Instant Pot Wheat Berry Recipe
Hi Friend,
Are you enjoying these long summer days? I don’t know about you, but our summer days bring lots of time outside enjoying nature, helping on the farm, and having picnics.
Long summer days also leave you less time for baking. With so much time outside, it’s inconvenient and uninspiring to be waiting on the oven (plus it heats up the whole house!). I can’t be the only one that struggles with this? Unfortunately, less time baking usually leads to less whole grains in your diet. Wheat berries are high in fiber, B vitamins, and minerals, so it’s important to keep this whole grain as part of your daily diet. That’s why I’m cooking wheat berries this summer.
How do you eat wheat berries?
Cooking with wheat berries?! Yep, you heard me right.
Cooked wheat berries paired with yogurt and local frozen blueberries for a nutrient packed breakfast.
Cooked wheat berries are a versatile ingredient for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I pair them with yogurt and fruit for breakfast, or toss them in breakfast casseroles, granola, and soups. They’re great in risotto or pilaf. We even eat them plain in place of rice or potatoes. The farm boys eat them by the handfuls for snacks.
What do cooked wheat berries taste like?
Cooked wheat berries have a slight nutty, grain taste. When cooked properly, the outside should be firm, but the inside chewy. And they pop in your mouth! How much fun is that?
How to Cook Wheat Berries:
This recipe is so straight forward and only takes a couple of minutes of prep. I love using my Instant Pot because it doesn’t heat up the house as much as the stove. Besides, I feel more comfortable walking away from the Instant Pot for 20 minutes, than I do something simmering on the stove top. Bonus… it’s quicker than the stove top method.
First, measure out your ingredients. You’ll need 1 cup of wheat berries, 3 cups of cold water, and a pinch of salt. The salt is optional, but I use it because traditional stove top methods for cooking wheat berries usually call for it.
Step 1:
Add the wheat berries to the Instant Pot.
Add the wheat berries. Quickly check for any chaff or stems.
Step 2:
Add water and salt. Stir the ingredients together. Stirring is not really needed, but it makes me feel good.
Add water and a pinch of salt.
Step 3:
Secure the lid, seal the valve, and set the Instant Pot for 25-30 minutes on Manual. I prefer 30 minutes. The Instant Pot will take approximately 7 minutes to pressurize.
Make sure the valve is sealed and set on Manual for 25 to 30 minutes. My Instant Pot is the Pioneer Woman Instant Pot LUX60.
Step 4:
After the Instant Pot is finished, do a quick release. Don’t forget your hot mitts and use a long handled spoon because that steam is HOT!
Step 5:
Drain the wheat berries by pouring them in a strainer.
Perfectly cooked soft white wheat berries.
Enjoy! You’ll have approximately 3 cups of cooked wheat berries. I store mine in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also store them in the freezer.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup Wheat Berries
3 cups Cold Water
Pinch of Salt
Directions:
Pour 1 cup of wheat berries into the pot. No need to soak the wheat berries first.
Add 3 cups of water and a pinch of salt.
Secure lid, set valve to sealing, and set the Instant Pot to Manual for 25-30 minutes (30 minutes is what I use).
When the time is up, do a quick release of the pressure.
Drain the wheat berries and enjoy! Perfect wheat berries every time.
I hope you enjoy this recipe! We will be sharing our favorite recipes for cooked wheat berries in future blog posts.
Best,
The Sieverkropp’s