Do you have to soak pearl barley before cooking in soup slow cooker?

Here's why:

* Faster cooking: Soaking pearl barley helps it absorb water and soften quicker, leading to a shorter cooking time in your slow cooker.

* More tender barley: Soaking softens the barley's outer hull, making it more tender and easier to digest.

* Less risk of hard centers: Without soaking, pearl barley can take a long time to cook, potentially resulting in some kernels remaining hard in the center.

How to soak pearl barley:

1. Rinse the barley under cold water.

2. Place it in a bowl and cover with enough water to submerge it by a couple of inches.

3. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, but ideally 1-2 hours.

Note: If you don't have time to soak, you can add the barley to the slow cooker with the rest of your ingredients, but you'll likely need to add more cooking time. Just make sure you keep an eye on it and adjust the cooking time as needed.