[inishindie]

I have found myself with a 25kg bag of barley seeds. I was using some of them on an old sock and microwaving them as a 'hot barley bottle' I left it in the microwave a bit too long one day and it started to glow red hot on me in bed so I have given up on the idea for health and safety reasons...

I was wondering if I could plant them up like sprouting seeds in the windowsill? If so could I cut them off and use the grass in a salad, or would I have to juice them? Can't find any info on the web....

[tippben]

I googled "sprouting barley". Apparently, sprouting the seeds in the dark on wet kitchen paper is perfectly ok, though instead of eating the "grass", you eat the whole very young sprout in the same way as mung bean or alfalfa. There were also a couple of sites with recipes for sprouted barley bread. I've never eaten barley, but it could be delicious- let us know!

[inishindie]

Thanks Tippben
I am finding out a few good things about barley....It's a bit of a superfood...
I have been advised to soak any dried beans and pulses prior to cooking for at least 48 hours to get rid of any natural anti nutrients and growth inhibitors....

[simonj]

I'd say that the seeds could be used for Taboulet - I'll do a bit of a search - but if you have spare seed, I'd be very interested

[inishindie]

Chatting to Nigel from Chillington. He has this to add....

"Grain to be used as seed must not be dried by heating above i think 180o otherwise it will not germinate and then just becomes grain as in food and cannot be called seed.

Seed when being dried will never go near such high temperatures as they have to guarantee a certain germination percentage to farmers.

So your barley will not grow, but you could try it just to see."