why does brown rice and barley take like 50 min to cook?!

they are a whole grain. Yes you have been spoiled by processed foods. But if you have the time to sit in front of a computer or a tv then you can cook the brown rice. Just use a timer so that you don't boil it dry.

It is supposed to slow cook so the rice cooked evenly. It is still in the bran. If it is cooked to quickly it will be mushy while the bran wil be chewy.

Loveliness takes time. ;-}

EDIT: even better cooked in chicken broth.

you can sooak it before to take time off cooking.Barley takes forever, but brown rice should only ake 30 minutes.

Soaking grains takes a lot of time off cooking.