BettyR
Senior Cook
Does anyone here grind their own grains for bread?
I’m trying to choose a good grain mill and I could use some advice.
I’m trying to choose a good grain mill and I could use some advice.
Miss Betty...Check out this link. I'm not recommending these items, but it may give you some ideas...There are many other sites to see and read. I'm currently negotiating with a lady for a 24" Meadows Stone Mill. It is overkill for sure, but I sure would like to have the mill. I know the history of it, and it has ground a lot of corn meal and wheat flour for me over the years. The owner recently passed away. Good luck!
Given your needs and your price point, your best bet is one of the micronizer type electric mills on the market for the home user, such as the Nutrimill (which I own) or the Wondermill (formerly marketed as Whispermill). You will *not* be able to produce cracked grain in a micronizer mill. If you only occasionally need cracked grain in smaller quantities (1 or two cups), you could use a blender or food processor. Or you could purchase a small, inexpensive manual grain grinder for this purpose.How much grain do you need to mill at a time? Try to be specific (eg - X number of cups OR X number of pounds)
1 pound
Do you want a mill that can both crack grain and mill flour?
yes
Do you want a mill that can make whole wheat pastry flour as well as bread flour?
yes
Do you want a mill that can also handle legumes (for example, soybeans
for soy flour) or will you only mill grain?
Corn and beans as well as grain
Do you have a preference for an electric or a manual mill?
electric
What is the maximum you're willing to pay?
$300.00
What about storage? does the mill need to be stored between uses or do you have space so it can always be out, ready for use?
Space is not a problem; I have a large kitchen with a lot of cabnet and store area; but I don't want something that will be too big for me to handle alone.
Given your needs, your best bet is one of the micronizer type electric mills on the market for the home user, such as the Nutrimill (which I own) or the Wondermill (formerly marketed as Whispermill). You will *not* be able to produce cracked grain in a micronizer mill. If you only occasionally need cracked grain in smaller quantities (1 or two cups), you could use a blender or food processor. Or you could purchase a small, inexpensive manual grain grinder for this purpose.
Micronizer mills are rated to handle legumes as well as grain. The Nutrimill, while rather large, is light weight and easily handled by one person. I assume the same goes for the Wondermill.
The Wondermill has two separate components, the milling mechanism and the flour receptacle, which connects to the milling mechanism with a hose
In contrast, the Nutrimill is "all in one", with the removable flour bin at the base of the unit. I prefer the Nutrimill over the Wondermill because of the design.
Here are links to two extensive reviews of micronizer mills (Nutrimill and Wondermill) which you should find helpful.
This one kernals or berries??????]www.thefreshloaf.com - discussion of micronizer mills is by an individual who is both a home baker and a small scale commercial baker who has used many mills of this type.
This one kernals or berries??????]www.thefreshloaf.com - Nutrimill grain mill - a home baker's perspective is my review of the Nutrimill after owning (and using) it for about 6 months.
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please post back to this thread if you have further questions
Now what I need it some online sources for ordering grain. Betty
Heat buildup when milling flour can be an issue with large commercial mills. In my experience it is not an issue with micronizer mills designed for home use. This is yet another example of misapplying information to get some good advertising copy.... I got the Ultramill 2 years ago. I hesitated for a long time because it was not a stone grinder and I'd always heard that the stainless grinders heated up the grain too much, but the Ultra does not do that.
BettyR on 02-01-2008 said:From my research I've decided to go with an Ultramill and a Marcato Marga Mulino Grain Crusher / Flaker... I got ...the Crusher / Flaker for making coarser ground flour, meals, cereals and rolled oats.
MARCATO MARGA MULINO Roller mill for cereal for use in the home, for producing flour, whole meal, flakes and bran.
BettyR on 02-01-2008 said:From my research I've decided to go with an Ultramill and a Marcato Marga Mulino Grain Crusher / Flaker...I found both at a little online hippie juicer shop for a really good price. I got the Ultramill for making really fine flour and the Crusher / Flaker for making courser ground flour, meals, cereals and rolled oats. I was able to get both for a little less than I would have paid for a Nutrimill.