Even though I’ve had a very busy month of November, I’ve continued to experiment with sprouting gluten grains and turning them into bread. We’ve now enjoyed bread baked from these sprouted grains: spelt, kamut and hard white wheat. None of these have caused any gluten-intolerance symptoms in those of my family who are gluten-sensitive. (Pictured at left: sprouted spelt bread, following my Easy Artisan Bread with Sprouted Grains recipe.)
You can imagine the joy in our house now that we are eating bread again. However, we are limited in our joy simply because I can’t get my hands on a good quantity of grains to keep us in regular supply (though that is about to change).
Scroll down for directions on sprouting grains for bread.
Azure, most of the time, is out of any grains I order. So that is hit or miss. And I only get to try once per month; long time in between orders.
I was able to buy 3 pounds of hard white wheat from a friend. That went quickly, yet successfully.
And then when I was in Eugene recently (taking my parents to the train station) I paid an arm and a leg (no kidding) for organic spelt berries at Market of Choice. I have enough of them left, sprouted, to bake one more batch of bread tomorrow.
Next week, I will be receiving an order from Hummingbird Wholesale in Eugene. This is very exciting and I will tell you why. They now carry emmer wheat from Bluebird Grain Farms. This is an expensive grain, but Hummingbird’s price is lower than the commercial price. I called the farmer to inquire around a month ago. She was very friendly and told me that they have heard of gluten-intolerant folks eating emmer wheat successfully. It is an ancient variety; older than spelt or kamut and definitely older than today’s wheat. Its gluten content is not as high as today’s wheat. She told me that their customers have more success with bread baking when using a hotter-than-normal oven. (Pictured: Three loaves of sprouted spelt bread going into the oven.)
It is true that the sprouted grain loaves do not rise as high and seem more fragile. Especially spelt which is just gloppy as a dough. It feels too wet, yet, if one adds more flour, the resulting bread will be too dry. This applies to using regular spelt flour as well as sprouted spelt flour. However, even adjusting for the increased fragility, the bread is soft, delicious, tasty and satisfying. We’re happy!
How to Sprout Hard Wheat, Kamut, Spelt or Emmer Wheat Berries for Bread
The sprouting process is very easy. In fact, so easy, that I myself am surprised. I have resisted trying to sprout grains for flour because I thought it would be just too much. It really isn’t.
Soak 4 cups of berries overnight in clean water in a 1/2 gallon mason jar. In the morning, drain and rinse two times. (Using a sprout screen and metal lid is very helpful in the rinsing process.) I do at least two of these jars, in order to yield enough flour for three loaves of bread.
Lay each jar on its side and allow to sprout for one to two days, rinsing morning and night. They are done sprouting when there is a smidge of a sprout tail visible, about 1/8 inch long.
Transfer thoroughly drained sprouts to dehydrator trays that are covered with nylon screens. Sue Gregg says she purchases nylon screening from the hardware store to save money. I need four or five of these dehydrator trays (the round ones from American Harvest) with screens to provide sufficient drying room for the two jars full of berries. I don’t spread them out in a single layer; rather, they are about 1/4 inch deep. I dehydrate on the lowest setting (95 degrees) and it takes about 8 hours or less to dry out the berries. In order to know if they are dry or not, I taste one. Is it hard and crunchy or does it still feel wet and soft? If it crunches, it is dry.
It is a bit tricky to transfer the berries both to and from the nylon screens. Notice on the screens, there is a little half circle cut out in two places of the edge. Don’t spread the berries in those spots; they’ll fall through to the tray underneath. That’s the tricky part of getting them on there.
Now getting the berries off the trays. Trust me and don’t spend time picking them up a handful at a time and moving them to another container. It takes too long and they slip out of your hands all over the place. Get a tall kitchen garbage bag (unused). Hold it open in one hand. With the other hand, carefully holding a tray level, slip the tray all the way into the open garbage bag, where you can dump the berries off. Remove the tray and repeat with the next. A huge time saver. (Someday, I will make myself a nice big fabric bag for the job. For now I will recycle that plastic bag over and over.)
