Milling your own flour is rewarding in many ways. You know it’s important to use freshly milled flour right away but how do you store the wheat berries in between baking sessions? I’m here to tell you that with the right materials you can safely store your precious wheat berries for YEARS- that is, if you’re able to hold onto them for that long 😉 In this article I will explain what wheat berries are and how to store them both for long and short term use.
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What are Wheat Berries
Chances are if you clicked on this article, you already know what wheat berries are. However, if you’re new to wheat berries and milling your own flour, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. There does seem to be a movement in the health and wellness community as we become more familiar with food labels and processing methods. Many of us feel the urge to take matters into our own hands when it comes to our family’s nutrition.
So, back to the question! What exactly are wheat berries? Wheat berries are what flour comes from. They contain the germ, the bran and the endosperm of a wheat kernel. Because nothing is stripped from this nutritious grain it is loaded with fiber, protein, iron, and minerals. Milling wheat berries into flour will produce a whole wheat flour. The bran can then be sifted to make an all purpose flour, though I will say I think it’s well worth adjusting any recipe to whole wheat to keep the maximum nutrition and flavor! Because this natural whole wheat flour contains the bran, it must be used quickly after milling as the bran will cause spoilage within 24 hours. This means you simply mill the grain as needed while baking and store the remaining wheat berries until you need flour again.
How to Store Wheat Berries
Long Term – The easiest way to store bulk wheat berries is in a 5 gallon food safe bucket. These fit 25 pounds of wheat berries quite nicely. I like to use screw top lids (listed below) to easily open and close the lid without leaving gaps. Oxygen absorbers must be added to effectively preserve the shelf life. Follow the instructions on the oxygen absorbers to know how many packets to add to each bucket. For example, the brand I use requires 2 packets per gallon of food.
Using this method, wheat berries can be stored for years- some sources even claim decades! To date I have stored wheat berries for over 1.5 years and they continue to smell and taste just as fresh as they did on day 1- with no sign of bug infestations or spoilage. I keep the buckets in my unfinished basement with other goods in my back up pantry.
Short Term– To make life easier I do keep a small amount of each variety in my kitchen pantry at all times. I’m currently storing hard white, soft white and einkorn wheat berries. To do this, simply add wheat berries to a glass container, add 1 oxygen absorber packet and seal tightly with a lid. I have seen some bakers reference removing the air using a food saver device and mason jar attachment. However, I personally have never done this and the berries stay fresh in my dark pantry. I typically go through the whole jar within 1-2 months. When the jars are empty I refill them from my basement supply and toss in a new oxygen absorber packet. Easy peasy!
Where to Purchase Wheat Berries
Azure Standard – If you haven’t heard of them before, Azure standard is basically a large co-op across the entire United States. They have high standards for their products, ensuring consumers are getting real food made with natural ingredients. This is my favorite place to buy wheat berries. I’ve found it to be the most cost effective when buying in bulk. Azure Standard also has a good variety of wheat berries to choose from, making it fun to try new wheats and expand the nutritional value of baked goods! If you’re not ready to buy in bulk, they do offer smaller quantities which is a nice option too. Simply type in your area code to find a drop near you, place your order and pick it up at the designated location/date/time.
Amazon– The online store that has everything! A good option that gives you fast delivery and any quantity you want.
Amish Farms- Another great place to check for whole wheat berries is a local amish farm. Ask around at Farmer’s Markets and fairs if you’re not sure where to start.
List of Materials Needed
- 5 Gallon Food Grade Bucket with Screw On Lid
- Oxygen Absorbers, Food Grade
- Glass Container with Clamp Lid
As daunting as it may seem, it is not hard to store your own wheat berries and to mill fresh, whole wheat flours. By milling your own flour you can easily open up your kitchen to many varieties of wheat, which is a fun way to serve your family delicious, wholesome food. I hope you give these tips a try! If you do, be sure to come back and leave a comment to tell me how it went.
Happy baking!
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