How to Cook Lentils
Lentils are nutritious and inexpensive. Here’s an easy guide for how to cook lentils. My method for cooking lentils is ever-so-slightly different than other recipes you may find, but this method results in lentils that are healthier and easier to digest.
Lentils are an amazing food. They’re chock full of nutrition, they’re very inexpensive, and they can be used in a variety of ways. And they’re easy to make.
And they don’t take long to cook (like beans do).
There are many varieties of lentils (such as red, black, yellow, and French lentils). These different varieties all require a slightly different cooking process. Here’s my easy method for cooking brown lentils.
My method for cooking lentils is ever-so-slightly different than other recipes you may find, but this method results in lentils that are healthier, more nutritious, and easier to digest.
How do you cook brown lentils?
Brown lentils are the most common variety of lentils and the kind you typically find in the grocery store. As you may have guessed, these lentils are light brown in color. They have a mild, earthy flavor.
Brown lentils can be cooked on the stove top, in a Crock Pot, or in an Instant Pot. You’ll find easy, step-by-step instructions for each method below as well as printable recipes at the bottom of this post.
Here’s how to cook lentils perfectly every time!
How to cook brown lentils on the stove top
Step 1
Begin heating water.
Place 5 cups of water into a large saucepan. Cover and begin heating water over high heat.
Step 2
Sort through 1 1/4 cups lentils.
Lentils are a natural food. They aren’t produced in a factory, but rather they’re grown in a field. This means that a bag of dry lentils may have an occasionally piece of dirt or a stone in it.
No big deal. Just pour your lentils out onto a clean kitchen countertop. Sort through the lentils looking for any debris. Then transfer the sorted lentils into a mesh strainer.
Rinse lentils under cool, running water until water runs clear.
Drain.
Step 3
Add lentils to hot water.
Add cleaned lentils to the water in saucepan.
Step 4
Cook.
Cover pan with a tight-fitting lid, and bring lentils to a boil. Reduce heat to a low boil.
Cook (covered) at a low boil for 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
Notes:
1. Some recipes will tell you that lentils can be cooked in less time, but longer cooking time makes lentils easier to digest and makes the nutrients in the lentils (like calcium, iron, and zinc) more available to the body. Al dente lentils may look more attractive in a salad, but they aren’t so great for the stomach.
2. If you are using a tight-fitting lid, the lentils will not need any extra attention. However, the first time you cook them, you may want to check to be sure the water has not boiled away. If it has, add just enough water to keep them very moist. Don’t let them dry out.
How to cook brown lentils in a Crock Pot
Lentils can also be cooked in a Crock Pot (slow cooker).
Step 1
Sort through lentils.
Place 1 1/4 cups dry lentils on countertop and sort through them, looking for any debris. Place sorted lentils into a mesh strainer and rinse lentils under cool, running water until water runs clear. Drain.
Step 2
Place in slow cooker.
Place lentils and 4 cups water in a 2-quart Crock Pot.
Step 3
Cook.
Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Notes:
1. For deliciously creamy lentils, you can cook your lentils in a Crock Pot on high for up to 10 hours or overnight. (This is my favorite way to cook lentils.) This makes deliciously creamy lentils. Creamy lentils are delicious served over rice!
2. Some slow cookers are much hotter than others, so you may need to adjust the time depending on your slow cooker.
3. Most lentil recipes say that lentils can be cooked in less time, but cooking lentils longer makes them easier to digest and makes the nutrients (like calcium, iron, and zinc) more available to the body.
How to cook brown lentils in an Instant Pot
Cooking lentils on the stove top or in a crock pot works best. It’s difficult to get Instant Pot lentils to be cooked thoroughly without being mushy. However, if you aren’t too concerned about mushiness, you can cook lentils in an Instant Pot.
Also, note that all models of Instant Pots cook differently.
Please refer to your Instant Pot instructions for how to use your particular Instant Pot.
Here’s how to cook brown lentils in an Instant Pot:
Step 1
Sort through lentils.
Pour 1 1/4 cup of lentils out onto a clean kitchen countertop. Sort through the lentils looking for any debris.
Then transfer the sorted lentils into a mesh strainer.
Rinse lentils under cool, running water until water runs clear.
Step 2
Place in a 3-quart Instant Pot.
Place lentils and 4 cups water in a 3-quart Instant Pot.
Step 3
Cook.
Pressure cook on high for 6 minutes. (It takes several minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins).
Allow pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure. Carefully remove lid once steam has fully escaped.
Strain off any excess cooking liquid.
