Pot barley

[fencesitter]

Quick question - once I've soaked it overnight in water, can I then use that water to cook it in, or does it need a wash? Or should I have washed it before I soaked it?

TIA!

I think, but I'm not too sure, that you ought to rinse it before cooking it. There's pot barley in my soup mix and the instructions say to rinse after soaking, but that might be because of the beans and pulses in the mix too.

change the water, but don't wash it any further, just drain and put in casserole

YOu're supposed to soak before use

I'm guessing it's a good thing I cook my stews for ages.

I don't even rinse the stuff.

Thanks everyone - will get cooking it now!