means cooking farro like pasta in a lot of water, then simply draining off any remaining water in a colander after the grain is cooked. This ensures that the farro is cooked and eliminates any worry that there isn't enough liquid and the farro will stick to the pot or cause a "burn notice."
This recipe uses a 3:1 farro to water ratio (3 cups water + 1 cup farro). You can use this ratio for both the stove top and a pressure cooker. A 3:1 ratio in a pressure cooker will leave a little bit of water in the pot that needs to be drained once the farro is cooked.
Don't let cooked farro sit in the extra water when it's done cooking, or it will continue to soften in the hot water and get mushy.
Cooking Time for Instant Pot Farro
You might notice that some recipes for Instant Pot farro have a shorter cooking time but longer natural release time and some recipes (like this one) have a longer cooking time and a quick release. Both cooking methods work, it's just a matter of personal preference.
- Instant Pot Cooking Time for Pearled/Semi-Pearled: 8 to 10 minutes, quick release
- Instant Pot Cooking Time for Whole Grain Farro: 12 to 15 minutes, quick release
Using the shorter recommended cooking time will give farro a firmer, chewier texture.
Recipe Tip
When the Instant Pot farro is done cooking, immediately drain off any water that remains in the pot. If cooked farro sits in the cooking water too long, it will continue to soften in the hot water and get mushy.
Add More Flavor to Farro
Farro has a mild flavor that's earthy and nutty. Here are some ways you can boost the flavor of farro:
- Simmer farro in broth or apple cider
- Add whole spices to the simmering water, like bay leaf, peppercorns, coriander seeds or fennel seeds
- Add fresh herbs to the simmering water, like sprigs of parsley and thyme
- Add garlic and onion to the simmering water
- Before simmering farro, toast the grains in a dry skillet for 3 to 5 minutes until the grain is lightly browned and fragrant
Farro Substitutes
There are several types of grains that are very similar to farro and can be used as farro substitutes.
Barley: Overall, the best substitute for farro is barley. You can learn how to cook barley in your Instant Pot or on the stove top. Barley has a mild, nutty flavor and looks very similar to farro. The two grains also have similar cooking times. You can swap out the barley and use farro in Crockpot Beef & Barley Stew or Instant Pot Mushroom Barley Soup.
Wheat Berries: Another possible substitute is wheat berries. The texture of wheat berries is chewier and the flavor is nuttier. Bob's Red Mill has a good explanation of wheat berries and how to cook this variety of wheat.
Buckwheat: Another substitute is buckwheat. You can learn how to cook buckwheat using a stove, oven or pressure cooker. However, buckwheat has a stronger, earthier flavor and is a bit heavier and heartier than farro.
How to Serve Farro
Salad: Farro can be used as the base for a grain salad or grain bowl. Simply add some combination of roasted or raw vegetables, fresh herbs, crumbled cheese and a protein like beans, shredded meat or tofu. Dress with olive oil, lemon and salt.
Farro can also be tossed into any type of green salad.
Soup: You can also make farro soup. Try Instant Pot Farro Soup with Lemon Ginger broth or use farro instead of barley in Instant Pot Mushroom Barley Soup.
Stew: Farro can be a substitute for barley in recipes like Crock Pot Beef & Barley stew.
Side Dish: Serve farro as a healthy, hearty side with dishes like Instant Pot vegetable stew, Instant Pot Pork Adobo or Instant Pot jerk chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions About Farro
Different brands of farro can cook differently. Also, some people like a softer texture and some like a firmer texture. You might also notice different cooking methods - some recipes have a shorter cooking time but longer release time and some recipes (like this one) have a longer cooking time and quick release.
It's best to error in the side of undercooking farro slightly. You can always re-seal the lid and program a few more minutes of cooking time if the farro is too firm or chewy for your liking.
No. Farro is an ancient strain of wheat and is not gluten-free
Yes, Emmer is a variety of farro. There are actually three varieties of farro: emmer, spelt and einkorn.
Farro is considered an ancient grain, which means it hasn't been modified or crossbred extensively. It's high in protein and fiber.
It's a good idea. Before cooking, give it a quick rinse in a fine mesh strainer under water to remove dust and debris.
No, farro doesn't need to be soaked. However, some cooks like to soak farro so that it cooks faster. This is especially true for whole grain farro, which takes the longest amount of time to cook. Some people also feel that soaking farro makes it easier for the body to digest the nutrients.
All three varieties of farro (emmer, spelt and einkorn) can be ground into whole grain flour. Farro flour can be used in baking recipes in the same way that whole wheat flour is used. Farro flour is not gluten-free.
Farro can be cooked in a slow cooker, but the only real reason to do this is if you're making slow cooker soup with farro in it. Otherwise, it's easier and faster to cook in on the stove or in a pressure cooker.
Barley and Farro Recipes
If you try this recipe for Instant Pot farro please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it turned out. in the comments below. I love hearing from readers!
Print📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Farro
Farro is a grain with a nutty, earthy flavor and hearty, chewy texture. My favorite way to cook farro is in a pressure cooker. Instant Pot farro is so easy to make!
This recipe has cooking times for pearled or semi-pearled farro (the most common variety sold in stores) and whole grain farro, which takes longer to cook.
The packaging should indicate whether or not the farro is whole grain or pearled/semi-pearled. Sometimes it won't say on the front and you have to look at the ingredient list on the back.
Different brands of farro can cook differently, so it's best to error in the side of undercooking slightly. You can always re-seal the lid and program a few more minutes of cooking time if the farro is too chewy for your liking.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: grains
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup farro (pearled or semi-pearled or whole grain)
- 3 cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Rinse the farro briefly under running water.
- Combine farro, water and salt in the Instant Pot.
- Pearl or Semi-Pearled - Cook on high pressure for 8 to 10 minutes, quick release
Whole Grain Farro - Cook on high pressure for 12 to 15 minutes, quick release - Drain the farro immediately in a colander. If it sits in the cooking water, it will continue to soften.
Notes
Using the shorter amount of cooking time will yield farro that is chewier and firmer. A longer cooking time makes farro that is less firm but still has a bit of chewiness to it.
Cooked farro can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze cooked farro in a sealed freezer bag for several months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Jen says
I love having a batch a farro that can easily be turned into salads and grain bowls throughout the week. Cooking farro in your pressure cooker is really easy!
Laurie says
Where can I find quick cook Farro. I find the regular Farro but not the quick cook
Jenny says
I've seen quick cook (10 minute) farro at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market/365 and also at Albertsons and Safeway (West Coast stores). If you're not on the west coast, there are several other grocery store chains that are owned by Albertsons and might also carry quick cooking farro. Hope you're able to find it, it's really convenient!