How to Cook Spelt Berries: A Simple Guide for Breakfast, Salads and More

If you have purchased whole Spelt berries and are wondering what to do with them, you do not have to mill them into flour first. Whole Spelt can also be cooked and used as a grain in its own right.

Idaho Ancient Grains already uses Spelt in several forms, including whole grain cereal, bread and other recipes. Its Spelt cereal recipe uses coarsely ground Spelt, while the farm's broader recipe collection shows how versatile Spelt can be in the kitchen.

This guide focuses on the basic idea of cooking whole Spelt berries and then gives you practical ways to use the cooked grain.

What Are Spelt Berries?

Spelt berries are the whole kernels of the Spelt grain. Instead of grinding them into flour, you can cook the kernels and use them much like other whole grains.

Whole Spelt is useful to keep in the pantry because you can either mill it for baking or prepare it as a cooked grain.

Can You Eat Spelt Berries Whole?

Yes. Whole Spelt berries can be cooked before eating. Idaho Ancient Grains also uses coarsely ground Spelt as cracked-grain cereal, showing that the grain can be prepared without first turning it into fine flour.

How to Cook Spelt Berries

For a basic preparation, rinse the whole Spelt berries and cook them in plenty of water until tender. The exact cooking time can vary depending on the grain and whether the berries have been soaked first.

Rinse the Spelt berries.

Place them in a pot with plenty of water.

Bring the water to a boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer until the berries are tender.

Drain any excess water.

Use the cooked Spelt immediately or incorporate it into another recipe.

Should You Soak Spelt Berries Before Cooking?

Soaking is optional, but it can help reduce the cooking time and soften the grain. If you soak the berries overnight, drain and rinse them before cooking.

If you are new to cooking whole Spelt, try one batch without soaking and another after soaking so you can see which method gives you the texture you prefer.

How Can You Use Cooked Spelt Berries?

Cooked Spelt can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. The texture makes it useful when you want a whole-grain component rather than flour.

Breakfast bowls

Grain salads

Soups and stews

Warm grain bowls

Side dishes

Stuffed vegetables

Casseroles

Cold salads

Can You Make Spelt Cereal?

Yes. Idaho Ancient Grains has a specific Spelt cereal recipe. It calls for coarse-grinding Spelt into cracked Spelt, then cooking 1/4 cup of cracked Spelt with 1 1/2 cups of water and a dash of salt.

The cereal is brought to a rapid boil for about one minute, then simmered for approximately five minutes. It can be seasoned with cinnamon, brown sugar, honey or other toppings.

The recipe also gives an overnight variation: boil the ingredients for several minutes, cover them overnight, and warm the cereal the next morning.

What Is the Difference Between Whole Spelt and Cracked Spelt?

Whole Spelt berries are intact kernels. Cracked Spelt has been coarsely ground into smaller pieces.

Cracked Spelt cooks more quickly and is particularly useful for hot cereal. Idaho Ancient Grains specifically recommends coarse-grinding Spelt for its cereal recipe.

Can You Use Spelt Berries in a Salad?

Yes. Cooked whole grains can add texture and substance to a salad. Idaho Ancient Grains also features a Fruity Spelt Salad in its recipe collection, showing that Spelt can be used beyond bread and breakfast.

Can You Cook Spelt Like Rice?

The basic idea is similar: you cook the whole grain in water until tender and drain any excess liquid. However, Spelt berries have their own texture, so use tenderness rather than a fixed rice-cooking time as your guide.

How Do You Know When Spelt Berries Are Done?

The berries should be tender enough to chew comfortably while still retaining some texture. If they are still very firm, continue simmering and check them periodically.

Cooking time can vary with the age and preparation of the grain, whether it was soaked, and the amount of water used.

Can You Cook Spelt and Khorasan Together?

You can experiment with cooking whole grains together, but start by cooking each grain separately if you are unfamiliar with them. This lets you learn the texture and cooking behavior of each grain before combining them.

Idaho Ancient Grains regularly encourages mixing grains in baking, including Spelt and Khorasan, so grain combinations are already part of the farm's approach.

How to Store Cooked Spelt

Allow cooked Spelt to cool, then refrigerate it in a clean, covered container. Use it within a few days and reheat thoroughly before serving.

You can also portion cooked grain before refrigerating it so it is ready to add to breakfasts, salads or other meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to mill Spelt berries before eating them?

No. Whole Spelt berries can be cooked and eaten without being milled. You can also coarsely grind them into cracked Spelt for cereal.

How do you cook Spelt berries?

Rinse the berries, simmer them in water until tender, then drain. Soaking first is optional and may reduce cooking time.

Can you make oatmeal with Spelt?

You can make a similar hot breakfast cereal using Spelt. Idaho Ancient Grains has a cracked-Spelt hot cereal recipe using water, salt and optional cinnamon, brown sugar or honey.

What can I do with cooked Spelt berries?

Try breakfast bowls, salads, soups, stews, grain bowls, side dishes or casseroles.

Is cracked Spelt the same as Spelt flour?

No. Cracked Spelt is coarsely ground grain, while Spelt flour is finely milled and used for baking.

Can Spelt berries be used for baking?

Yes. Whole berries can be milled into flour for bread, pancakes and other baked goods, while the intact or cracked grain can be used in other preparations.

The Bottom Line

Whole Spelt berries give you more options than simply making flour. You can cook them, crack them for cereal, or mill them when you want flour for baking.

If you are new to whole grains, start with a simple cooked batch and use it in a breakfast bowl or salad. If you want something warmer and more traditional, try Idaho Ancient Grains' cracked-Spelt cereal recipe.

Keeping whole Spelt in your pantry means one ingredient can serve several purposes: cooked grain, cracked cereal or freshly milled flour.