Eeek! I forgot to rinse the lentils! (2024)

OK, so I was jonesing for some Indian Dahl and threw some together. Then when I looked back at the recipe I realised I forgot to rins the red lentils before I used them. Am I gonna get sick/die? ??? One hopes not as they are (reportedly) organic and came in a plastic bag, not out of a bulk bin filled with oil, but...eeek!

yabbitgirl,

rest easy please. Nothing is gonna happen to you.
Once you cook any food , (especially if you steam cook), the disease causing organisms are killed. Pathogens cannot survive beyond 120C when you steam cook.

You just need to worry about small sand particles/grit.

NJA

Death by Legume. That's how I wanna go!

;D

I think the rinsing for brown/green lentils - whole ones i.e. with the skins on - is more for finding rocks and dirt from the harvest which might still be there, whereas for split lentils it's to wash off the starchiness. When I've rinsed red lentils, they cloud up the water like nobody's business, and I've followed recipes that suggest you rinse until the water runs clear, so about 5-6 times. But I don't know if NOT doing this would affect the texture of the finished dish. :)

I think you're right, Heli, cuz the lentils swelled up a LOT more than usual and were a lot more puree-like in texture than the times I've washed them. Maybe they take up some of the rinse water too, and don't need so much cooking water.

I think the rinsing for brown/green lentils - whole ones i.e. with the skins on - is more for finding rocks and dirt from the harvest which might still be there, whereas for split lentils it's to wash off the starchiness. When I've rinsed red lentils, they cloud up the water like nobody's business, and I've followed recipes that suggest you rinse until the water runs clear, so about 5-6 times. But I don't know if NOT doing this would affect the texture of the finished dish. :)

I think you're right, Heli, cuz the lentils swelled up a LOT more than usual and were a lot more puree-like in texture than the times I've washed them. Maybe they take up some of the rinse water too, and don't need so much cooking water.

Oooh, that interesting. Next time I'll wash my lentils to see if I notice any diference (if I remember)

I rinse my lentils but only to check for stones and sticks. I have a lentil related question but I didn't want to start a new thread. Can I temporarily hijack yours?

I want to make the My Vegan Cookbook recipe for stroganoff but I don't know what lentils to use. I usually buy masoor dal but I'm out and now I only have toor dal. It's no problem to buy more but in the recipe image it looks like the lentils are still whole. What to use? Recipe for reference: http://www.myvegancookbook.com/recipes/recipe.php?id=18

Edit

I rinse my lentils but only to check for stones and sticks. I have a lentil related question but I didn't want to start a new thread. Can I temporarily hijack yours?

I want to make the My Vegan Cookbook recipe for stroganoff but I don't know what lentils to use. I usually buy masoor dal but I'm out and now I only have toor dal. It's no problem to buy more but in the recipe image it looks like the lentils are still whole. What to use? Recipe for reference: http://www.myvegancookbook.com/recipes/recipe.php?id=18

I'm gonna take a chance and guess that those look like channa dal.

Yabbit I heart you!

I so just googled searched this and this was the first thing to come up on my page! Awesome! ;)b

Good to know I am not gonna die from forgetting to rinse my lentils. Haha.

Yabbit I heart you!

I so just googled searched this and this was the first thing to come up on my page! Awesome! ;)b

Good to know I am not gonna die from forgetting to rinse my lentils. Haha.

I heart'cha right back, sweetie. Lentil munchers of the world, unite! :)>>>