Notes:
Most lentil recipes say that lentils can be cooked in less time, but cooking lentils longer makes them easier to digest and makes the nutrients (like calcium, iron, and zinc) more available to the body.
The various Instant Pot models all cook slightly differently. You may need to adjust your cooking time by a minute or two.
How to season brown lentils
You may like lentils plain or with a little salt. Or you can season them.
Some seasonings that go well with brown lentils include garlic (fresh or granulated), onion (fresh or granulated), bay leaves, basil, oregano, celery salt, and thyme. And, of course, salt.
Bay leaves should be added before cooking. Other seasonings may be added either before you cook the lentils or after.
How much cooked lentils do dry lentils yield?
One cup of dried lentils will make nearly 3 cups of cooked lentils.
How to store cooked lentils
To store cooked lentils, transfer to a (preferably glass) container with a tight-fitting lid and place in the refrigerator. Lentils will keep in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
For longer storage, place in a freezer-safe container and keep lentils in the freezer for up to 4 months.
To defrost lentils, place them in the refrigerator overnight.
If you’re in a hurry, you can heat frozen lentils in a saucepan on the stove top, but they will be slightly mushier if you go straight from frozen to heating.
Healthy and Delicious Lentil Recipes
Cooked lentils can be used in so many delicious dishes.
How to Cook Lentils FAQ
Nope. Lentils are a quick-cooking legume. You do not need to soak lentils before cooking.
To make lentils that are easy to digest and highly nutritious, cook them on the stovetop for 35 minutes, in a slow cooker or Crock Pot for 3 hours (on high), or in an Instant Pot for 7 minutes at high pressure. (Add an additional 15 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure and 8 minutes for natural pressure release.)
Yes, using broth or stock instead of water can add extra flavor to lentils.
You don’t have to wait to the end of cooking lentils to add salt. They cook just fine with salt added at the beginning.
That said, you can always add salt; it’s difficult to remove the salt once added. Because of this, you may want to add half the salt at the beginning (because it does make them taste better) and then adjust seasonings once they are cooked.
One cup of dried lentils will make approximately 2 3/4 cups of cooked lentils.
No problem!
You have two options.
1. Continue cooking your lentils with lid removed to cook off the excess water. Lentils will become very soft with additional cooking.
2. Or if you don’t want your lentils so soft, transfer lentils to a fine-mesh strainer to drain off excess liquid.
How to Cook Lentils Recipes
Here are the recipes for cooking lentils on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, and in an Instant Pot.
How to Cook Lentils on the Stovetop
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked lentils
- 5 cups water or broth
Instructions
- Spread lentils out on a clean countertop and sort through lentils to remove any stones or other debris. Transfer lentils to a colander or mesh strainer and rinse under running water. Drain.
- Place rinsed lentils and water in large sauce pan. Cover and bring to boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat and cook at a very low boil for 35 minutes or until very soft. (Most lentil recipes tell you to simmer for about 20 minutes, but lentils that are cooked longer are more easily digested and more nourishing.)
Notes
>> One quick request: if you like this recipe, please leave a rating and a comment. Ratings help more people find these healthy recipes!
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For more healthy and delicious recipes like this one that will simplify your journey to a healthier and thinner you, check out my
How to Cook Lentils in a Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup uncooked lentils
- 4 cups water or broth
Instructions
- Place dry lentils on countertop and sort through them, looking for any debris. Place sorted lentils into a mesh strainer and rinse lentils under cool, running water until water runs clear. Drain.
- Place lentils and water or broth in a small (2-quart) Crock Pot.
- Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours.
Notes
>> One quick request: if you like this recipe, please leave a rating and a comment. Ratings help more people find these healthy recipes!
Want More?
For more healthy and delicious recipes like this one that will simplify your journey to a healthier and thinner you, check out my
How to Cook Lentils in an Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup uncooked lentils
- 4 cups water or broth
Instructions
- Place dry lentils on countertop and sort through them, looking for any debris. Place sorted lentils into a mesh strainer and rinse lentils under cool, running water until water runs clear. Drain
- Place lentils and water or broth in an Instant Pot.
- Pressure cook on high for 6 minutes. (It takes several minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins).Allow pressure to naturally release for 5 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure. Carefully remove lid once steam has fully escaped and strain off any excess cooking liquid.
Notes
>> One quick request: if you like this recipe, please leave a rating and a comment. Ratings help more people find these healthy recipes!
Want More?
For more healthy and delicious recipes like this one that will simplify your journey to a healthier and thinner you, check out my
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Thank you so much for all the ways to cook these. I love lentils and did not know how to cook them without being mushy. Millet, also, is one I can never get right and I love it. I will keep trying. Have a happy day always.