Lentils ?

[Ellyndria]

I'm making a lentil soup in the slow cooker tomorrow... I haven't cooked lentils before. It's supposed to be in the slow cooker for 11 hours on low... do I need to soak the lentils overnight first like you do beans? The bag of lentils has directions for either an overnight soak or a "quick" soak.

[Kim in Appalachia]

You will not need to soak the lentils, nor will you need to cook it for 11 hrs. I've cooked lentil soup lots of times in my slow cooker. 8 hrs on low, or 4 hrs on high will get it done.

 

HTH

[Spy Car]

No need to soak (in fact better not). Lentils cook fairly quickly, but vary by type and "age". In any case they cook faster than most beans.

 

Wash 'em but no need to soak them.

 

ETA: I agree with Kim. After 11 hours the lentils may be mush.

Edited February 6, 2009 by Spy Car

[Ellyndria]

Thanks! I don't want mush, ick.

[Spy Car]

Thanks! I don't want mush, ick.

 

Should you ever over cook them, and get "mush", you can do a half-save job my pureeing them and cooking till thickened.

 

Still best to avoid.

 

Bill

[jamnkats]

I made a lentil stew in the crockpot the night before last. Chopped garlic and onion, potatoes and carrots, covered with water and cooked on high overnight. Next morning added chorizo and lentils. It was done in a couple hours.