How to Cook Lentils (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

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If you're looking for an easy, affordable, and healthy protein source, lentils should be at the top of your list. You should know how to cook lentils on the stovetop and in the instant pot. Cooking lentils is simple and only takes a few minutes.

Why You'll Love these Lentils

One reason why you'll love to cook lentils is that they are super quick and easy. From start to finish, it takes about 30 minutes for a delicious pot of lentils on the stovetop or in the pressure cooker. This is much faster than other types of dried beans that often take several hours before becoming soft enough to eat.

Another reason why lentils are so great for cooking is because they don't require presoaking. You can use them straight from their package into your pot. Unlike beans, there's no need to wait overnight for them to soften up before eating them. Instead, a few minutes of soaking and boiling are all it takes.

Third, lentils are versatile. You can add them to soups and stews for a hearty meal or eat them on their own as a side dish. You can even use them in place of ground beef in many dishes, including tacos and burgers. Lentils are sure to please the whole family.

Are Lentils Healthy?

Lentils are healthy because they are an excellent source of protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Protein

One-fourth cup of dried lentils has around 10 grams of protein. Protein is an important building block that our bodies use to create and repair tissues, make enzymes and hormones, and provide energy. Lentils are a great plant-based source of protein that can help you meet your daily needs.

Fiber

Lentils are also rich in fiber. One-fourth cup of dried lentils has around 11 grams of dietary fiber. Fiber is necessary for optimal digestive health, can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, and may help you lose weight.

Vitamins and minerals

Lentils also contain several vitamins and minerals that are important for overall health, including iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, folate, and B vitamins.

How to Cook Lentils on the Stovetop

Sort through the dry lentils, removing any small debris or bad lentils.
Rinse the lentils under running water using a fine mesh strainer.
Place the cleaned lentils and 4 cups of water in a pot. Add the salt, bay leaves, and garlic.
Bring to a boil and cook on very low for 30 minutes.

How to Cook Lentils in the Instant Pot

Sort through the dry lentils, removing any small debris or bad lentils.
Rinse the lentils under running water using a fine mesh strainer.
Place the cleaned lentils and 2 cups of water in the instant pot. Add the salt, bay leaves, and garlic.
Close the lid and set it to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
Leave it to do a natural release for an additional 10 minutes then move the pressure valve to release any remaining pressure.

Tips for How to Cook Lentils

Here are a few key tips that can help you cook the best lentils.

Different types of lentils might need different cooking times. For example, green lentils don't need to cook as long as black lentils.
For these cooking methods, use brown, green, or black dried lentils. Don’t use red lentils because they are usually peeled and end up very mushy. Red lentils are best used in curries and soups.
Add cooked lentils to soup or stew recipes. Lentils make a great addition to hearty soups and stews because they have a wonderful flavor that pairs well with many different seasonings.
Use cooked lentils to make homemade veggie burgers or meatless sloppy Joes. Lentils are an excellent substitute for ground meat in many recipes.
Add cooked lentils to salads or wraps. You can add them whole or mashed up a bit to help thicken the salad dressing and give it more texture and flavor.

More Lentil Recipes

How to Cook Lentils FAQs

Is this recipe vegan- and vegetarian-friendly?

Yes, this recipe is good for those following a vegan or vegetarian diet. Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein for vegans and vegetarians.

Do I need to soak the dry lentils before cooking them?

Lentils cook much faster than dried beans, so you don't need to soak them before cooking them.

How do I store cooked lentils?

You can store cooked lentils in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Bottom Line

If you're looking for a versatile, affordable, and healthy protein source, lentils should be at the top of your list. It's easy to learn how to cook lentils on the stovetop and in the instant pot, making them a great addition to soups, salads, wraps, and other dishes. Whether you're following a vegan or vegetarian diet or looking for an easy way to add extra nutrients and fiber to your meals, lentils are a great option that can help support overall health and wellbeing. So why not give them a try today?

How to Cook Lentils (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

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How to cook chickpeas using two different methods, perfectly cooked chickpeas every time!

Author: LINDSAY DELK
Prep Time: 8 hours (only if soaking them)
Cook Time: Cooking time: 15 minutes for Instant pot /50 minutes for stovetop
Total Time: 15 min - 8 hours
Yield: 3 cups 1x
Category: Kitchen Basics

Ingredients

Scale

- 1 cup dried lentils (brown, green, black…just not red lentils)

- 4 cups water

- ½ teaspoon salt

Optional:

- 2 bay leaves

- 1 garlic cloves

Instructions

Stovetop method:

1. Go through the lentils cleaning any small debris or bad lentils.
2. Rinse the lentils using a fine mesh strainer, under running water.
3. Add the cleaned lentils to a pot and add 4 cups of water. Add the salt, bay leaves, and garlic clove. Bring to a boil and then cook on very low for 30 minutes.

Pressure cooker method:

1. Go through the lentils cleaning any small debris or bad lentils.
2. Rinse the lentils using a fine mesh strainer, under running water.
3. Add the cleaned lentils to the pressure cooker or instant pot and add 2 cups of water. Add the salt, bay leaves, and smashed garlic cloves.
4. Close the lid and set it to cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
5. Leave it untouched for additional 10 minutes to do a natural release and then move the pressure valve to release any remaining pressure.

Notes

Different types of lentils might need different cooking times, for example, green lentils take 18-20 minutes, while black lentils might need up to 30 mins.

Just don’t use red lentils since they are usually peeled and end up very mushy. They are best used in curries and soups.

Like chickpeas, you can soak them beforehand to cut the cooking time considerably, however, lentils cook much faster and it’s not as time-consuming so I don’t find particularly needed to soak them beforehand.

Cooked lentils can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days in a sealed container. Can be used in salads or as side dishes.