Do You Have to Soak Lentils?
The short answer is yes; you should soak lentils. Lens culinaris originates from Africa and Asia, is one of the leading and oldest food sources. It is related to the pea and is naturally rich in vegetable protein and complex carbohydrates, too. There’s a reason why weight loss enthusiasts and bodybuilders regularly consume lentils. Lentils are also enjoyed globally by different cultures because it is a versatile vegetable.
Essentially, lentils do not require soaking. However, because it’s not so easy to tenderize during cooking, soaking lentils shortens the cooking time. You will save about 50% cooking time by adding this extra step to the process. We recommend rinsing the lentils first and screening the lentils for any bad ones. Shriveled lentils must be tossed, as well as any fragments that may have been inadvertently added to the mix. The most ideal way to cook lentils is in plain water. Add three times as much water as you normally would and do not add anything acidic to the water if you want to cook your lentils properly.
If you are cooking brown and green lentils, boil the vegetable for 45 minutes. If you have some puy lentils, you need 25 to 30 minutes of cooking time. For yellow lentils, allocate at least half an hour to 45 minutes of cooking. You can also use a pressure cooker if you want. Twenty minutes in the pressure cooker should be sufficient. If the lentils are still not sufficiently tender after that, we recommend half an hour in the pressure cooker.
As for storage, an airtight container should suffice. Uncooked lentils should be stored somewhere dark and cool, too.
