Is there such thing as white wheat berries?

Is there such thing as white wheat berries? - Full body of female in sunglasses wearing white shirt sitting in rural field with ears of wheat in hands in nature

I have been told that you cannot home grind white flour for white bread. Is this true, or is it just harder to find white wheat berries to grind?



Best Answer

Sorry, my answer was incorrect (it used to say that there is no white wheat). The only defense I have is that such newfangled things like white wheat have not yet reached my part of the world (is Europe really that old-fashioned?). Big thank you to Jefromi for correcting me and teaching me something new.

"Normal" white flour is, as I described in the old answer, made from the inner part of the wheat berry, discarding the yellow-brownish hull. You can't make this at home. But it turns out that there is such a thing as white wheat. When it is used to produce whole flour, the result is a flour which is white in color (but behaves more like whole flour when baked, and has nutritional properties like whole flour). So if your definition for white bread is just based on color, it is probably possible to make white flour from white wheat. They say that the taste is milder than "yellow" whole flour, too, closer to the refined white flour. But from what I read, you probably won't be able to produce a fluffy soft baguette with it, just because it bakes differently.

If you want to make flour which is equivalent to the common white flour in the supermarket, you are still out of luck. The machines for removing the bran are too complicated, you can't do it in a grinder (look here for a patent for a bran removing device). But if "white whole wheat flour" is good enough for your purposes, I don't see a reason why you can't grind albino wheat at home.




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Quick Answer about "Is there such thing as white wheat berries?"

These are whole unmilled hard white wheat berries. Excellent for bread baking. White wheat is a different type of wheat that has no major genes for bran color (unlike traditional “red” wheat which has one to three bran color genes). An easy way to think of it is as a sort of albino wheat.

What is white wheat berries?

Soft White Wheat Berries are raw, husked, spring whole-wheat kernels surrounded by the bran of the wheat. Wheat berries are among the least-processed forms of wheat available. Glossy, tan exterior, shaped like plump grains of rice. Firm, chewy texture and nutty flavor when cooked. A natural whole-grain product.

What is the difference between red and white wheat berries?

Hard Red Wheat has a reddish hue to the bran (exterior layer) of the kernel. In comparison, Hard White Wheat has a sandy-beige color to its bran. Though the kernels differ in color, the flour that is milled from these kernels is relatively indistinguishable in color.

Are white wheat berries healthy?

Wheat berries are a highly nutritious source of protein and complex carbohydrates, offering several vitamins and minerals. They are found in most health food stores and come in various types, including hard and soft.

What are Hard White wheat berries used for?

Hard white wheat flour can be used in the same way as any other flour. It can be used to make quick breads, sourdough starters, noodles, tortillas and flatbreads, crusts, and sweetbreads like muffins and pumpkin bread. Of course, white wheat can be used as whole berries as well.



Wheat Berries FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions About Wheat Berries




More answers regarding is there such thing as white wheat berries?

Answer 2

I use hard white wheat as well as hard red wheat for a lot of things.

When you think of the hard, almost astringent, taste of whole wheat it is almost certainly red wheat.

White wheat is much milder (and as you would expect, paler in color) but, unlike soft southern wheats, still has enough protein for bread doughs. The bread made from finely ground white flour is much closer in consistency and flavor to white bread. I can also use it in my normal bread recipes and it doesn't require extra sweeteners or the extra protein that red wheat requires to make light bread. I have started using hard white flour in all my baked goods and use the harsher red wheat when I make bulgar wheat, sprouts, or just hot cereal.

As Rumtscho's answer says- The flour from whole hard white wheat still has the bran and so is not "white flour" but I think you will find that it still sufficient for your purpose.

As for obtaining them: Hard wheats are from the north and here in Texas they have to be shipped. Even so, all the places that I frequent for bulk wheat berries carry red as well as white. I can't make recommendations because they are local bulk food/food storage places.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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