Pearl Barley: Also known as pearled barley, is the processed version of the grain. It's the most common form of barley but is slightly less nutritious than hulled barley because it's outer bran layers have been removed. It has a neutral taste, has a shorter cook time, and is lighter in color than hulled barley. Hulled Barley: Also known as hulless barley, hulled barley is a whole grain that's been minimally processed to remove just it's outer husk. It's used interchangeably with pearled barley in recipes but does have a longer cook time.