Uses for barley?

[Deleted User]

I have some pearl barley given to me which I would like to use to cook with. Do I need to soak it first?

I wish to add it to recipies for my slow-cooker, can I just bung a hangful into the cooker or do I have to "prepare" it in anway first.

Please advise me I don't want to poison anyone.

Many thanks,

Bailey

apprentice_tycoon

It's fine just bunged in at the start of cooking, nice in stews.

squeaky

There's no poison in pearl barley - it's only uncooked kidney beans and soya that have small amounts of toxins in them as far as I know. It came up in a recent thread.

I often just chuck pearl barley straight into the slow cooker if I'm doing a long cook, but the recommended way to get the best of any bean or pulse in a slow cooker is to boil them for about ten minutes first.

HTH

squeaky

Crossed with AT - I don't seem to be picking allthe posts in the site at the moment.

Zend

I don't have a slow cooker therefore do I need to soak them overnight?

apprentice_tycoon

No, theres no need, just put them in your stew when you start the cooking, they'll be fine

squeaky

Zend wrote:

I don't have a slow cooker therefore do I need to soak them overnight?

Oops! Sorry.

You can soak pearl barley for as little as four hours, but overnight is better if it will fit your plan.

Again, if you're doing a casserole or soup on a very low setting for a long time you can put pearl barley straight in.

greenlogo

nope, just boil the barley in a separate pan (in cold water) tfor 10minutes (at boil) or chuck into soup directly (as it'll boil for a great deal longer than 10 minutes!) be aware that if you stick it in soup you'll probably need to add more water during the cooking process.

I often use it in stew-type dishes that are looking a little watery num.

squeaky

That's TWICE A-T :P :rotfl:

apprentice_tycoon

squeaky wrote:

That's TWICE A-T :P :rotfl:

I just happened to be passing the compo at the time - sorry :rolleyes:

Interesting that you cook it first, I've never seen the need - so there are 2 methods on offer!

squeaky

Yep... he sez... passing the computer...