Quinoa and Bugs

I just learned how to cook quinoa and the article (on wendipolisi.com) mentioned that you have to rinse quinoa because "Quinoa is covered in a bitter substance called saponin. In nature, saponin protects the seeds from pests and birds."
The cooking instructions mentions rinsing the quinoa for 3-5 minutes, which seems like an awful lot of water.  
Has anyone tried using leftover quinoa rinse water to deter harmful bugs or birds?

There is some research in the area, but you may have to test the wash with each insect or pathogen that you wish to control.  More info here:  https://scielo.conicyt.cl/pdf/ciagr/v46n2/0718-1620-ciagr-46-02-0125.pdf

I haven't tried to repel anything with it, but I wash my quinoa the way I wash my rice- 3 rinse-agitate-drain cycles in a row, with that water reserved and going into the graywater to flush toilets (we have a water shortage here and water is being rationed) or out to water plants. If I used a lot of quinoa I would save just that water and experiment, but the bugs here are pretty hardcore and probably would ask for more.

3-5 minutes of running water seems like a bit of an exaggeration, personally.

I don’t wash my quinoa at all and dump it right in the water.  I’m pretty sure my wife can not tell the difference, and she is way pickier about smells and flavors than me.

I think bought quinoa has already been rinsed so you would only need to do that if you are growing your own.

Quinoa is so tiny. How would you rinse it without losing the little seeds?

Misty Portals wrote:Quinoa is so tiny. How would you rinse it without losing the little seeds?

Use a strainer, like you'd use for tea. It's not bad, amaranth is way worse!