How to Cook Farro in a Rice Cooker: Water Ratio, Setting and Time
Yes, farro cooks well in a rice cooker. Rinse it, then use about 2½ cups of water or broth per cup of farro, the ratio the Whole Grains Council gives for farro. Cook on the Brown Rice or Whole Grain setting.
Pearled farro is usually done in one cycle. Whole farro is chewier and slower; soak it first or run a second short cycle. Rest for 10 minutes, then fluff.
- The Whole Grains Council lists 1 cup of farro with 2½ cups of liquid, simmered 25 to 40 minutes, making about 3 cups.
- It also recommends the brown rice setting for grains that take longer than 25 minutes.
- Rice cookers lose little water, so use slightly less rather than more.
- Check the label: pearled cooks fastest, semi-pearled is in between, whole farro is slowest.
- Measure with a standard cup and ignore the rice water lines.
Can you cook farro in a rice cooker?
Yes. A rice cooker cooks until the grain has absorbed the water, then switches to Warm. That suits farro well. The Whole Grains Council (WGC) says rice cookers can prepare almost every grain, using the same grain-to-liquid ratio you would use in a pot.
Its culinary advisor Robin Asbell recommends the white rice setting for grains that cook in 25 minutes or less, and the brown rice setting for larger grains that need longer. Farro falls into the second group.
Types of farro and how they cook
| Type | What it is | Water per cup | Rice cooker approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearled | Bran mostly removed | About 2½ cups | Brown Rice setting, one cycle |
| Semi-pearled | Some bran removed | About 2½ cups | Brown Rice setting; may need a short second cycle |
| Whole (unpearled) | Full whole grain | About 2½ to 3 cups | Soak overnight, then Brown Rice setting |
| Quick-cook farro | Pre-cooked or cracked | Follow the package | White Rice setting |
Most supermarket farro in the US is pearled or semi-pearled, even if the front of the bag does not say so. Check the cooking time on the package: 10 to 20 minutes usually means pearled, and 40 minutes or more means whole.
Farro to water ratio for a rice cooker
| Dry farro | Water or broth | Cooked yield (WGC) |
|---|---|---|
| ½ cup | 1¼ cups | About 1½ cups |
| 1 cup | 2½ cups | About 3 cups |
| 2 cups | 5 cups | About 6 cups |
Want firmer, chewier farro for salads? Use ¼ cup less water per cup. For soft farro in soups or risotto-style dishes, add ¼ to ½ cup more.
How to cook farro in a rice cooker
- Rinse. Rinse the farro in a sieve under cold water and drain well.
- Soak if whole. For whole farro, soak in water for 8 hours or overnight, then drain. Pearled farro needs no soaking.
- Add liquid. Put the farro in the pot with 2½ cups of water or broth per cup, plus a pinch of salt. Add a little less if you soaked it.
- Cook. Choose Brown Rice, Whole Grain or Multigrain. On a basic cooker, press Cook.
- Rest. When it switches to Warm, leave the lid closed for 10 minutes.
- Check and fluff. Bite a grain. It should be tender with a slight chew. If it is still hard, add ¼ cup hot water and cook again. Drain any extra liquid.
How long does farro take in a rice cooker?
On the stove, the WGC lists 25 to 40 minutes of simmering. In a rice cooker, allow roughly 30 to 45 minutes for pearled farro on a brown rice setting, plus resting. Whole farro can take an hour or more, which is why soaking helps.
Ways to use rice cooker farro
- Warm farro salad: toss with roasted vegetables, feta, lemon and olive oil.
- Grain bowls: top with chicken or chickpeas, greens and a tahini dressing.
- Soups: stir cooked farro into minestrone or vegetable soup.
- Farrotto: stir hot pearled farro with Parmesan, butter and mushrooms, like risotto.
- Breakfast: warm farro with milk, cinnamon, fruit and nuts.
Cool cooked farro quickly and refrigerate within 2 hours. It keeps for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and freezes well in portions.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hard or crunchy | Whole farro, or White Rice setting | Add hot water and cook again; soak next time |
| Mushy | Too much water or pearled farro cooked too long | Use ¼ cup less water; serve soon after cooking |
| Watery at the bottom | Too much liquid | Drain in a sieve; use less water next time |
| Foam from the vent | Starch, or pot too full | Rinse well; cook a smaller batch |
Frequently asked questions
What is the water to farro ratio in a rice cooker?
About 2½ cups of water or broth to 1 cup of farro, using a standard measuring cup. That is the Whole Grains Council ratio; use slightly less in a rice cooker if you prefer firm grains.
What setting should I use for farro?
Brown Rice, Whole Grain or Multigrain. The Whole Grains Council recommends the brown rice setting for grains that take longer than 25 minutes.
How long do you cook farro in a rice cooker?
About 30 to 45 minutes for pearled farro on a brown rice setting, plus 10 minutes of resting. Whole farro takes longer unless soaked.
Do you need to soak farro?
Not pearled farro. Soaking whole farro overnight shortens the cooking time and helps it cook evenly.
Does farro soak up water faster than rice?
No. Farro is a larger, firmer wheat grain and absorbs water more slowly than white rice. That is why it needs the longer brown rice setting.
The bottom line
Farro is easy in a rice cooker: rinse it, add 2½ cups of liquid per cup, and cook on the brown rice setting. Rest for 10 minutes, then check the texture and fluff.
Try other grains the same way, such as barley in a rice cooker.
- Whole Grains Council, Cooking Whole Grains (grain and liquid chart).
- Whole Grains Council, Cooking Grains With Your Rice Cooker.
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Leftovers and Food Safety.
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