Update: a cotton pillowcase works great to receive the sprouted berries!
I know it is possible to use one’s oven and oven trays to do the drying. You will have to look into the oven settings and how long to do this, as I have not the expertise to advise you. I would suggest, though, that the oven will be hotter than a dehydrator set to its lowest setting, so it is preferable to use a dehydrator. In this way, the berries experience the least possible heating/processing.
Now the sprouted, dried berries can be ground into flour as normal. I use my Vita-Mix dry container. I grind no more than 2 cups of sprouted berries at a time, on HIGH for 1 minute and 19 seconds. I transfer each batch of flour to a large glass bowl, where it will wait to become bread dough. Any unused flour I store in the freezer in glass mason jars or recycled bean/grain bags.
I’ll be writing soon about our bread made from emmer wheat…
Have you tried sprouting berries and making bread? Please share your experiences, advice or questions.
Oh Wardeh, i have been diligently praying the grain sprouting would work for your family so you could enjoy bread again! Praise the Lord! My mom is back in her house after 4 months of illness. I am getting a Vita Mix dry container for Christmas. I can’t wait. It will be so much more convenient than pulling out my 20 year old Magic Mill. Love, Mary
Wardeh,
I just read Nourishing Traditions and I really want to try doing the sprouted grains. I have not ever done my own sprouts. I have much to learn but I am looking forward to it! Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Wardeh,
Hi, I am so glad the sprouted wheat is working so well for you and your family. It was hard enough for me to give up sugar, but to have to give up wheat as well would be so HARD! I have used sprouted wheat to make cookies, they turn out great, I really like them! You can also use sprouted wheat to make pie crust, that is good as well.
Have a wonderful holiday season!
love,
Tiffany
I tried sprouting wheat just last week. I sprouted the berries for two days, strained and rinsed them several times. They sprouted and I immediately placed several cups into my food processor and processed it for several minutes. Then I added the rest of my ingredients, let it rise and baked it like normal. It turned out wonderful.
I was unsure of using the food processor and the sprouted wheat was still wet, but it turned out great. I had about 2 cups left over, I made sure I drained it well and placed in the refrigerator. The sprouts grew a little more and I made cookies with those tonight. They are delicious. This was all a new adventure for me. I was hesitant because I thought it was too difficult, but it was really easy and tasty.
I want to try drying them now, but I don’t have a dehydrator I will try it in my oven I quess.
Hi! I just soaked spelt berries for sprouting, and when it comes to the dehydrating stage, I will need to place a woven screen on my dehydrator racks. You mention Nylon screen. Is it a white color? or is the screen in the hardware store always that metallic grey color (a metal product?), I use the normal hardware store screening for my sprouting jars because there is minimal contact with the seeds or grains, but with dehydrating the contact would be constant and I would worry. Love, Mom
Thank you for taking the time to journal your experiences! What a help for others who are attempting to walk this same path. God bless you! I have sprouted wheat, kamut and spelt and dried it on large screens in my oven before milling. I was pleased with the results. Have you heard any studies about the content of gluten still left in sprouted grains? I am curious as we are having gluten problems and I’m in the process of getting all of us off gluten completely.
Gratefully, Kim
Kim,
I have not read any specific results. I would be interested to find some. Since breads from sprouted gluten-containing flours develop the stretchy gluten-network when kneaded, I am inclined to think that the gluten is still very definitely present. However, it seems to be “pre-digested” through the sprouting process, which makes it easier for gluten-sensitive folks to handle. You say members of your family are having gluten problems — is this still true with sprouted gluten grains?
I too love the results of sprouting grains. It is about the most exciting thing to happen in my kitchen in a long time!
We are very thankful to eat bread again. I would love to hear more of your experiences.
