Do Millet Flakes Need to Be Soaked or Cooked?

For a healthy breakfast I would like to eat millet. Can I add uncooked millet flakes “gently steamed” to muesli? I once heard that millet has to be boiled for certain substances.

As a rule, there is a preparation or use instruction on the food packaging. In the case of millet flakes, the use in mueslis is usually explicitly mentioned. In addition, they are steamed, which in our view makes the food ready to eat. This means that no further preparation is necessary.

The problematic ingredient in millet you mentioned is phytic acid. It is one of the secondary plant substances and is a typical component of cereals, legumes, oilseeds and nuts. Since it binds minerals and these are no longer available for the body to absorb, it was rated negatively for a long time. In the meantime, positive health aspects are also being discussed, but they still need to be researched further.

However, an undersupply of nutrients from phytic acid is unlikely, since sufficient minerals are absorbed through a balanced diet. Only a very high proportion of whole grains, soy and other legumes in the daily diet could impair mineral absorption.

If concerned, the millet flakes (with the granola) can be soaked in milk or other liquids such as water or milk alternatives. This can reduce phytic acid levels.