How to avoid clumped barley

by mayer
(brooklyn, ny)

When I prepare the baked barley using your instructions, the barley clumps on cooling. What am I doing wrong?

After 50 minutes I checked the barley and discovered there was still water in the dish. I put the barley back in the oven for another 10 minutes, at which time the barley was sticky.

Should I rinse the barley after cooking/baking to remove the sticky coating?

*****
Sassy Sez: Hi Mayer! Sorry you are having challenges with your baked barley. I have not experienced this, so let's try to figure out what is happening on your end.

Firstly, some questions to ensure you are following my instructions for Baked Barley:

1. Did you use the correct ratio of water to barley?
2. Did you add a fat, such as extra-virgin olive oil?
3. Did you boil the water or veg stock before adding to your barley (in the oven-proof baking dish)?
4. Did you pre-soak your barley? (If you are using pearl barley, you must cut the amount of cooking time in half.)
5. Did you fluff your barley when it was done cooking, before it cooled?

Please note, your barley may be done cooking even though there is water in the bottom of the baking dish. Simply drain excess, then fluff with a fork.

Write back. ;O) xo