How to Cook Generic Lentils in an IP for a Creamy Texture Instead of Grainy

[lostandfoundinmaine]

How to Cook Lentils in the Instant Pot

How to cook lentils in the Instant Pot, different lentil varieties, suggested cook times for lentils, and two easy vegan lentil recipes.

rainbowplantlife.com

Look at the color of the lentils then follow the corresponding recipe.

 

[mkher]

@lostandfoundinmaine This was very helpful. Apparently I have brown lentils here, and they will always be what I consider grainy. Sigh.

 

[richardsmith]

@mkher why would you come to that conclusion? This author provides a range of cool times for different textures.

 

[margretmb]

I cook lentils frequently in my ipot. Grainy means it’s not cooked through. Lentils are usually green when you find them at big box stores. About 2/3 as wide as your pinky nail.
Other varieties I use are often heirloom, and usually come about half that wide. Red, black, etc. I find it fun to use the other colors to create a complement to black rice, etc.
Lentil creaminess is often tied to fats/oils, and potatoes in the recipe IMO. Most Ipot cheat sheets on the web list “normal lentils,” from what I’ve seen. 8-12 min +NPR. Whereas the tiny reds are about 1 min+ NPR.

 

[lovnchrist]

Can you take a picture of your bag of lentils? That might give us some better idea of what you have.

 

[athiesthere]

I always soak my beans. I know you don’t have to with the Insta pot, but I find them grainy if I cook them from hard.

 

[thinkingtoohard]

I rinse mine thoroughly before cooking, then 15 minutes at high pressure with natural release

 

[hazeloak]

You probably have brown lentils.

 

[ektar74]

@hazeloak yes- those are the generic grocery store type.

 

[xhacks]

I soak mine for several hours and cook for 5 minutes in the pot with a controlled release. I leave remove and strain and heavy cream and put in my food processor. I only use orange lentils.

 

[cbaltzking]

Are you looking where the dry beans are? Not in the specialty sections of your store? I shop at Kroger/Publix/Ingles and I can usually find red, yellow, or brown lentils. I’ve had the most success with brown (green?). I haven’t tried the yellow but the red were so red in my recipe that it was a bit of a turnoff

 

[mkher]

@cbaltzking Yes, they were in the dry bean section. None in the "International" section.

 

[mkher]

@cbaltzking I went back to Publix today and looked in both the International section and the dried bean section. Oddly enough, the International section had only generic lentils, no designation of type, but they had gotten in some red lentils in the dried bean section! They did not have the different kinds of lentils before now. I will try the red lentils. Thank you.

 

[capuntu]

@mkher depends on what you're cooking. Red lentils are not suitable for every recipe.. Like Brown/Green lentils are. If they're tasting grainy they're not cooked enough.

 

[cbaltzking]

This recipe is great! I have used green/brown and red lentils

Instant Pot® Community | Greetings from sunny Greece | Facebook

Greetings from sunny Greece! Since it doesn’t seem like anyone will be travelling for awhile, I thought it would be nice if we could share some regional specialty recipes! This is a traditional Greek...

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[gabby24777]

I cook lentils a lot, you must cook according to the variety of lentil you are using. No one specific cook time for all.

 

[mkher]

@gabby24777 The package only says "lentils." I have no idea what variety they are, and no way of finding out.

 

[gabby24777]

@mkher take a picture and post them here

 

[1harud1]

I guess you're just not cooking lentils if you can't do any of the suggestions. Use them for Christmas decorations

 

[hazeloak]

@1harud1 yeah. I was thinking the same thing.