Name: Instant Pot Wheat Berries
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 cup wheat berries; 4 cups water; pinch of salt

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Learn how to cook wheat berries in the Instant Pot with this quick and easy hands-off recipe. They can be used as a side dish or in soups, salads, stews, stir-fries, and other recipes in place of rice or quinoa.

A bowl of cooked wheat berries with a spoon next to it.

In my quest to add more grains to my diet, other than just the usual quinoa, I started cooking wheat berries a few years ago.

What is a wheat berry? It's the whole, unprocessed wheat kernel in its most natural form, composed of the bran, germ, and endosperm. It has a chewy flavor and tastes great in salads and bowls.

While it's easy to cook wheat berries on the stovetop, it's even easier in the Instant Pot. I've been using it to prep both grains and veggies, including carrots, beets, cabbage, and more.

Ingredients you'll need

To make wheat berries in your pressure cooker, all you need is:

A cup of wheat berries (hard or soft)
Water
A pinch of salt

How to cook wheat berries in the Instant Pot

1. Rinse: Rinse the wheat berries in a mesh sieve under cool running water.

2. Add ingredients to Instant Pot: Combine the rinsed wheat berries, water, and salt in the pot of the pressure cooker.

Hand pouring water into pressure cooker.

3. Pressure cook: Close the Instant Pot lid, set the valve on “sealing”, and cook on high pressure for 30 minutes. Once completed carefully quick release the steam, remove the lid, and drain the wheat berries.

4. Drain: Carefully remove the lid and drain the cooked wheat berries.

Scooping out cooked wheat berries with ladle.

Storing and reheating

To store: Cooked wheat berries will store well in the fridge for 3-4 days in a sealed container.

To freeze: They can be stored in the freezer a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.

To reheat: Warm wheat berries in a saucepan over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of water to add moisture. Alternatively, use the microwave.

Serving suggestions

Prepared wheat berries can be used in many ways and make a tasty addition to soups, salads, and side dishes. Here are some ways to enjoy them:

Side dish: A delicious side dish dressed with oil or butter, salt, and pepper. Or infused with more flavors, such as garlic, fresh herbs, and lemon.
Soup: Cook into a hearty soup with beans, herbs, and fresh vegetables.
Salad: Add cold or warm berries into a salad with leafy greens, fresh vegetables, nuts, and fresh herbs. Sub the quinoa with wheat berries in this Mediterranean Salad.
Breakfast: Use cold wheat berries as a topping in a breakfast yogurt bowl.
Add to a main dish: A base for a delicious veggie stir-fry. Simply replace the rice with the cooked wheat berries.

A bowl of wheat berries with a serving spoon in it and the Instant Pot next to it.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to rinse the wheat berries before cooking them? Yes, it's best to give them a quick rinse.

Do you eat them hot or cold? Either way.

How long do they last? If stored in an airtight container, uncooked wheat berries will keep for up to 6 months in a cool, dry place. Alternatively, they'll last up to a year in the freezer.

Which pressure cooker do you use to cook wheat berries? I've used both my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo and the 3 quart Instant Pot Duo Mini.

How do you know when they're done? The texture should be chewy but not tough. If it's not done, continue cooking by using the "Saute" button. Be sure to check the berries every 5 minutes for doneness.

How much does 1 cup wheat berries yield? About 3 cups of cooked wheat berries.

A close-up of the prepared wheat berries.

More easy Instant Pot recipes

If you enjoy using your pressure cooker, check out these recipes:

Did you make this Instant Pot wheat berries recipe? Leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let us know how it turned out. Save this easy side dish recipe for later by pinning to your favorite Instant Pot Pinterest board and be sure to tag me on Real + Vibrant’s Instagram.