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Getting Started Milling Whole Grains, Corn & Beans

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Are you Ready to Get Started Milling
Your Own
Whole Grains, Corn & Beans?

Hard White Wheat-Berries & Flour

Follow these SIMPLE steps to MAKE the SWITCH from store-bought baked goods to MAKING YOUR OWN at home with Good Wholesome Freshly Milled Whole Grains, Corn & Beans

Step 1:  You will need a Grain Mill

A home grain mill is just that - it mills whole grains, corn and beans into beautiful, fresh, full of nutrition flour in the comfort of your own kitchen whenever you need it.  Simply pour your grains, corn or beans into its hopper, choose how fine or coarse you desire and voila - fresh flour!  Can't get any easier or nutritious than that!

After much research and experience, I chose
NutriMill Grain Mills
Their family of mills are work-horse durable and super easy to use

 

NutriMill makes a mill to suit every need:

Choose the mill that is best for you and click the link below:

NutriMill Classic - Simple One Unit Design

NutriMill Harvest - Beautiful & Convenient

NutriMill Plus - Quietest - Stores Compactly

Step 2:  You will need some Grain

Whole grains, especially wheat, can go by many different names:  whole grain, wheat berries, wheat kernels, wheat seeds

There are also many different grains:  hard wheat, soft wheat, spelt, rye, Kamute, oat groats, millet, amaranth, barley, buckwheat and corn just to name a few.  We will discuss the different grains as well as gluten free grains on a different page, but for now let's work on the basics to get you started.

I recommend starting with Hard White Wheat and Hard Red Wheat.

  • Hard White Wheat has a very mild flavor, similar to store-bought white bread. I like to use Hard White when making flavored breads: garlic bread, cinnamon rolls, etc.
  • Hard Red Wheat has a more nutty, heartier flavor, more of a “wheat” bread taste
  • My loaf bread and English muffins, I use half & half of the Hard White and Hard Red wheat
  • Experiment with both to find what you and your family prefer
  • Then venture out to the other grains

 

Where to buy grains

Usually a food co-op is the most budget friendly source.  Depending on where you live, some health food stores carry, in stock, the wheat berries.  Check out my page:  Buying & Storing Grains & Beans

Here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast:

 I recommend to my clients to start with 25 pounds of each.  50 pounds will last the average family approximately 2-3 months.  Obviously, that will depend on the number in your family and how much baking you do.

Step 3:  Other Getting Started Items

More information may be found on:  Buying & Storing Grains & Beans and Ingredients pages

  • Yeast - Instant yeast or dry active yeast - My preference is instant yeast because you don't have to proof it first.  You know, mix it with warm water and wait for it to bubble.  Instant yeast, you just throw it in and get to mixing.  I like simple. 
  • RealSalt Sea Salt  -  This particular brand of sea salt is the real deal.  Totally unprocessed with all it's trace minerals and nutritional components still in tact. 
  • Sweetener - Raw honey or Sucanat or Raw Sugar - Yeast requires a little bit of sweet to chew-on to grow, so use either:  Raw Honey, the best choice;   Sucanat (real brown sugar) - dehydrated cane juice w/the molasses still in it; or Raw Sugar - dehydrated cane juice that has had the molasses removed. 
  • Oil - Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil - Extra virgin or expeller-pressed. 
  • Gluten - Also known as Vital Wheat Gluten.  Wheat naturally has gluten in it, but sometimes you need a little help.  Gluten helps with the rising process; especially if the environment is humid.  It is totally optional; so if you don't have a "gluten" issue then it's nice to have a little on hand.  I only use a teaspoon per loaf, so it doesn't take a lot. 
  • Food Grade Bucket - You will need a 5 or 6 gallon food grade bucket in which to store each type of grain.  You must keep your grain cool and dry.  
  • Gamma Lid - Gamma Lids are a special type of lid.  It has a ring and a screw type lid with a rubber seal.  This type of lid allows you to get into your grain bucket easily.  They come in different colors.  I have a white lid for my Hard White wheat and a red lid for my Hard Red.  I'm OCD like that. 
  • Bread Pans - I like the 9" x 5" USA stainless steel bread pans, but you can also use stone or glass in whatever size.  The 9" x 5" seems to be the best sandwich size.  It will use 1 lb 12 oz of dough.

Last but not least

Step 4:  A Mixer with a Dough Hook

The Bosch Universal Plus Mixer is the only way to go!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this mixer!  It does everything but walk your dog!

  • 6.5 Quart Capacity Bowl – (6-8 loaf recipe at one time)  Talk about a time-saver!
  • Has Dual Drives for Attachments
  • One Appliance – Many Attachments Available – means less clutter
  • Comes with:  Dough Hook – replicates hand kneading & French Whips – for whipping egg whites, whipping cream & shredding chicken
  • 800 Watt Motor & 4 Speeds – means mega power & torque to knead whole wheat dough with ease
  • Suction Cup Feet – mixer stays put while mixing & kneading
  • Light weight – touch machine, yet easy to move around
  • Includes the Splash Ring & Cover – for splash-proof mixing & rising dough
  • Dishwasher Safe

Order yours TODAY! 

 

 

Did I say how much I LOVE this machine? 

Well, it is a GREAT mixer!!!  I've had others and this one runs circles around them. 

With the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer you can make:

  • 2 loaves of bread
  • a batch of dinner rolls
  • a batch of pizza rolls
  • a batch of cinnamon rolls

all out of the same recipe  -  AT THE SAME TIME! 

You know what that means? 
It means you are only cooking once! 
I love that!

Step 5:  Take a deep breath and get started. 

It really is easy. You can do it!

Additional helpful information:

Check out:  My easy & delicious recipes

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Comments

  1. Kyle O"ren says

    Thank you so much for the information about all the equipment and grains you need to start milling! When I was young my mother used to mill Hard Red Wheat to make bread and I always loved it. Twenty years later I came across her bread recipe and it looks like it’s time to get into milling!

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About Tracy O.

Hi, I'm Tracy O. My goal through Healthy Home Principles is to share what I've learned and hopefully inspire you to come along with me on this journey to make our homes healthier.
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