John Myers
Whether you want to cook rhubarb for cakes or for compote: the correct preparation of the vegetables, the cooking time, and any other ingredients determine the consistency and taste. Everything is perfect with our tips!
How long does rhubarb take to cook?
Do you even have to cook rhubarb? Not necessarily. The stalk vegetables should be cooked, but this can also be done in the oven. So for a rhubarb pie, you can add it raw directly to the batter. This also applies to savory and sweet dishes, such as gratins or tarte flambée. For other rhubarb recipes such as compote, you have to cook the stalks until they are soft; they are inedible raw. Typically, you cook rhubarb with sugar to neutralize the natural acidity. How much you use is a matter of taste. In most cases, however, it is sufficient to sprinkle the chopped up stick vegetables with the sweetener. Then mix everything together and let the mixture steep for about 10 minutes. Fruit juice escapes, which is sufficient for cooking. Now slowly heat the pot and let the contents simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes until the rhubarb is tender. Alternatively, you can skip the juicing phase and pour on the water. Just under 100 ml is enough for 500 g rhubarb. Other liquids can also be used, such as oat milk as in our strawberry and rhubarb compote.
Boil rhubarb without sugar
If you want to do without household sugar, rhubarb can also be prepared with alternative sweeteners such as erythritol, stevia or coconut blossom sugar. Note, however, that these can have a taste of their own, which is reflected in the cooked rhubarb — the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You can also cook rhubarb with custard powder for a thick dessert. To do this, first cook the stick vegetables until soft, then add the powder mixed with water and let everything boil again briefly.
Regardless of the type of ingredients, thorough cleaning of the vegetables is a prerequisite for a delicious compote or a delicious jam. The question, “What is the best way to process rhubarb?” we will answer you in detail with our expert knowledge.
