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cooked millets in a glass bowl
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5 from 3 votes

How to Cook Millet

A gluten free grain with slightly nutty flavor, millet are packed with protein and fiber. This ancient grain is fairly simple to cook and is a great substitute for rice.

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Soaking1 hour
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: International
Servings: 4
Author: Madhavi

Ingredients

  • 1 cup millet I used foxtail millet
  • 2 cups water (use 1 ¾ cup water if cooking in instant pot)
  • 1 tea spoon of oil optional
  • ¼ tea spoon salt optional

Instructions

Cooking in Instant Pot

  • Wash the millets with tap water by gently rubbing it with hands.
    Soak the millets in enough water for an 8 to 10 hours or preferably overnight.
    When you are ready to cook, drain the water and rinse it again.
  • Turn on the saute mode on your instant pot.

  • Add the millet and toast them for a minute, not more than that. Keep stirring while toasting.
  • The millet should get little plump but not brown. If the instant pot becomes too hot, turn it off and the heat in the pot will toast the millet.

  • Cancel the saute mode and add 1 ¾ cup of water. Mix well making sure millet are not stuck on the side of the Pot.

  • Close the lid and turn the valve to sealing position. Press Pressure cook mode and adjust the time to 8 minutes.
  • after 8 minutes, wait for atleast ten minutes before releasing the pressure. After ten minutes, you may still have little pressure left, you can release it manually.
  • At this point you can add a tea spoon of oil and little salt. Both these ingredients are optional. Fluff the millet and enjoy as needed.

Cooking Millet in Stove Top-

  • Wash the millets with tap water by gently rubbing it with hands. Soak the millets in enough water for an 8 to 10 hours or preferably overnight. When you are ready to cook, drain the water and rinse it again.
  • Transfer the millet to a sauce pan. In medium heat, toast them for three to four minutes. We do not want the millet to brown, just toasting a bit.

  • Add 2 cups of water and mix well. Close the lid about ¾th way and turn on the stove to medium flame. Cook for 13-15 minutes, you may want to stir once or two in between. Keep an eye, making sure the millet do not spill over.


  • Once done, turn of the stove and let the millet rest for ten minutes. Add salt and oil (optional) and fluff with a fork.

Cooking Millet in Rice Cooker -

  • Wash the millets with tap water by gently rubbing it with hands. Soak the millets in enough water for an 8 to 10 hours or preferably overnight. When you are ready to cook, drain the water and rinse it again.
  • Add the millet and 2 cups of water in the rice cooker and mix well. Turn on the cooker, It will cook for about 15 minutes and once done it will switch to warm.
  • Let rest for ten minutes and fluff with fork. You can add little oil and salt if desired.

Cooking Millet in Pressure Cooker-

  • Wash the millet with tap water by gently rubbing it with hands. Soak the millets in enough water for an 8 to 10 hours or preferably overnight. When you are ready to cook, drain the water and rinse it again.
  • In a pan dry roast the millet for two minutes. Transfer the roasted millet in a bowl and add two cups of water.
  • Pressure cooker in medium flame for two whistles.
  • Let the pressure release naturally and fluff the millet and use as needed.

Notes

Soaking the millet remove phytic acid and it easy on your tummy and helps in better digestion.
 I prefer soaking overnight if cooking for breakfast or soak in the morning to cook for evening, Regardless soak atleast for 8 hours.