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Which parts make up a wheat kernel?
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Cereal processing
Common wheat (Triticum aestivum).
A wheat kernel is composed of three primary parts:1
- Endosperm: This is the food-storage portion of the kernel, which constitutes approximately 85 percent of its total weight. It is the starchy part that is separated during the milling process to produce refined flour.12
- Bran: These are the several outer layers of the kernel, making up about 13 percent of its weight. The bran serves as a protective covering for the seed.13
- Germ: Also known as the embryo plant, this portion accounts for approximately 2 percent of the kernel. It is rich in nutrients and contains oil, which can cause flour to become rancid if it is not removed during the milling of refined white flour.145
In the production of whole wheat flour, all three of these parts are utilized, whereas the goal of refined flour production is to isolate the endosperm from the bran and germ.12