Adding pearl barley and/or lentils to stuff

[TeaRocks]

When you add red lentils or pearl barley to soups and casseroles, do you need to cook them first?

I am going to do a chicken casserole in the slow cooker at the weekend (chicken thighs, veg, chicken stock) and was planning on adding a cup of pearl barley - do I need to do anything to it before I chuck it in?

If I were to add red lentils to it, would I need to do anything to them?

Thanks!

I chuck pearl barley into casseroles all the time.
I rinse them first and then just sling them in.

Never used lentils though

Just rinse and sling red lentils too

Red lentils - just chuck in. They need some amount of boiling/simmering in liquid, which is what they will get in a slow-cooker casserole anyway.

Pick one or the other though, not pearl barley AND lentils

Red lentils cook very quickly - no need to precook them.

Barley takes a lot longer - you would probably need some extra liquid in the casserole to allow for it.

That's great - thank you all!