Rinse quinoa well under cold water in a mesh strainer.
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and add in quinoa. Stir to separate seeds and turn heat down to low.
Simmer quinoa for 10 minutes.
Test quinoa by straining out a few seeds and trying them. They should have little tails on them and have a very slight crunch to them. If they are very crunchy, cook the quinoa for another minute and re-test.
Strain the quinoa out of the water with the mesh strainer and return to the hot pot. Cover and steam off the heat for 5-10 minutes. (You can add butter at this point if you are using it).
Fluff the quinoa with a fork and season with salt to taste. Serve warm or cool and store for later.