Learn how to cook pearl barley on the stovetop, Instant Pot, and slow cooker and enjoy this chewy, nutty, and all-around delicious pantry staple as a hearty side dish or in stews, soups, risottos, and salads.
There are a few important things to know about barley before we get started cooking the stuff. The first, and most important, is that barley is sold in two forms: hulled and pearl.
Hulled barley (also known as pot barley) has had the inedible outer husk removed, but still retains its bran and endosperm layers. Having these layers makes hulled barley a whole grain and the nuttier, chewier, and more nutritious of the two. A darker golden brown than pearl barley, it takes nearly twice as long to cook.
Pearl barley has been processed to have both the outer husk removed but also the highly nutritious bran layer (and sometimes even the endosperm layer as well). It is not considered a whole grain and therefore not as nutritious. Lighter in color, it is less chewy and takes less time to cook.
Pearl barley is the more familiar type of barley sold in grocery stores. When shopping for barley, be sure to read the packaging and look for key phrases like “hulled” or “pearled” if you’re unsure what type of barley you’re getting.
What does barley taste like?
Barley has a chewy texture and nutty flavor.
How to Cook Pearl Barley
There are several different ways to cook pearl barley. I have found that the easiest way is to cook it on the stovetop (just like cooking rice) or in the Instant Pot (especially in the case of hulled barley).
Stovetop
- Bring three cups of water and one cup of rinsed and drained pearl barley to a boil in a pot. To draw out the flavor of the grain, add a pinch of salt to the water.
- Once the water and barley are boiling, reduce the heat to low and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the pot.
- Stir occasionally, but for the most part, you can just let your barley cook for about 20 minutes or so. As with all grains, you can decide when the barley has reached your desired texture, but as a rule, you know your barley is done when it’s almost tripled in size and is soft.
- Once your barley reaches the desired texture, take the pot off the stove and drain any additional water. Place the lid back on the pot for 5-10 minutes then remove the lid and fluff the cooked barley with a fork to loosen it up.
Instant Pot
- Add three cups of water and one cup of rinsed and drained pearl barley to your Instant Pot. Add a pinch of salt (optional). Cover and close the vent.
- Cook on manual, high pressure for 20 minutes. Quick-release.
- Carefully remove the lid and drain any leftover cooking water into the sink. Return the lid and allow the barley to steam for 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid again and fluff with a fork.
Slow Cooker/ Crock Pot
- Add one cup of drained and rinsed pearl barley to a slow cooker with a pinch of salt. Add enough water (about 3-4 cups) so that the barley is completely covered.
- Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours.
- Once the barley reaches the desired texture, drain any excess cooking liquid and cover with a lid. Allow barley to rest for about 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork and serving.
Tip
One cup of uncooked pearl barley yields approximately 3 cups cooked.
FAQ
No. In fact, both hulled and pearl barley are not gluten-free.
No. Pearl barley has been processed to have both the outer husk and bran layers removed.
On the stovetop, it takes approximately 25 minutes to cook pearl barley.
Uncooked pearl barley has a glycemic index of 22-29 (considered low). Once cooked, the glycemic index jumps to approximately 35 or above (considered medium).
No, soaking is not necessary (especially for pearl barley), but it is optional. Soaking barley will make it less chewy and shorten the total cooking time.
Yes. First allow your cooked barley to cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container or freezer-safe ziplock bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Barley Recipes and Resources
Have you tried cooking pearl barley?
Tell me about it in the comments below! I always love to hear your thoughts. And tag me #theforkedspoon on Instagram if you’ve made any of my recipes, I always love to see what you’re cooking in the kitchen.
RECIPE CARD
How to Cook Pearl Barley
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl barley - rinsed and drained
- 3 cups water - or chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon salt - optional
Instructions
Stovetop
- Combine the pearl barley, water, and salt in a pot set over high heat. Bring to a low boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes. After 15 minutes or so, check for doneness and decide when the barley has reached your desired texture.
- Once it has reached your desired doneness, remove from heat and drain any additional water.
- Place the lid back on the pot for 5-10 minutes then remove and fluff the cooked barley with a fork to loosen it up.
Instant Pot / Electric Pressure Cooker
- Combine the pearl barley, water, and salt in an Instant Pot/ electric pressure cooker. Cover with the lid and turn the knob to the sealing position.
- Cook on manual, high pressure for 20 minutes.
- After the cooking time is complete, carefully do a quick release according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Remove the lid and drain any excess cooking liquid. Return the lid and allow the barley to rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the lid again and fluff with a fork.
Slow Cooker / Crock-pot
- Add the pearl barley, water, and salt to a slow cooker. Make sure enough water is added to fully cover the barley (you may need to add more than 3 cups).
- Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours.
- Once the barley reaches your preferred doneness, drain any excess cooking liquid. Fluff with a fork before serving.
Jessica’s Notes
- Pearl barley releases a lot of starch into the cooking water/liquid that it is cooked in. Hold on to the remaining cooking liquid and add it to soups or stews to thicken the broth. On the other hand, to prevent the thickening of soups or sauces from cooked or uncooked pearled barley, you may want to cook it separately and rinse it with warm water before adding it.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
I want to use Pearl barley to add to a Buddha Bowl – are there any tips for different ingredients/spices that can be added to the water when cooking to make the flavour more interesting.
Absolutely, adding spices and ingredients to the cooking water can greatly enhance the flavor of pearl barley for your Buddha Bowl. Consider cooking the barley with a bay leaf, a dash of garlic powder, or a sprinkle of your favorite herbs like rosemary or thyme for an aromatic and tasty twist 🙂
The back of the Arrowhead Mills package says to simmer for 1 1/4 hour vs. the 25 minutes this recipe says. Guess I’m going to find out.
Going to try the slowcooker method as it’s too hot for the oven and it seems this would work well for my recipe. I add diced carrot, onion, garlic & use beef or chicken broth instead of water. Makes a tasty side dish when we want something different.