Lentils are a healthy and nutritious food that many people have started adding to their diets – but it’s important to know how to cook them right, especially if you want them to be enjoyable. If you don’t, you’ll end up with lentils that are mushy and unappetizing, and you might put yourself off cooking them in the future.
If your lentils are mushy, you have probably overcooked them or cooked them at a high temperature. Knowing how to cook the different kinds of lentils is key to getting them pleasantly firm, but not crunchy. Lentils don’t generally need to be soaked before you eat them, and this could cause them to turn soggy – so avoid it unless it is required.
In this article, we’ll be checking out what causes lentils to turn mushy, and how you can stop this from happening so your lentil-based dishes are delicious. We’ll also check out the average cooking times for the different kinds of lentils.
What Makes Lentils Turn Mushy?
If your lentils are mushy, there’s a high chance that you have accidentally cooked them for too long.
Many people do this because they are afraid of their lentils being undercooked and therefore crispy and unpleasant. Undercooked lentils may also upset your stomach because they contain a protein called lectin that can be somewhat toxic.
Cooking destroys this protein, so it is important to cook your lentils well – but not so well that they start to disintegrate. Part of the joy of lentils is their texture, and this will be lost if you overcook them. With that in mind, let’s look at the different cooking times needed for the different kinds of lentils.
- Green lentils take about 45 minutes to cook.
- Black lentils take about 25 minutes to cook.
- Brown lentils take about 30 minutes to cook.
- Red lentils take about 15 minutes to cook.
- Yellow lentils take about 15 minutes to cook.
Although you may need to adjust those estimates slightly, understanding how long to leave the lentils in the pot is key to preventing mushiness and ensuring your lentils have a great texture when you’ve finished cooking them. It can be helpful to use a timer, especially if you are going to simmer the lentils slowly, so you don’t forget about them.
Cooking lentils for the right amount of time will give your dish a heartiness and firmness that it will otherwise be lacking. Overcooked lentils can be mushy, wet, and unpleasant. Some people find overcooked lentils very hard to eat because of the texture, so it’s important to balance your cooking times carefully.
Should You Boil Lentils?
It’s best to follow your recipe, but on the whole, most people bring lentils to a boil and then turn down the heat and let them simmer. Because lentils take a long time to cook, boiling them tends to result in mushiness on the outside, while the centers may still be crispy.
Being boiled also increases the chances of the lentils’ skins splitting. This lets water into them, which makes them wetter and mushier. A slower heating method is therefore generally preferable.
It’s a good idea to test the lentils when you think the meal is nearly done. Scoop one or two out with a spoon, put them on a plate, and gently press the tines of a fork into one of them. The fork should pierce the lentil with relative ease, but there should be some resistance. This indicates that the lentils are well-cooked.
Are Red Lentils Mushier?
The lentils that have longer cooking times tend to be more robust, and less prone to mushiness. Green, black, and brown lentils hold up better to being cooked and are far less likely to turn soggy. That means they’re ideal in dishes where you want the lentils to be firm.
In general, yellow lentils and red lentils are best when cooked into dals, soups, and curries. They are much softer than the other options and tend to turn mushy when cooked, even if they are only simmered for a short period. This means they are best utilized in meals where their softness won’t matter, or is desirable.
What About Canned Lentils?
It’s important to be aware that canned lentils are already cooked, so you don’t want to do more than heat them through if you are using these for cooking. Rinse them thoroughly to remove the salt, and add them when you are almost ready to serve your meal to stop them from getting overcooked.
Conclusion
Mushy lentils are generally caused by overcooking or cooking at a very high temperature. To keep your lentils firm, try simmering them slowly, and only for the recommended amount of time (depending on the lentil type). Use black, green, and brown lentils for a firmer texture, and red or yellow when you want a soft meal.