Love, Wardeh
Hi Wardeh – it’s me
again
Wow, I’m fascinated with Michelle’s ’skip the drying’ technique – I would love to hear your thoughts on this…..
(backing for dummies) questions from a rock-maker:
I read the other day where white flour is made up of the starch part of the wheat berry, and it’s the reason for the light and fluffy component white flour brings to baking – sooooooo would adding gluten free starch like tapioca starch to one’s bread, like whole wheat bread help? I’m wondering because all my attempts at bread turn out to be lovely rocks!
Can I try this sprouted bread with the wheat I got from HW? Should I add anything else to it to make it not so heavy or wheaty, or …….. (gulp) rock-like?
Thanks ?
Jami,
That’s a very good question! I have never heard of anyone trying to add tapioca starch to bread (other than gluten-free). By your question, it seems like you are talking about whole wheat bread. If I run across any information about it, I will pass it on to you.
I don’t remember you getting any wheat from HW? But yes, you can try sprouting any wheat-like grain to make this bread. I’ve done spelt, kamut, emmer, and hard white wheat. The spelt turns out the nicest!
I haven’t tried the bread without drying. I should and I want to. But haven’t yet. I would like to do it for crackers, as we discussed the other day. We should do it together!
Love, Wardeh
Jami,
Since now I know you’re referring to buckwheat, this is not a grain I would sprout for this bread.
However, it can be sprouted (with hull) for microgreens:
http://gnowfglins.com/2008/07/22/how-to-grow-microgreens/
And it can be sprouted (without hull) for breakfast:
http://gnowfglins.com/2007/09/27/sprouting-hulled-buckwheat-for-breakfast/
http://gnowfglins.com/2007/09/28/successful-sprouted-buckwheat-breakfast/
You purchased the buckwheat with hull. I have some without hull if you’d like to try the breakfast method. We can arrange to have Jeff bring you some; I have plenty!
Love, Wardeh
Oh Wardeh, your so wonderful…. after you were here and explained this buckwheat, not being wheat (food is soooo not my thing) and the hull thing about it… I was inspired (again
So while getting out my wheat berries for sprouting (first time ever) I ran across a jar with seeds you sold me months ago – and guess what? Un-hulled buckwheat was in there (I know because you pointed out what buckwheat looks like – LOL to me!
So I have some un-hulled to play with – I have other seeds too (don’t know what they are, but you told me they were all for salad sprouting – yeh!
I read last night, where a person puts un-ground sprouts of all kinds into regular flour when making bread. That sounded interesting, along with seeds and nuts. So it looks like the possibilities for experimenting will continue. Thanks for all your help!
-Love
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There is a company that makes and sells spouted grain flours. It is Summers Sprouted Flours and the website is creatingheaven.net. I have used their products before and really like them. Their phone number is (505)384-0337.
Thanks, Mary Eileen!
I just ran across your site and found it very interesting! I’ve never heard of some of this stuff and am looking forward to trying it. I do worry about you using kitchen trash bags to put the wheat berries in, though. All trash bags are treated with toxic chemicals to help them decompose quicker and to discourage insects, so you might want to try something else.
Cheryl – Yes, I agree with you, completely. I have switched to using a cotton pillowcase. It has an opening big enough to fit the trays from the dehydrator.
I hope you’ll let me know how this works for you –
Love, Wardeh
could you tell me more about your dehydrator- I want one for my Bday this year. Also, I can’t wait to hear more abut the Emmer wheat- I have read about that stuff- sounds wonderful! Have you ran across any durum wheat berries? I love to use durum for chapatis…
vehement flame – I wouldn’t recommend my dehydrator. It was given to me, so I’m using it. But everyone I know who has a good one buys an Excalibur. (See Resources for sources.) I would like one of them myself; just waiting for this one to bite the dust!
The emmer is fun to use, but I always get better results with spelt. I love the idea of emmer being so ancient, and varying our grains, so that’s why we use some of it, too. I don’t think I’ve ever used durum wheat berries, where do you get yours?
