A or roserobin - does pearl barley cook ok in the soup maker?

I have not tried it yet, was going to try some this weekend though, might soak overnight?

yeah i was thinking it might pay to soak it first.

Pepe, pearl barley doesn't take long in the slow cooker.  That's because it cooks mostly with liquid, not with the heat.  I added it just an hour or two before it was finished.  If you overcook pearl barley it goes too gelatinous. 

Split peas you might need to soak but usually I just rinse them really well.

Oops!  you were talking about the soup maker..  not sure about that one but it usually takes about 30 minutes cooked in the normal way.

I shall experiment!!

thanks for the tips.

My soup maker arrived yesterday, I have just made a batch of pumpkin soup and I have to say I am really impressed with how it turned out.

10 minutes to prepare, push a button, sit and watch it because i want to see how it works, realise this is pretty pointless as its stainless steel and i can't actually see anything cooking so I potter about tidying the kitchen and living room whist listening to it do its job..... go back when it beeps and do the taste test - beautiful creamy consistency and full of flavour. 

cleaning it took 2 minutes, dinner is cooked, just have to reheat it and heat some rolls and I have already done the tidy up routine I normally do after dinner... win/win!

i just need more recipes now....