It is not for nothing that buckwheat is called “the queen of cereals”. It contains complex carbohydrates, vegetable protein, a lot of vitamins and minerals. In modern stores, there are many varieties of buckwheat groats from different manufacturers. How to choose the right buckwheat for you – this article will tell you.
Types and varieties of buckwheat
There are many varieties of buckwheat. Each dish has its own version.
Types of buckwheat
They differ in the method of processing the feedstock:
- Kernels are the most common polished buckwheat. It is a whole or slightly split grains, free of husk. In this type of cereal, there is much less litter, it is easily washed. Steamed or fried kernels are put up for sale.
- Prodel is crushed, crushed grains, also known as “chopping”. Prodel cooks much faster than a kernel. The porridge from it turns out to be tender and homogeneous. Prodel is recommended for cooking casseroles, meatballs, krupniknikov.
- Green buckwheat is a kernel that has not gone through the roasting stage. Especially popular with healthy food lovers. This species is soft, retains its green color and all the useful qualities.
Buckwheat flakes are kernel grains, flattened and steamed. Used for instant porridge, in the manufacture of dietary bread.
Buckwheat flour is the finest grinding of buckwheat. Used to make bread noodles, pancakes, buns.
Sprouted green buckwheat will be a wonderful addition to various salads and other dishes. However, with prolonged heat treatment, this cereal loses its beneficial properties.
Reference. Buckwheat porridge was brought to Russia from Greece. However, her homeland is considered the highlands of the Himalayas, where her wild species still grow. Buckwheat had many names – black porridge, pagan, Turkish grain, black rice.
Buckwheat varieties
Determined by the degree of product purification:
- unground of the first (premium) grade – the purest and most thoroughly processed cereal without extra seeds, untreated kernels;
- second grade – only up to 7% of litter, husks and other impurities are allowed in a pack;
- the third grade is the most impure cereal, the package contains up to 10% litter and husk, it is better to sort it out and rinse it before using it.
How to choose buckwheat
A wide selection of buckwheat groats from different manufacturers is presented on grocery store shelves.
When buying, pay attention to packaging, appearance, smell and taste, as the batch may have had improper storage and transportation conditions.
By packing
Most often, buckwheat is sold in plastic bags. They perfectly protect the product from moisture and harmful substances. When purchasing, carefully examine the pack for tears, holes and other damage to the integrity.
High-quality groats should not contain foreign impurities. If the nucleoli are of approximately the same size and color, this indicates a good quality of processing and sorting of cereals.
Reference. Please note the net weight on the package before purchasing. Oftentimes, the same variety is sold for the same price but differs in weight.
By color
After steam treatment, the cereal acquires a pleasant brown color of varying intensity. It boils well, but is not recommended for baby or diet food, as it retains few useful substances.
Unsteamed kernels have a pale creamy shade that gives off a yellowish or greenish tint. Such porridge takes longer to cook than from steamed grains, but it retains its beneficial properties.
Reference. If the cereal is deep brown in color with a red tint, you should not purchase such a product. During production, cereals are intensively roasted, and trace elements and vitamins are not preserved in it. These kernels have darker edges than the central part.
Taste
Cooked porridge should not have a sour or bitter taste. All this indicates that the cereal contains harmful microorganisms that will cause poisoning.
Reference. The most popular cooking method is boiling in water. However, there are many interesting dishes that include cereals. Sprouted buckwheat grains are also tasty and healthy, they have a pleasant taste with nutty notes.
Beneficial features
Buckwheat is good because it contains a lot of carbohydrates. Their long-term digestion provides the body with a long-lasting feeling of fullness. Also, cereals are high in protein and low in fat.
Reference. Buckwheat is ideal for baby food, as it has a lot of useful properties and high calorie content. The product is successfully used as the first complementary food for babies. Croup has a positive effect on the general development of the child and forms immunity.
The most useful are unground and green buckwheat. They are the least pre-processed. Green buckwheat contains all 8 essential amino acids: tryptophan, lysine, methionine, valine, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and histidine. In their concentration, only legumes are ahead of it, but buckwheat is better absorbed by the body.
It includes:
- potassium – is necessary to maintain heart function;
- calcium and phosphorus – indispensable for the skeletal system;
- iodine – has an important effect on growth, development and metabolism;
- fluoride is an important element for tooth enamel;
- molybdenum – supports the activity of some enzymes;
- cobalt – participates in the process of hematopoiesis, the functioning of the nervous system and liver;
- iron – strengthens the immune system, provides tissues with oxygen;
vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folic acid) play an important role in metabolism, take part in the formation of red blood cells, regulate the reproductive function of the body, and participate in the formation of new cells.
What is plastic buckwheat
Plastic buckwheat is a fake cereal made in China. What is in its composition is not known exactly, but presumably these are synthetic compounds and waste from the food industry. Features of the product – low quality, poor digestibility, harm to allergy sufferers and people with liver problems.
In the People’s Republic of China, this type of cereal is classified as a low quality food. Below artificial buckwheat is only compound feed. Do not pursue the maximum cheapness – buy domestically produced cereals from well-known brands.
Conclusion
The most common type of buckwheat is unground, and green cereals are the most useful. It is not subject to heat treatment, therefore it contains a maximum of useful substances. When buying, check the integrity of the packaging, pay attention to the expiration date and color of the cereal – the lighter the better.