Love, Wardeh
Dearest Wardeh,
I am definitely going to try your method, but soak in a glass bowl with a plate on top and rinse in a colander because that’s what I have, and skip the drying because I am quite the impatient sort and its been quite a stretch for me to even consider sprouting my own grains. If I could find it here in my town, I would have bought sprouted flour, lol! My silly backwater town!
Thanks so much for all of your tips and for having this blog. You have been a life saver!
Be Peace,
Kimbrah
Kimbrah – You should definitely use whatever you have. A glass bowl and colander work great. You can grow your sprouts right in the colander, too. I’ve done that before. I hope you’ll share how the bread making goes when you skip drying. I haven’t been too successful at it, but want to make it work.
Love, Wardeh
Do you think you could dry them on a low temperature in an oven if you don’t have a dehydrator?
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Rebecca – yes, you can! Keep the temp as low as you can, in fact, perhaps turning it on and off intermittently to keep it warm but not hot. Let me know how it goes!
[...] Sprouting Grains [...]
Hi Wardeh,
I faithfully read your posts, but have yet to try sprouting grains. I think it would work well for my son who is gluten-sensitive. I am nervous though, and I can’t emphasize that enough! I think that I am almost ready. My MIL has a fancier over and I think I could set the temp at 95 degrees (I don’t trust my oven to maintain any temp. for more than 1 hour). Would wet, sprouted berries travel well? Or should I wait for a trip when I could do the entire process (they live 2+ hours away)?
My second concern is grinding the berries. I have a food processor, would that work? How long does the entire process take, from beginning to end not necessarily active time?
Thank you!
Hi, Jessica! Since you are nervous, and anything like this is worth testing carefully, try him on small amounts and observe for a few days before trying him on more. The wet sprouted berries will do fine for 2 plus hours. Can you pack them in a cooler? Time it so that they are done sprouting right before you leave, rinse them well, pack them in an airtight container. The cooler will slow the growth (but not stop it). You shouldn’t even have to rinse again unless it has been 8 or more hours.
I don’t think a food processor would give you a fine enough grind. However, you could do small batches in a coffee grinder. Is that an option?
Total time:
Soaking – overnight, 12 hours
Sprouting – 24 to 36 hours
Dehydrating – 12 to 24 hours
Grinding – depends on appliance
Baking, rising, etc – one day (depending on whether you’ll do sourdough or baker’s yeast)
Total: -3.5 days
Hope that is helpful! Please let me know how it goes or if you have more questions!
Thank you for your comments Wardeh. We do have a coffee grinder, so that is a great option for us.
When you make flour, how many cups of berries do you sprout & grind, and what is the yield? I think I will limit myself to 2 cookie sheets of berries for the dehydrating process, but maybe less depending on the expected yield. Are you still following the Artisan Bread recipe you posted or are you exclusively baking sourdough? I really want to try sourdough bread but might start with one project at a time. How is your sourdough starter? I hope that is going well for you.
You continue to be such a blessing! Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Jessica – I grind two cups of berries at a time (that’s what fits in my Vita-Mix) and I figure it yields me 2-1/2 cups of flour, give or take. That helps me know how much flour to grind.
Now how to figure out how many berries to sprout. Well, they pretty much double in size. So 4 cups of raw berries ends up to be almost 8 cups sprouted.
Since I’ve been experimenting with sourdough, I haven’t been making my artisan bread. I don’t want to do baker’s yeast breads anymore. Here is a link to a recipe from Girl Gone Domestic, for the artisan bread done sourdough style. I want to try it sometime, to see how it works with sprouted flours. http://macmama.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/easy-no-knead-sourdough-bread/. Perhaps you could try it later, after you master/test the regular artisan bread recipe.
My starter is thriving. The breads keep turning out better and better, though I am still trying to get it right. Everything is more than edible though! More than!
