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Cooking with dry lentils is quick and easy. Unlike other pulses (beans and chickpeas) dried lentils don’t need to be soaked ahead of time. This makes it really easy to add them to many meals.
Cooking Lentils is as Easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Rinse your lentils with fresh water before boiling to remove any dust or debris.
- Cook on a stovetop, using 3 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc) to 1 cup of dry lentils. Be sure to use a large enough saucepan as the lentils will double or even triple in size.
- Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. Strain and they are ready to use in other dishes or to make lentil puree. For whole lentils, cook time is typically 15-20 minutes. For split red lentils, cook time is typically only about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to season with salt after cooking – if salt is added before, the lentils will become tough.
Storing Lentils
Dry lentils will keep almost indefinitely stored in a tightly covered container in a cool, dry place. If exposed to light, pulses tend to lose their colour but flavour, nutrition and texture will not be affected as long as they are tightly sealed. However, the longer lentils are stored, the drier they become. This means they may take longer to cook and may remain slightly chewy after cooking. It is best to use dry lentils within one year of purchase.