Quinoa has crunchy bits!

KariAnn_09

Ew! I was so excited to try quinoa recently. I cooked it just like the package recipe said and really enjoyed it...until I bit into a super crunchy little bit of what seemed like sand. It was awful and after the second time, I couldn't stomach eating it anymore. Has anyone had this happen before and did you figure out how to resolve it? I bought packaged organic quinoa that says right on the bag that it is pre-washed and there is no need to wash again before cooking. I'm bummed because I think I would really like it otherwise.

GetSoda

No, I've had a bunch of different brands and none were crunchy.

hovium

weird. Sounds like you might be undercooking it?? I always rinse it at least once even if it says prewashed. Give it another try - its SOOOO yummy and a great alternative!

jonesin_am

Never experienced that before and I've eaten a lot of quinoa. I would say that you should try rinsing it really well first and then make sure you are cooking it thoroughly. It def shouldn't be crunchy!

KariAnn_09

I'm surprised no one else has experienced this. I'm pretty sure its not an undercooking issue because the bits look like little pieces of glass. They don't at all look like quinoa. I will try again, rinsing before. Hopefully its better this time!

MeMyCatsandI

I'm surprised no one else has experienced this. I'm pretty sure its not an undercooking issue because the bits look like little pieces of glass. They don't at all look like quinoa. I will try again, rinsing before. Hopefully its better this time!

I have the same problem. It is also why I just CANNOT like quinoa. Everytime I eat it, crunch! And I agree, it's just like biting on a piece of sand.

CoachReddy

I'm surprised no one else has experienced this. I'm pretty sure its not an undercooking issue because the bits look like little pieces of glass. They don't at all look like quinoa. I will try again, rinsing before. Hopefully its better this time!

I have the same problem. It is also why I just CANNOT like quinoa. Everytime I eat it, crunch! And I agree, it's just like biting on a piece of sand.

try a different brand?

MeMyCatsandI

I'm surprised no one else has experienced this. I'm pretty sure its not an undercooking issue because the bits look like little pieces of glass. They don't at all look like quinoa. I will try again, rinsing before. Hopefully its better this time!

I have the same problem. It is also why I just CANNOT like quinoa. Everytime I eat it, crunch! And I agree, it's just like biting on a piece of sand.

try a different brand?

I've personally tried a couple brands and had the problem with both. If I had time (and the inclination!) I could sit and sort through the pile of pre-cooked quinoa looking for the little crunchy bits that are waiting to attack me. But I don't. So for now, I'll skip the quinoa.

I suppose one could also eat quinoa without chewing. Just spoon it it and swallow. But where is the fun in that!?

gddrdld

I eat a lot of quinoa and have tried several brands and have never experienced the "sand" bits issue. Might just be that particular batch? Maybe?

BigGuy47

I'm surprised no one else has experienced this.

.
Here's another thread on the subject.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/669675-removing-stones-debris-from-quinoa

melsinct

I have also eaten a ton of quinoa in my life, many different brands, and have never had it crunch. I always rinse my quinoa before cooking because of the saponin (as should you, if you don't know why Google "quinoa rinse saponin"), so if there were any grit, this would have washed it away.

lovegeniue

I had crunchy bit in mine too. I got one bag from Costco (Bobs) and Sams Club. I read about washing but today I made Quinoa brownies and got a pebble. I spit it out and it looks like clear sand. I wash like crazy and have no idea how to take it out!

ParkerH47

i always rinse it, it also takes away the bitter edge you can get some times

thisismeraw

Make sure you are cooking it properly and maybe check it to see if there is anything other than Quinoa in it before you cook it.

I always buy the Tru Roots brand (I get it at Costco here but I know health food stores carry it and some supermarkets in the health food section). This brand is pre-rinsed which is nice although I still rinse mine prior to cooking it. I have never had any crunchy bits unless I have undercooked it.

mcam3

I, too have experienced the bits of glass. Once I made a nice quinoa salad to share with co-workers and was mortified to have one of them show me the piece of glass he found in a mouthful. Same thing happened when I made some for my family - my grouchiest brother bit into it this time.

I used to buy mine at an Amish bulk food store, but have given up on quinoa because of the glass. A friend told me his wife bought some pre-packaged at the grocery and they found the same thing. I am an obsessive, detail sort of person, so I have actually dumped out bags of the quinoa 1/4 cup at a time into a baking pan and sorted through looking for the glass. It's there, and not the result of improper cooking or not rinsing thoroughly enough.

So all of you who have never had this problem, perhaps you can tell the rest of us what brand you buy so we can get our own glass-free quinoa?

jwdieter

Before I cooked quinoa for the first time, I read about cooking quinoa. Said rinse, so I rinsed. Assume this issue is due to not rinsing.

ancurtis

sand, grit, and tiny rocks are common in quinoa and has nothing to do with rinsing or not rinsing. It's part of the 'harvest' process. Removing the sand bits is labor intensive.

FredDoyle

ancurtis wrote: »

sand, grit, and tiny rocks are common in quinoa and has nothing to do with rinsing or not rinsing. It's part of the 'harvest' process. Removing the sand bits is labor intensive.

This ^^
Rinsing is to remove the saponins from the seed which are mildly toxic.

tylerlaroque2019

I have had a similar issue with quinoa which I hadn't encountered before until a recent purchase of a 25lb bag of white quinoa from a big supplier. It wasnt until I got close to almost eating half of the bag when I found that I was biting into crunchy bits of what I would describe as glass beads. I emailed the company and told them of the issue. They replied reassuring me that what I had found in their product was not glass but rather quartz which is found next to where the royal quinoa is grown. The machinery in which detects the quarts must not have picked it up and they issued me a refund.
I still eat quinoa quite often but now I'm just abit more cautious when chewing.

quiksylver296

pinuplove

Yeah, but at least it's a thread hating on quinoa. Nasty stuff!

TavistockToad

tylerlaroque2019 wrote: »

I have had a similar issue with quinoa which I hadn't encountered before until a recent purchase of a 25lb bag of white quinoa from a big supplier. It wasnt until I got close to almost eating half of the bag when I found that I was biting into crunchy bits of what I would describe as glass beads. I emailed the company and told them of the issue. They replied reassuring me that what I had found in their product was not glass but rather quartz which is found next to where the royal quinoa is grown. The machinery in which detects the quarts must not have picked it up and they issued me a refund.
I still eat quinoa quite often but now I'm just abit more cautious when chewing.

How did you find this thread?!

como_agua1

i get my quinoa from costco and i've never had issues with it. it's already pre washed so i don't feel the need to do that. other brands i've had i've really never come across this sort of problem because i've rinsed it really well as it never stated it was pre washed. i cook mine on the stove top for 20 minutes with a ratio of 1 cup quinoa to two cups broth/water.i grate a carrot in mine and add a 1/4 tsp of cardamom and use low sodium chicken broth. super yum imho. our family really likes it. i hope you can find a solution!