I keep using sprouted flours in muffins, cookies, cakes, etc. It is wonderful!
Keep me posted – Love, Wardeh
Hi Wardeh
Thanks for such an informative post!
Two questions:
(1) If we had sprouted and dried the grains but do not intend to use it immediately, do we store in an airtight container? Does it need to be refrigerated?
(2) If we had done (1) above and also ground the grains to flour but do not intend to use immediately, how do we store?
Tks!
JK – The sprouted flour is shelf stable for six months in an airtight container, and longer if refrigerated or frozen. I don’t know about the whole sprouted grain, but certainly it would be at least six months, based on the flour storage requirements. This information comes from “Sprouted Baking” by Janie Quinn. She says that sprouted flour is more shelf stable than unsprouted, because the grain’s germ undergoes a transformation during sprouting. Prior to sprouting, the germ contained the fat, which is susceptible to rancidity. HOpe this helps.
Wardah,
I have commented a couple of times and just wanted to say thank you for the encouragement to sprout grains. I finally did it and it is so much easier than I had imagined. One neat thing I stumbled on for drying out the grain without a dehydrater or oven is the sun. Obviously it won’t work any tiime it iis not pretty warm and dry, but it does save on electricity and if a person has a pizza stone of some sort I found that it dries out even so much quicker with the stone absorbing moisture and retaining heat. I don’t know exactly what I will use with summer on the way out, but I will see how long it will work.
Alicia Syme from Lebanon
Hi Wardeh,
I’m so glad to see your directions here- I’ve been thinking about doing this when my dehydrator is finally free of summer fruit & veggies so I’ll clip these instructions. My family doesn’t like the flavor of soaked grains so we’ve fallen off the wagon but if I can soak & grind they would never know.
Thanks so much for the info!
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Annette, what is it about the soaked flour taste they don’t like?
Hi Wardeh,
It’s the sourdough’y taste, that fermented flavor that it gets. Pancakes just aren’t as sweet if you soak overnight. The raised bread I am soaking and they are fine with that but the scones, muffins and cookies (basically all the things we shouldn’t really be eating but childhood demands that we do) are the things that taste “different” when soaked overnight.
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Annette – I hope you’ll be able to try this. It might be perfect! I tend to use sprouted flours for most of my muffins, cookies and cakes – it is not only convenient but very tasty. In fact, no difference in taste.
But have you tried soaking with Kombucha – nothing ends up sour if I use that for soaking. It might be worth a try.
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I noticed that you referenced gluten grains but someone in the comment section said that they wanted to sprout buckwheat. I’ve soaked buckwheat and it’s fantastic. Can you sprout non-gluten grains? Quinoa, brown rice, millet?
I have had sprouted bread once or twice since I had to stop eating wheat and it wasn’t an issue for me but it’s not something I feel ok messing around with. (I don’t have celiac – I don’t eat wheat because I was a binge eater and massively overweight. No wheat, no sugar = no food cravings, no binging.)
Amy – Yes, you can sprout non-gluten grains, with some exceptions. I have not turned them into bread ever, but I would speculate that you can substitute the sprouted grains in a tested gluten-free recipe. Like if it calls for buckwheat flour, use sprouted buckwheat flour. You would not be able to sprout millet, at least the kind that is readily available. I can’t remember exactly what the matter is, but the regular processing of it makes it unsproutable. You’d have to look for a sprouting millet, which is harder to find, but is out there. For rice, the only rice that sprouts is brown, unprocessed rice. Quinoa sprouts (and I have done it) but I find it very hard to manage because the seeds are so tiny. If you do it, be sure to let me know how it goes! I love to hear that people are trying things, because none of us are able to try everything and we learn from each other.
Amy – Here’s a comment that shares how to sprout buckwheat, in case you’re interested in that: http://gnowfglins.com/2009/10/29/four-ways-to-use-sprouted-beans/comment-page-1/#comment-25619
[...] Sprouting Grains for Bread [...]
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