How To Make Bread From Wheat Berries (Complete Guide)

Bread is a staple food for many cultures around the world. It is versatile, delicious, and can be enjoyed in many different forms. But have you ever considered making bread from scratch using wheat berries? This process might seem daunting, but it is easier than you think.

In this complete guide, we will take you through the steps to make bread from wheat berries, including how to prepare the wheat berries, how to make the dough, and how to bake the bread. Get ready to impress your friends and family with your homemade bread-making skills after you finish this guide.

Advantages of making bread from scratch using wheat berries

Making bread from scratch using wheat berries offers several advantages, including health benefits, cost-effectiveness, control over ingredients, freshness, and personal satisfaction.

1. Health benefits: Wheat berries contain all parts of the grain, providing more fiber, vitamins, minerals, protein, and complex carbohydrates than processed flour. This can help regulate blood sugar levels and provide a more nutritious option for bread.
2. Cost-effectiveness: Buying wheat berries in bulk and grinding only what is needed for each batch of bread can save money and reduce waste.
3. Control over ingredients: Making bread from scratch allows for complete control over the ingredients used, avoiding artificial preservatives, sweeteners, and other additives commonly found in processed bread.
4. Freshness: Freshly baked bread from scratch has a better texture, flavor, and aroma than store-bought bread, which can often be dry and bland.
5. Personal satisfaction: Making bread from scratch offers a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and can be a fun and rewarding experience to share with family and friends.

You can see that there are many advantages to making bread from scratch using wheat berries. Now that you know why it’s a great idea, let’s move on to the steps for how to make bread from wheat berries.

Preparing the Wheat Berries

Here are the steps for preparing wheat berries to make bread:

Step 1 – Soak the Wheat Berries

Begin by rinsing the wheat berries in cold water and draining them. Then, place them in a bowl and cover them with water. Soak them for at least 8 hours or overnight. This will help to soften them and make them easier to grind into flour.

Step 2 – Sprout the Wheat Berries (Optional)

If desired, you can sprout the wheat berries after soaking them. Drain the soaking water, rinse the wheat berries, and drain them again.

Transfer them to a sprouting jar or bowl, cover with a cloth or mesh lid, and rinse them twice a day. After 2-3 days, the wheat berries should sprout small tails. Sprouting the wheat berries can increase their nutritional value and make them easier to digest.

Step 3 – Dehydrate the Wheat Berries (Optional)

If you choose to sprout the wheat berries, you’ll need to dehydrate them before grinding them into flour.

Spread the sprouted wheat berries on a baking sheet and place them in an oven or dehydrator at a low temperature (around 150°F) for several hours, until they are completely dry. Alternatively, you can sun-dry the sprouted wheat berries for a few days until they are completely dry.

Step 4 – Grind the Wheat Berries into Flour

Once the wheat berries are soaked and/or sprouted and dehydrated, it’s time to grind them into flour. You can use a grain mill or a high-powered blender to grind the wheat berries into a fine flour.

Be sure to sift the flour to remove any large pieces or bran that didn’t get ground up. The freshly ground flour can be used immediately to make bread dough.

These are the steps for preparing wheat berries to make bread. Now that you have your wheat berry flour, it’s time to make the bread dough.

Making the Bread Dough

Here are the steps involved in making the bread dough from wheat flour:

1. Ingredients required for making bread dough from wheat flour:

• 3 cups of freshly ground wheat flour
• 1 1/2 cups of warm water
• 2 tsp of active dry yeast or 1 packet of instant yeast
• 1 tsp of salt
• 2 tbsp of honey or sugar (optional)
• 2 tbsp of olive oil or melted butter (optional)

2. Mixing the dough ingredients:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and yeast. Add in the warm water, honey/sugar, and olive oil/butter, if using. Mix the ingredients together until they form a shaggy dough.

3. Kneading the dough:

Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it.

Knead the dough for about 10-15 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Use the heel of your hand to push the dough away from you, then fold it over and repeat.

4. Proofing the dough:

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1-2 hours, or until it doubles in size.

5. Shaping the dough into loaves:

After the dough has risen, punch it down to release the air bubbles. Divide the dough into two equal portions and shape each portion into a round or oblong loaf.

Place the loaves on a baking sheet or in a greased bread pan and let them rise for another 30-60 minutes.

6. Baking the bread:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. If desired, score the tops of the loaves with a sharp knife.

Bake the bread for 30-40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped.

Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Baking the Bread

Here are the steps involved in baking the bread:

1. Preheat the oven:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for at least 15-20 minutes before baking the bread.

2. Optional: Add steam to the oven:

If you want a crispy crust, add steam to the oven by placing a pan of hot water on the bottom rack or spritzing water on the walls of the oven using a spray bottle.

3. Place the bread in the oven:

Place the baking sheet or bread pan with the risen dough in the preheated oven.

4. Bake the bread:

Bake the bread for 30-40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

If using a bread pan, the bread is done when the internal temperature reaches 190°F (88°C).

5. Cool the bread:

Once the bread is done, remove it from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. This will allow the bread to finish cooking and the crust to crisp up.

6. Store the bread:

Store the bread in a paper or cloth bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze the bread for up to 3 months by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Tips for Making Great Wheat Berry Bread

Here are some tips for making great wheat berry bread:

1. Use freshly ground wheat berries:

Freshly ground wheat berries will have more flavor and nutrients than pre-ground flour. Grind the wheat berries just before using them in the recipe for the best results.

2. Add a little bit of all-purpose flour:

Adding a small amount of all-purpose flour to the recipe can help lighten the texture of the bread. Start with 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour for every 3 cups of wheat flour.

3. Use warm water for the dough:

Warm water helps activate the yeast and helps the dough rise faster. The ideal temperature for the water is between 100°F to 110°F (38°C to 43°C).

4. Let the dough rise in a warm place:

The dough needs to rise in a warm, draft-free place to double in size. You can create a warm environment by placing the bowl of dough in a turned-off oven with the light on or by placing it near a heat source.

5. Add steam to the oven:

Adding steam to the oven during the first few minutes of baking helps create a crispy crust. You can do this by placing a pan of hot water in the oven or by spritzing water on the walls of the oven with a spray bottle.

6. Don’t over-bake the bread:

Over-baking the bread can result in a dry and tough texture. The bread is done when it sounds hollow when tapped or when the internal temperature reaches 190°F (88°C) if using a bread pan.

7. Let the bread cool before slicing:

Letting the bread cool on a wire rack for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing allows the bread to finish cooking and the crust to crisp up. Slicing the bread while it’s still warm can result in a gummy texture.

When you’re ready to make wheat berry bread, just remember these steps and tips. With a little patience and practice, you’ll soon be enjoying delicious homemade wheat berry bread.

Wrapping Up

Making bread from scratch using wheat berries is a rewarding and satisfying process that yields a flavorful and nutritious loaf. It requires some extra effort compared to using pre-ground flour, but the results are worth it.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully prepare the wheat berries, make the bread dough, and bake the bread. Additionally, by following the tips provided, you can ensure that your bread turns out great every time.

So, go ahead and give it a try! Experiment with different varieties of wheat berries and enjoy the delicious taste of freshly baked bread straight from your own kitchen.