Step-by-step guide on how to germinate wheat at home
Adherents of a healthy diet regularly eat sprouted wheat grains. The product has a rich vitamin composition and powerful antioxidant properties, and is considered a source of youth and health. Find out all the secrets of proper germination, as well as recipes with this product from our article.
Why germinate wheat
Researchers have proven that sprouted wheat grain, when consumed correctly, saturates the body with useful substances. The product is especially valuable in winter, during a period of shortage of healthy vegetables and fruits.
Why does wheat need to be sprouted? When dry, the grain contains a lot of starch, and the vitamin composition is “dormant.” During germination, the product reveals its beneficial properties. A lot of protein is formed in the sprouts, and the level of carbohydrates in the grain is reduced.
Why is it useful?
Sprouted wheat has a beneficial effect on the entire body:
- Vitamin A normalizes metabolism, controls the process of tissue growth and renewal;
- B vitamins strengthen the immune system, tidy up the nervous and cardiovascular systems, help cope with stress, and improve intestinal function;
- Vitamin E fights the aging process, improves the appearance of skin and hair, reduces sugar levels and general fatigue of the body.
The product contains 18 amino acids and valuable microelements:
- potassium helps remove excess water from the body;
- calcium and phosphorus resist infections and toxins, strengthen bones and have an anti-inflammatory effect;
- magnesium resists stress, nervousness, insomnia and headaches;
- iron and zinc fight fatigue and accelerate wound healing;
- Selenium ensures high-quality functioning of the heart muscle and blood vessels.
Grains are a source of fiber. It helps fight excess weight, cleanses the intestines, maintains normal microflora, reduces sugar and cholesterol levels, and prevents the development of diabetes.
Reference. The vitamin composition of wheat grain has antioxidant and anticancer properties.
Nutrients are absorbed quickly because they are broken down during germination.
Selection and purchase of wheat for germination
For consumption, choose grains of the correct shape. They should not have mold, signs of disease, or fragmentation. You can buy them in supermarkets, pharmacies, and health food stores. You can buy them on the market, where they will cost less. But be sure to check with the sellers whether they have been chemically treated. Grains treated with pesticides against rodents and pests, cannot be eaten.
For germination it is recommended to purchase:
- soft wheat varieties;
- identical shape, color, without defects;
- fresh goods that have been stored for no more than a year;
- no smell of dampness or chemicals.
How to germinate wheat at home
Sprouting wheat and always having a valuable vitamin composition on hand is quick and easy. You don't need special tools, skills or household appliances. Experienced raw foodists may offer different methods of sprouting, but there is one proven classic option.
What you will need
Before starting the procedure, prepare a place for wheat in advance. It should be warm, light, but without direct sunlight. In addition to the wheat itself, you will need:
- a small container with a wide bottom made of glass, plastic, porcelain;
- sieve;
- gauze or a piece of natural fabric.
Reference. Do not use metal containers; wheat spoils quickly in them.
Step-by-step instruction
To germinate wheat, follow these simple steps:
- Buy grains. It is better to take tested ones at a pharmacy or health store.
- Inspect them thoroughly for defects. Throw away the bad ones.
- Pour in water and mix thoroughly. Good grains will sink to the bottom, bad ones will float to the surface. They need to be thrown away; they will not sprout.
- After rinsing, soak it in water overnight.
- In the morning, rinse the grains under the tap, place them in a container and cover with a damp cloth or gauze folded in several layers. The fabric should be damp, not wet. Excess moisture can cause grains to become moldy. Not enough liquid is also bad, they will dry out.
- Every 6-8 hours, wash the grains to remove mucus.
- After 15-20 hours, the product can be eaten.
Properly sprouted and high-quality wheat tastes sweet, has a fresh aroma and does not leave an unpleasant aftertaste.
When the product is ready
Within 24 hours the wheat is ready for consumption. You can only eat sprouted grains. The most beneficial properties are found in cereals with a sprout of 2-3 mm. Grains with a sprout of 5 mm or more cannot be eaten. They lost all the healing properties that the sprout gave. From sprouts 12-15 mm you can make juice. If the wheat has not sprouted within two days, it is not recommended to eat it, even if it germinates later.
How to use sprouts correctly
Any product can bring both benefit and harm. To benefit wheat sprouts, follow these rules:
- Try not to heat them. Under the influence of temperature, the healing properties are reduced.
- Chew the product thoroughly until a paste forms in your mouth. If this is difficult for some reason, grind the wheat in a meat grinder or blender.
- Introduce sprouts into your diet gradually. Start with a teaspoon.
- Don't eat a lot of grains. The norm per day is 2-3 tablespoons. Eating large amounts of grain will cause stomach upset.
- The best time to use is morning. A boost of energy for the whole day is guaranteed. If eaten at night, insomnia may occur.
