Get To Know Whole Grain Sorghum

Posted on Jun 18, 2019

Have you tried cooking with whole grain sorghum yet? Or have you tried any ready-to-eat products that feature sorghum as an ingredient? If not, sorghum is definitely a grain worth discovering more about. Sorghum is the Whole Grains Council’s June Whole Grain of the Month, and we pulled together a list of our most frequently asked questions to showcase all that this super grain has to offer. Get to know whole grain sorghum!

What is sorghum?

Sorghum is a whole grain that can be cooked and used in dishes similarly to rice or quinoa. The ancient grain originated in Northeastern Africa, around 8,000 B.C. Today, the United States is the largest producer of grain sorghum. While sorghum has traditionally been utilized in livestock feed and ethanol production, white food-grade sorghum’s use as a nutritious, environmentally friendly food ingredient has taken off. In fact, hundreds of products now contain sorghum.  

Is sorghum healthy?

Carbs sometimes get a bad rap, but quality, nutrient-dense sources of carbs like sorghum are an important part of a healthy eating diet. Cooked whole grain sorghum is an excellent source of fiber, phosphorus, protein, vitamin B6, magnesium, iron and selenium. Sorghum is also a naturally gluten free ingredient, which is good news for those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. With a low-mid glycemic index, sorghum is also a good option for those with diabetes. In fact, one-third cup of whole grain sorghum is equivalent to one bread/starch on the diabetes exchange list. Learn more about the health benefits of sorghum.

What makes it unique?

If you are new to sorghum, you may ask yourself, “Why should I consider cooking with sorghum?”Beyond whole grain sorghum’s nutrition profile, the grain features a host of other benefits. Sorghum is easy to cook utilizing a number of cooking methods. One favorite is in a pressure cooker. You can whip up a batch of whole grain sorghum in your pressure cooker in just 20 minutes. To save time in the kitchen, you can also cook a large batch of sorghum and store it in the refrigerator or freezer for use later - it will not lose its quality. While sorghum can be used in a multitude of ways as a whole grain, sorghum can also be used in a number of different forms like flour, popped, flake and syrup that make for unlimited possibilities. Sorghum is also an environmentally-friendly whole grain that uses less water to grow than comparable crops.

What recipes can I use whole grain sorghum in?

Sorghum is an incredibly versatile whole grain that can be used in an array of creative recipes.  It has a neutral, nutty flavor and a toothsome bite that makes it a catalyst for flavors. Use the world’s spice cabinet and pantry from sweet to spicy to transform sorghum into refreshing salads, savory soups, tasty side dishes, delectable sweets and much more. Discover all the culinary applications sorghum has to offer using our recipe catalog.

Where can I buy it?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions about sorghum. More and more sorghum products show up on grocery store shelves every day. Look for whole grain sorghum available for purchase in the whole grains section of your local grocery store from brands like Bob’s Red Mill and others. You can also look for whole grain sorghum at local health food stores. Can’t find sorghum at your local grocery store? Request it using our form at your grocery store’s customer service counter. Whole grain sorghum is also available from online retailers like Wondergrain, Nu Life Market and even Amazon.

How much does whole grain sorghum cost?

Sorghum is a reasonably-priced whole grain to add to your pantry. You can purchase a bag of whole grain sorghum from various in-store and online retailers for less than $5. A great attribute of sorghum is that a small amount of grain can go a long way in cooking. One cup of raw grain will triple to three once cooked!

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