With each passing day, people are becoming more conscious about their diet and are preferring the healthier alternative. For the same reason, people prefer a gluten-free diet, and quinoa is the ultimate option when you’ve to stop consuming barley, rye, and wheat. Quinoa might not be the grain, but it is enjoyed by everyone. However, it’s a rather sensitive food item and needs proper storage. So, if you are confused and don’t know how to tell if cooked quinoa is bad or not, we are sharing the information with you!
How To Tell If Cooked Quinoa Is Bad?
Quinoa has a high protein content with rich nutrients. Some of these nutrients include riboflavin, magnesium, iron, manganese, vitamin B, and lysine. In addition, it boasts over nine amino acids that help attain muscle health. Coming back to our topic, it can be challenging to find out the spoilage of uncooked quinoa, but cooked quinoa shows clear signs of spoilage if they have gone bad.
First of all, if the cooked quinoa is foul, it will show a hard texture. Generally, cooked quinoa shows a soft texture, but if it’s gone bad, it will show a hard texture. In particular, it looks like cooked rice has been left out in the air. Secondly, if the cooked quinoa has a bad smell, it also means that it has gone bad and should not be consumed.
The freshly cooked quinoa doesn’t really have a smell. On the other hand, if it starts giving off an unpleasant smell, it cannot be consumed. Thirdly, you need to check for mold growth. For instance, when you place cooked quinoa in the fridge for too long, it will result in mold growth. So, while checking if the quinoa is fine or not, do check for mold growth. If there is mold growth, you know what to do!
What About Dry Quinoa?
As we have talked about cooked quinoa and how to check if it’s gone bad, it’s only wise to check out information about dry quinoa. So, if you have dry quinoa in the pantry, make sure that you keep it away from the moisture and heat. It is suggested to use an airtight container as they ensure zero moisture retention in quinoa. Keep in mind that quinoa is expensive and proper storage will eventually help save some bucks.
As far as bad quinoa is concerned, it can be hard to tell because uncooked or dry quinoa doesn’t show changes in flavor and color. The only thing you can do is smell the uncooked quinoa, and if it smells off, you know it’s time to dump it.
Proper Storage Method
If you are someone who cooks quinoa regularly, it’s obvious that you won’t have to store it for too long. However, once the quinoa is cooked, ensuring its freshness is important, and that can be done with an airtight container. In simpler words, if you have to store cooked quinoa, use the airtight jar. However, before pouring it into the airtight jar, let it cool down. Once you’ve added cooked quinoa to the container, just refrigerate it, and it’s safe to consume for over a week.