Wheatgrass is the young, bright green grass of the common wheat plant (Triticum aestivum), typically ready to cut 7 to 10 days after soaking. You can grow it yourself on a tray to cook with, or use wheatgrass powder, which is the dried, milled grass. Here's how to do both.
Full day-by-day growing guide: how to grow wheatgrass on a tray, with photos for every day, soak and watering times, and food safety.
What does wheatgrass taste like?
Fresh, grassy and slightly sweet, like the smell of a freshly cut lawn. Fresh wheatgrass is fibrous and strong-tasting, so chop it finely and cook it into other dishes.
How to grow wheatgrass at home
- Soak: soak the seeds in cool drinking water for 8 to 12 hours.
- Sprout: drain and leave them in the jar for 1 to 2 days, rinsing twice a day, until tiny white roots appear.
- Spread: spread the sprouted seeds in a single, close layer on a tray lined with a damp growing mat.
- Cover: cover with another tray or damp paper for 2 to 3 days while the roots take hold, watering gently 2 times a day.
- Grow: uncover and give them bright, indirect light, keeping the mat damp, not wet.
- Harvest: typically after 7 to 10 days, when the grass is 12 to 18 cm tall, cut it just above the grain with clean scissors. Rinse, then cook it until steaming hot before eating.
How to cook home-grown wheatgrass
Every idea below cooks it until it is steaming hot.
- Stir a spoonful of finely chopped wheatgrass into soup for the last 2 to 3 minutes and simmer until steaming hot.
- Add finely chopped wheatgrass to fried rice and stir-fry for 2 minutes until steaming hot.
- Cook finely chopped wheatgrass in a little butter for 1 to 2 minutes until steaming hot, then fold into an omelette.
For full recipes, see our wheatgrass growing guide.
How to use wheatgrass powder
These ideas are for wheatgrass powder only, not for home-grown wheatgrass. Start with a small amount and follow the serving suggestion on your pack.
- Wheatgrass shot: shake the powder with a small glass of apple or pineapple juice and a squeeze of lemon.
- Green smoothie: blend with banana, mango, spinach and coconut water.
- Juice: stir into orange, apple or carrot juice.
- Dressings and dips: whisk a little into a lemon and olive oil dressing or stir into guacamole.
Does wheatgrass contain gluten?
Wheatgrass is grown from wheat grain, and our Wheatgrass Seeds contain wheat (gluten), one of the 14 major allergens. For wheatgrass powder, check the allergen information on the pack. If you have coeliac disease or a wheat allergy, read the allergen information on each pack before use.
Wheatgrass vs barley grass
Both are young cereal grasses with a similar fresh, grassy taste. Barley grass is slightly milder, and many people like to alternate between the two.
Food safety
Raw sprouts can carry harmful bacteria and rinsing does not remove all risk. Always cook sprouts until steaming hot before eating. This applies to everyone, including pregnant people, young children, older people and anyone unwell. Microgreens and shoots grown on a tray must also be cooked thoroughly until steaming hot before eating.
Use clean equipment and drinking water, refrigerate harvested sprouts promptly and discard any that smell off or show mould. Throw away any grass that smells musty or shows mould at the base.
Shop our Organic Wheatgrass Seeds to grow your own, or Organic Wheatgrass Powder. Browse more green superfoods.
