4.7 from 144 votes
Instant Pot Barley
Cooking barley in an instant pot/pressure cooker (pearled or hulled) is the fastest way to cook this heart-healthy grain in only 20 minutes!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Time to pressurize
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 88 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl barley (see notes for hulled)
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Add the barley (1 cup), water (2 cups), salt (1/4 teaspoon), and olive oil (1 tablespoon) to your pressure cooker. Stir together.
- Make sure the vent is set to "sealed." Cover the pressure cooker and set the pressure to manual, high, for 20 minutes.
- When the time is up, quick release the pressure by using a wooden spoon (or something similar) to change the vent from "sealed" to "venting."
- Once the float valve has depressed and it's safe to open, open the pressure cooker and fluff barley with a fork.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- To use hulled barley, follow the same instructions but rinse the barley under cool water in a colander before adding to the instant pot, use 2.5 cups of water, and set the time to 25 minutes instead of 20.
- The instructions used to say 2.5 cups water, but I changed it to 2 because of lots of reader feedback that there was liquid left. I think brand, size, and age of the barley has a lot to do with this - if you have any extra liquid left, you can just drain it out like you would pasta! If it's not fully cooked, give it a few more minutes. I used Quaker brand medium pearled barley with great results. I can't speak to other brands or sizes.
Nutrition Information
Calories
88kcal
(4%)
Carbohydrates
19g
(6%)
Protein
2g
(4%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
6mg
(0%)
Potassium
70mg
(2%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Calcium
9mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 88
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 88kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 6mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 70mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Calcium | 9mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.