A wheatberry refers to the entire wheat kernel except for the hull, which comprises the bran, germ, and endosperm. They are known for being high in fiber, low in calories, and chock full of essential vitamins.

How to Prepare: 

Wheat berries can be cooked like most grains by the stovetop, rice cooker, or slow cooker. The only difference is that due to their tough bran they must be soaked overnight before cooking. 

Stovetop 

1. Rinse the wheat berries well with cold water.

2. Place them in a bowl filled with cold water and let it soak overnight.

3. Rinse them thoroughly and drain the water.

4. Place them in a pan with water, bring it to a boil.

5. Cover the saucepan and let it simmer for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours, until the grains are tender and chewy. 

Rice Cooker 

1. Rinse the wheat berries well with cold water.

2. Place them in a bowl filled with cold water and let it soak overnight.

3. Rinse them thoroughly and drain the water.

4. For one-cup berries, use 2-1/2 cups water and cook for about 45-1 hour. It takes close to an hour for my cooker to bring the berries to a chewy state and gets aromatic.

5.Fluff and let it sit and steam cook for another 5 min in the cooker. 

Slow Cooker 

1. Rinse the wheat berries well with cold water.

2. Place them in a bowl filled with cold water and let it soak overnight.

3. Rinse them thoroughly and drain the water.

4. For one cup use 2-1/2 cups water/broth and cook for about 6-8 hrs

 

Mix them into salads and soups or enjoy as a hearty side dish.