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Pearl barley-to soak or not to soak?

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  • culpepper
    culpepper Posts: 4,076 Forumite
    its about 30 minutes once the stock is boiling for barley to soften.
  • freezspirit
    freezspirit Posts: 994 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    At home we put in our stews in the pressure cooker to add texture.

    I have heard of people soaking the barley overnight in water or puting the barley in boiling hot water for 30min prior to adding to their cooking pot but we never have done either.

    Personally I don't like sweet potatoes, the taste to me is like tea which I hate too. Dad loves them so he will put one in the microwave for 10-20min depending on size or put it in the oven and will eat it as a snack. Strange thing it he peels the skin of sort of like how you do a banana.
  • Lula13
    Lula13 Posts: 23 Forumite
    Morning everyone,
    i'm about to make a sausage casserole in the slow cooker and want to put pearl barley in as well..I've never used pearl barley before and i've just read the back that states I have to soak it. Would it be ok to just put some in now so it soaks all day whilst cooking or would it remain hard..:confused:..and how much would you use in a casserole for 4 people...Thank you
  • hotcookie101
    hotcookie101 Posts: 2,060 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I don't think I have ever soaked it before, but I know that some people do before adding to SC, but I probably wouldn't bother if its going to cook for ages, and for 4 people I would use a couple of handfuls (I do LOVE the stuff :D)
    Just keep an eye on the liquid in the SC as barley does absorb loads
  • Lula13
    Lula13 Posts: 23 Forumite
    Thank you so much...will head into the kitchen now.......
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hi everyone
    Im about to make a huge pan of stew, plan to cook it low and long, had a thought about putting in a handful or two of pearl barley, does this need o be soaked/boiled first or can it just be thrown in and left to cook along with the stew?
  • tessie_bear
    tessie_bear Posts: 4,898 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    when ive used it iv soaked it overnight as i think it said on barley pack...i think it might spoil the stew if u throw it in dry as it were....someone might know better though
    onwards and upwards
  • 1jim
    1jim Posts: 2,683 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    thanks,,,might leave the barley for another day then
    thanks again
  • I put it in when i start, then leave the stew cooking all day then its lovely and soft. But if the stew is nearly cooked soak it or boil it first.
  • Ladyhawk
    Ladyhawk Posts: 2,064 Forumite
    I just throw it in when I about an hour before the stew is finished.
    Man plans and God laughs...
    Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry. But by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it introduces the idea that if we try to understand each other, we may even become friends.
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