What Happened to Wheat Germ?

[heidih]

In my teens I always had a jar of this in the fridge. Kretschmer I think. I see Bob's Red Mill when I google as well. I added it to baked goods for its nutty flavor and loved it on plain yogurt with fruit as a snack or mini meal. Must re-visit. Anyone using it? 

 

Edited August 13, 2021 by heidih (log)

[JeanneCake]

I haven't thought of wheat germ in years :)!  Your post though, reminded me of the time when my mom used Postum instead of instant coffee.  I didn't care for coffee then but sometimes I would have some Postum instead of tea.  I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I wonder if they still make it.  Have to go check!

 

[heidih]

17 minutes ago, JeanneCake said:

I haven't thought of wheat germ in years :)!  Your post though, reminded me of the time when my mom used Postum instead of instant coffee.  I didn't care for coffee then but sometimes I would have some Postum instead of tea.  I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I wonder if they still make it.  Have to go check!

 

Grandma always had it in cupboard. Not sure why but I liked it - a way to mimic coffee drinking as a little kid.  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Postum-Caffeine-Free-Instant-Coffee-Substitute-Original-Flavor-8-oz-Jar/895370651

[liuzhou]

It's quite popular here. This brand in particular.

 

 

It is imported from Australia.

 

I can see this, too. But don't eat it. It's soap.

 

 

[heidih]

19 minutes ago, liuzhou said:

It's quite popular here. This brand in particular.

 

 

It is imported from Australia.

 

I can see this, too. But don't eat it. It's soap.

 

 

How is the food version typically used if you know

[liuzhou]

2 minutes ago, heidih said:

How is the food version typically used if you know

 

It is made into a porridge-like breakfast, often with other grains.

Edited August 14, 2021 by liuzhou (log)

[Alex]

20 hours ago, heidih said:

In my teens I always had a jar of this in the fridge. Kretschmer I think. I see Bob's Red Mill when I google as well. I added it to baked goods for its nutty flavor and loved it on plain yogurt with fruit as a snack or mini meal. Must re-visit. Anyone using it? 

 

 

Yes, Kretschmer toasted wheat germ. I ate it since way back. I used to love opening it slowly so I could hear, and see, the vacuum whoosh. It's still sold at our nearby supermarket. In my pre-gluten sensitivity days I'd combine it with other cold cereals before adding milk. I also would add it to cooked oatmeal or incorporate it into banana bread or pancakes.

[heidih]

6 minutes ago, Alex said:

 

Yes, Kretschmer toasted wheat germ. I ate it since way back. I used to love opening it slowly so I could hear, and see, the vacuum whoosh. It's still sold at our nearby supermarket. In my pre-gluten sensitivity days I'd combine it with other cold cereals before adding milk. I also would add it to cooked oatmeal or incorporate it into banana bread or pancakes.

Oh goodness - I do remember that sound!

[TdeV]

My mother fed us wheat germ as a cereal when we were children - couldn't stand the stuff.

Curiously, I just tasted it in a version of Muësli which I'm trying out. So far my favourite Muësli is Bob's Red Mill which doesn't have a preponderance of wheat germ. So I guess I still don't think much of the flavour. 🙄

[Maison Rustique]

On 8/13/2021 at 8:27 PM, liuzhou said:

🤣It's quite popular here. This brand in particular.

 

 

It is imported from Australia.

 

I can see this, too. But don't eat it. It's soap.

 

 

 

Not to de-rail, but I started laughing when I saw this. Way back when after she graduated from college, my stepdaughter took a job teaching English in Japan as so many young people were doing then. She didn't speak a word of Japanese. Not long after she'd been there, she called. She related that grocery shopping was a challenge because she was never sure if she was buying something to cook and eat or something to put into the toilet for 1,000 blue flushes. That's all I could think of when I saw your post/photos! 🤣

 

[blue_dolphin]

I used to put it in smoothies. Once the Blendtec was done, there was really no telling it was there!

[ElsieD]

I'd forgotten all about wheat germ.  I used to put it in muffins.

[Bernie]

Wasn't wheat germ a by product of the flour refining process so rather than waste it a clever marketing campaign to ensure you had enough roughage to prevent constipation?

 

Mothers loved it to make sure their children were "regular". It could make up for all the quick and easy (and usually atrocious) ready meals from the supermarket.

 

The "Health Food Movement" ensure its success. Healthy food had to be different (close to unpalatable), but you added all sorts of dried berries and fruit to make it edible.

[heidih]

21 minutes ago, Bernie said:

Wasn't wheat germ a by product of the flour refining process so rather than waste it a clever marketing campaign to ensure you had enough roughage to prevent constipation?

 

Mothers loved it to make sure their children were "regular". It could make up for all the quick and easy (and usually atrocious) ready meals from the supermarket.

 

The "Health Food Movement" ensure its success. Healthy food had to be different (close to unpalatable), but you added all sorts of dried berries and fruit to make it edible.

We must be coming from different perspectives and cultures. Never heard it touted for kids to keep them "regular" and I ate it because it added nuttiness as previously mentioned. "Close to unpalatable" I differ with". I do not eat things just because they are touted as "healthy" Yes the vitamins and minerals were also featured in adverts as are many foods we relish and eat all the time..

[chromedome]

I used to keep a bag on hand to add to my bread, though I haven't of late. It contains a high percentage of the grain's nutritive value, as well as a modicum of fiber, so there are certainly arguments for eating it.

[pastrygirl]

2 hours ago, Bernie said:

Wasn't wheat germ a by product of the flour refining process so rather than waste it a clever marketing campaign to ensure you had enough roughage to prevent constipation?

 

Mothers loved it to make sure their children were "regular". It could make up for all the quick and easy (and usually atrocious) ready meals from the supermarket.

 

The "Health Food Movement" ensure its success. Healthy food had to be different (close to unpalatable), but you added all sorts of dried berries and fruit to make it edible.

 

You may be thinking of wheat bran, the fibrous outer covering.  Wheat germ is added for the protein content, not fiber.

[heidih]

38 minutes ago, pastrygirl said:

 

You may be thinking of wheat bran, the fibrous outer covering.  Wheat germ is added for the protein content, not fiber.

I think you nailed the confusion. Wheat germ as far as I understand is not shelf stable.  Goes rancid.  So would not be in a boxed muesli mix as one post mentioned or made into a gruel. Wheat bran yes. 

[liamsaunt]

I use it in my whole wheat sandwich bread.  This reminds me I need to bake some!  I store it in the freezer to stop it from going rancid.

[heidih]

Taking the trash out today I noticed sister had thrown out the couple old Sunset magazines I'd saved. Fished them out (unharmed). Opened the May 1973 75th Anniversary edition and it fell open to this page

 

[Kim Shook]

I used to put it on fruit and cereal when Jessica was little - in the belief that it was a healthy thing to give her.  Not sure when or why I stopped.  Haven't thought of it in years.  

[liamsaunt]

Here is the wheat bread.  The recipe uses 1/2 cup of wheat germ for two loaves.  The second loaf came out kind of wonky because I was not patient enough to shape it correctly but I am sure it will be fine toasted for breakfast.

 

[Duvel]

1 hour ago, liamsaunt said:

The second loaf came out kind of wonky

The word you were looking for is “artisanal” … 😉

[Alex]

37 minutes ago, Duvel said:

The word you were looking for is “artisanal” … 😉

 

And would that artist be Salvador Dali?