No, lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking, but soaking them can help reduce cooking time and improve digestibility.
Not necessary with lentils; just rinse and drain them, then simmer them on low-medium heat for about 30-45 minutes or until soft. Make sure to add water or chicken broth as necessary so they don't dry out and burn. Dried beans, on the other hand, should be soaked overnight before cooking.
Yes, but you may need to modify the cooking time depending how it is used in the recipe. Brown lentils cook in about 20 mins while green take 45.
Pearl barley does not need to be soaked but it will be fluffier if you can soak it for at least 4 hours or ideally overnight.
To yield 3 pounds of cooked green lentils, you typically need about 1 cup of uncooked lentils, as they roughly triple in weight when cooked. Therefore, for 3 pounds of cooked lentils, you would need approximately 1 cup of uncooked lentils. Adjustments may vary slightly depending on the specific variety and cooking method.
For 2 cups of lentils, you typically need about 6 cups of water when cooking them. This ratio can vary slightly depending on the type of lentils and your desired consistency, but a general guideline is to use three parts water to one part lentils. If you want a thicker consistency, you can use slightly less water. Always check for doneness and adjust the water as needed while cooking.
No.
Boil what?
No, you do not need to peel sweet potatoes before cooking them. The skin is edible and contains nutrients, but it can be removed if desired.
All reeds need to be soaked to soften them before playing. This allows them to vibrate as you play. A hard, dry reed will crack rather than vibrate. Single reeds for instruments such as clarinet & saxophone are soaked by sucking them before placing them on the instruments. Double reeds for Oboe, Cor Anglais & Bassoon need to be soaked in water due to the different shape of the reed. Sucking them in the mouth does not soak the entire reed.
For best results you should thaw all frozen meats before cooking them.
Yes, it is recommended to wash mushrooms before cooking them to remove any dirt or debris.
No, you do not need to peel asparagus before cooking it. Just trim the tough ends and it is ready to be cooked.