Whole Grain Cooking Tips

If you have never cooked with whole grains before, you might be surprised to know that they are actually pretty simple to cook. You have so many options to choose from when cooking with grains due to their versatility. Are you the creative type? Well cooking with whole grains allows you to really explore your cooking creativity while enjoying a healthy meal. Here are some things to know about whole grain and some cooking tips to follow:

Not sure which grains are whole?

Here is a list of some to choose from: Barley, brown rice, millet, quinoa, rye, cornmeal, popcorn, buckwheat, teff, whole wheat flour, cracked wheat, oats, amaranth, corn, barley, kamut, wild rice, and sorghum. If you have any of these, then you are definitely working with whole grains.

What isn't whole grain?

If you are unsure if your product is whole grain, then check to see if it says any of the following: wheat germ, enriched flour, semolina, unbleached flour, bran, degerminated or wheat flour. If any of these words show up on your package, you aren't working with whole grain.

What kind of pan to use

When cooking whole grains, it is best to use a skillet that is heavy and has a lid that fits tight. The grains should be spread out thin in your pan so if they are over an inch deep, then you should change to a larger pan. The grains need to cook evenly on the skillet surface so it is important that the surface area is large enough.

Cook with the lid on

I know we all might have the urge to constantly check the progress of our food while its cooking but in this case, you only need to begin frequent checking near the end of the cooking process. During the first half, keep the lid on tight so that the grains can simmer properly in the moisture that is building up in the pan. This will ensure that you have soft grains and not hard and crunchy.

Let them stand

After you have finished cooking your grains, you will need to let them sit for at least 5 minutes, 10 minutes at the most. They should be covered during this time. Letting them stand will guarantee that they will firm up and be nice and fluffy.

Overall, whole grains are simple to prepare when you know the right tips. These grains are very important in keeping good health and provide essential vitamins and minerals including zinc and potassium. They are also a great source of antioxidants. You can't go wrong when you go whole grain.