- Be sure to rinse sprouted grains with water before use.
- It can be introduced into the diet of children from 14 years of age.
- If you have a gluten allergy, avoid the product.
- Do not combine wheat with goldenseal, royal jelly or dairy products.
- Eat grains with nuts, dried fruits, cereals and salads, cold soups.
Recipes with the addition of sprouted wheat
Sprouted wheat does not have to be introduced into the diet in its pure form. It is easy to prepare simple dishes from it. Salads, cocktails, homemade cakes and even moonshine are especially popular.
Salad
A Korean salad will be a vitamin bomb on your table. To do this you need 350 g of sprouted wheat, 120 g of ghee, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp. l. vinegar and soy sauce, spices (pepper, coriander, sugar, salt).
The recipe is elementary:
- Rinse the sprouted grains and boil for about 5 minutes in boiling water.
- Pour the grains into a deep plate and sprinkle with seasonings.
- Heat oil in a frying pan and add a pinch of coriander.
- Add hot oil to the grains and mix well.
- After a few minutes, sprinkle with vinegar and soy sauce.
Another recipe is also popular. It will require the following ingredients:
- 1 pear, banana, apple, kiwi, half an avocado;
- 500 g cheese;
- 3 tbsp. l. wheat sprouts;
- 3 tbsp. l. pomegranate seeds;
- juice of half a lemon;
- 4 tsp. honey
Pass the wheat grains through a meat grinder, finely chop the fruits, and grate the cheese. Mix all products and season with honey and lemon juice. The salad is easily digestible and quickly saturates the body.
Porridge
Flaxseed porridge will give you morning tone and vigor. To prepare it, soak 3 tbsp overnight. l. flax In the morning, beat its seeds and water with a blender until mushy. Sprouted wheat grains are washed and added to the mixture. Beat all ingredients again. Vitamin porridge is consumed 30 minutes before the main breakfast.
But you can pamper the whole family with delicious porridge with oranges. To do this you will need:
- 1 cup sprouted wheat;
- 1 tbsp. l. Sahara;
- a pinch of ground ginger;
- 1 tbsp. l. honey;
- butter;
- 1 orange.
Pour warm water over the wheat and leave for an hour. Drain the water, pour the grain into a saucepan and add fresh water. Place on the fire and bring the water to a boil. Add sugar, ginger. Cover with a lid and cook over low heat until the grains are soft. Add butter, honey and chopped orange to the finished porridge.
Cocktail
You can also consume sprouted wheat in the form of a cocktail. To do this, 100 g of sprouts are mixed with 50 g of raisins and passed through a meat grinder. Water and, if desired, honey are added to the products. All ingredients are blended in a blender, after which the cocktail is ready for use. A vitamin boost for the whole day after the “health drink” is provided.
Cookies with sprouts
Homemade baked goods with healthy ingredients will not leave anyone indifferent. Prepare in advance:
- 2 cups sprouted wheat;
- 50 g dried apricots;
- 50 g prunes;
- a handful of raisins;
- 2 tbsp. spoons of poppy seeds.
Pass all products through a meat grinder. Form “cakes” from the resulting dough. If you wish, you can roll them in sesame seeds. Place on a baking sheet and place in a preheated oven for 5-7 minutes. Don’t forget to turn the “cakes” over to the other side at the right time and put them in the oven again. The cookies undergo minimal heat treatment, so they retain a large number of beneficial properties.
Moonshine
Alcoholic drinks are not a healthy diet. Nevertheless, strong natural moonshine is prepared from sprouted wheat. It will be of good quality, with a mild taste. There are many recipes for wheat moonshine, check out one of them. Main ingredients:
- sprouted grain – 2.5 l;
- sugar – 6 kg;
- yeast – 100 g;
- Ryazhenka - 0.5 l.
Wheat with sprouts of more than 2 cm is suitable for moonshine. To make mash, warm water at a temperature of 60°C and sugar are mixed in a can. Mix well. Yeast and wheat are added to the slightly cooled mixture.
Store the mash at a temperature of no more than 28°C. In the future, fermented baked milk is used to clean the mash. Distill through a moonshine still twice. Using grain residues, the mash can be refilled several times.
Terms and conditions of storage of sprouted wheat
Wheat grain is stored well in a glass or plastic container with a lid. I don’t close the lid tightly; the grain may suffocate. But leaving it without a lid is contraindicated; the grain dries out quickly. Cereals can be stored on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for no more than two days.With longer storage, the beneficial properties are lost.
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Conclusion
Sprouted wheat is a natural source of vitamins and minerals. By using it daily, you will forget about artificial biological supplements from the pharmacy. It's easy to germinate grains. All you need to do is choose high-quality seeds, soak them overnight, spread them out and don’t forget to rinse. Dishes made from this product will make your diet varied and your body healthy and protected.