Sprouted Wheat--The Wonder Grain

Hello Fellow Galaxians, 

I'm always on the look out for new ways to eat healthier on the cheap. As such, I buy whole grains when I can find them. One grain that has multiple uses and is particularly healthy, inexpensive and useful is wheat berries. You can order wheat from many different Online Stores, but if you're lucky, you may also find it at Walmart. If not, you can order it from them online and they will ship it right to your door. 

Wheat is versatile. If ground into flour, you can make anything you would make with regular flour. You can grow it into wheat grass, which has wonderful health properties and you can sprout it. 

Wheat Sprouts 

You can get the most nutrition from wheat by sprouting it. It can stimulate food enzymes, boost vitamin content, and counteract anti-nutrients like phytic acid, which prevents you from fully absorbing needed nutrients. And, in the sprouted form, you can enjoy massive increases in B vitamins, E vitamin, and fiber by as much as three times more. 

What Can You Do With Wheat Sprouts?

Wheat sprouts can be added to most recipes for an extra boost of nutrition. Some sprouts will have to be put through a food mill or blender beforehand. It will come out as a green mushy mess, but don’t let that stop you. This can be added to breads, cereal, rice dishes, stir-fry, casseroles, cookies and brownies, muffins, pancakes, sandwiches and salads. Wheat sprouts can be dried in a dehydrator and then ground into flour to be used in tandem with flour for breads. For a nutty flavor and texture, toast the wheat sprouts in a frying pan with a little oil. As a side note, sprouted wheat bread has been around for centuries and is a great non-gluten option for those with allergies. 

Let's get started!

How to Sprout Wheat

§  Rinse the wheat berries

§  Place about ½ cup of berries in a jar.

Fill up the jar halfway with water then cover the top with a nylon net or cheesecloth. Secure it with a Rubber band or a canning ring and soak for 12 hours or overnight.

§  Drain the water from the seeds.

§  Place the bottle in a dark area, such as a cupboard.  Be sure you haven’t covered the lid as the sprouts will need air. 

§  Twice a day, rinse the seeds with room-temperature water. 

§  In about 3 to 4 days, you’ll have sprouts.  I let them sit out on the counter for a day to green-up, but that is a personal preference.

Store your sprouts in the refrigerator and plan on using them within 6 days. 

How to Make Sprouted Flour

§  When your grain has just barely sprouted and the sprout is barely visible at the tip of the kernel a day or two into the sprouting process, it’s ready to use. If the sprout is too long, it will be harder to grind. 

§   Pour the grain in a thin layer and dry it in a dehydrator or oven of about 105° to 110° F. It’s better to use a dehydrator, than an oven. Grind the dried grain in a grain mill for flour. 

If you want to get started with sprouting and don't want to make your own sprouter consider in investing in one. 

This is for the serious super sprouter

And there you have it--you've just added valuable nutrition to your diet.

Happy Sprouting, friends.

Peace Peeps,
Broke Girl