Wheat Bran

Photo: flickr user Mads Boedker

About

Wheat Bran is the hard outer layer of wheat that is the by product when wheat is processed to make wheat flour. They are used in cereals, muffins of cereal bars. They give a feeling of fullness since wheat bran absorbs water and may expand in the digestive system.

Wheat bran must be refrigerated. It has a sweet taste to it, but if it tastes bitter, you should throw it out because it's probably rancid.

Information

Other names: Wheat Germ, Whole Grain, Grain

Translations: Kviešu klijas, Kviečių sėlenos, Grâu Bran, Otręby pszenne, Tarwezemelen, गेहूं चोकर, Farelo de Trigo, Пшеничные отруби, Πίτουρο σιταριού, نخالة القمح, 밀 밀기울, Pšeničných otrub, 小麦麸, Blat Bran, Pšenica Bran, Pšeničných otrúb, Crusca di frumento, סובין חיטה, Vetekli, Пшеница Мекиње, 小麦ブラン, Son de blé, Weizenkleie, Hvedeklid, Hvetekli, Trigo Bran, Пшеничні висівки, Vehnäleseitä, Пшенични трици

Physical Description

Most grains, like wheat and oats, have a hard outer layer. When they are processed, this layer becomes a byproduct, and is called bran. In the case of processing wheat to make wheat flour, one gets miller’s or wheat bran. Wheat bran is packed with nutrition, and offers many dietary benefits. Wheat bran also aides in good digestive health.

Colors: Brown, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Tan

Tasting Notes

Flavors: sweet

Mouthfeel: Thick, Pasty

Food complements: Baked goods, Soups, Cereals, Salads

Wine complements: No wine.

Beverage complements: Milk

Selecting and Buying

Buying: You can purchase at your local grocery store, order online, or at your wholefoods center. One can purchase wheat bran in bulk, which makes it quite easy to add to cereals like granola or to baked goods.

Preparation and Use

Wheat bran can be used in bread, pasta, bagels, crackers, cakes, and muffins just begin to describe the list of foods made with this grain.

Cleaning: No cleaning is required.

Conserving and Storing

Wheat bran cannot be stored like regular flour. It tends to get rancid if it taste bitter so its best kept refrigerated. Alternately, it may be stored in a vacuum-sealed canister at a moderate temperature.