Fast-Cooking Whole Grains

Here is a handy chart for fast cooking whole grains. Our criteria for “fast cooking” is 20 minutes or less. The following chart is based on typical stovetop cooking times. Although the amount of liquid and cook times will vary, you can also use an electric rice cooker or pressure cooker, or even a microwave oven to cook your grains.

Alternative for longer cooking grains: cook and freeze

One more way to serve whole grains fast is to keep cooked whole grains in your freezer.

Some grains like steel cut oats, brown rice, farro, barley, and spelt take 40-60 minutes to cook. It is always better to cook these in a rice cooker so you don’t have to worry about them burning on the stove. Once they are cooked you can portion them into zip freezer bags in 2-3 cup portions. This way they are ready to defrost and reheat on a moment’s notice.

Check out the freezer section of your grocery store for frozen packages of brown rice, quinoa, and bulgur. These make excellent whole grain choices for busy times when you need to put a meal together fast!

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