Milling 101: Getting Started

Just do it!

There are so many options for everything these days. Too many. Whether you’re looking for a new car or a new toothbrush, the amount of information about the pros and cons for the myriad of choices can be overwhelming. Paralyzing, even. Maybe you’re new to the idea of freshly milling your own flour, and as you began to investigate this seemingly simple and oh-so-healthy choice, you found yourself exhausted trying to decide what tools you need to even get started. Sounding familiar? Maybe we can help shed some light.

It really can be simple. Milling your own wheat berries provides you with the freshest flour, ensuring the highest level of nutrition and flavor. Commercial flours are stripped of virtually everything nutritional about wheat, even the specialty flours. Vitamins have to be added back to commercial flours, and those are mostly synthetic. But fresh milled flour retains its bran (which is loaded with fiber and nutrients), the germ (which is loaded with oils, vitamins, proteins, and minerals), and the endosperm (which is loaded with starch). But my guess is that if you’re reading this, you probably already knew this.

So how do I get started??

Let’s talk in-home grain mills. There are a lot of options out there at several price points, so let’s break a few of them down.

  •  The KitchenAid Grain Mill Attachment – If you already own a KitchenAid Mixer, this is a great, economical entry into milling for just a little over $100. It simply attaches to your mixer through the power hub, and you’re ready to go. Though it won’t be the quickest mill, it will get the job done with 12 levels of grind texture.
  • The Nutrimill – Very popular among home millers, the Nutrimill Classic comes in around the $300 price point. This is an impact mill (think coffee grinder) that can mill large quantities quickly, ranging from a course grind to very fine. It may not be the prettiest mill on the market, but it gets the job done. Nutrimill also offers some beautiful wooden options in their Harvest line that start around $420.
  • The Mockmill – Another fantastic option (and our favorite) is the Mockmill. These are manufactured in Germany, include a 12-year warranty, and range in price from $340-$700, depending on the motor size and aesthetic. They even have an attachment for stand mixers that comes in around $230. Mockmills grind the grains between internal stones (an age-old process), allowing for more versatility in coarseness, while keeping the flour at a cooler temperature further preserving its nutritional value. Plus, they’re beautiful, easy to clean, and can be used to re-mill grains, if needed to make the flour finer.
  • Vitamix Blender – This is worth mentioning, IF you already own one since they cost around $500. These blenders are heavy duty and have a variety of uses beyond just grains. They’re awesome! But if looking to use with grains only, stick to one of the ones already mentioned.

So… just do it! Take this first step. Pick the grain mill that best fits your budget and kitchen space, and then go for it! You’ll be enjoying all those healthy, flavorful benefits of whole wheat berries and loving the adventure of it all in no time!

 

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