Milling Grains: Frequently Asked Questions

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If you are interested in milling grains to make your own flours at home, together we are going to go over some of the frequently asked questions I see.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

What mill should I get?

If I am going to have an appliance on the counter, having a statement piece like the Harvest Grain Mill will be the choice you want to make. It is made in the USA and is stunning! The Harvest Grain Mill will offer you a coarse mill (like cracked grain) to fine grind (like pastry flour). It uses stones to do the milling.

If you are looking for a budget mill, the classic grain mill is a great choice. (again code FLOURING will help you save)

Is a grain mill just for wheat?

NO! A grain mill is an incredible addition to any household especially a gluten free household.

From the Nutrimill website, “Though the NutriMill Harvest is excellent for grinding wheat it can also grind gluten-free grains, beans, lentils, rice, etc. Add quinoa flour to thicken your soups or sauces, make rice flour for baby food and bread, create your favorite whole-grain cereal with cracked grains, or make delicious brownies with fresh black bean flour.”

Where should I source my grain?

Sourcing your grain is probably the most difficult part of milling your own flour. Some grains are available at the nutrimill website.

I prefer to shop for my grains and berries through Azure Standard. It is an online grocery store where you can buy as much or as little as you’d like. There are no membership fees. You get to shop when you want for what you want.

How azure works is that you find your nearest drop location. Once a month, the site will have a drop. You will go to the drop, help unload the truck, and your items are already for you. It is super easy! I order from Azure monthly, but you can order once a year or even every few months. Whatever works for your budget.

The grains I like to buy are:

• Hard White Wheat (hard wheats are suggested for kneaded breads or artisan loaves)
• Hard Red Wheat
• Soft White Wheat (soft is what you want for cookies, pie crusts, biscuits, quick breads)
• Einkorn
• Khorasan/Kamut
• Oat Groats
• Buckwheat
• Barley
• Rye
• Spelt

I like Azure because these grains are Organic! It is difficult to find good quality grains that are organic and not pay an insane amount for them.

Create your azure account HERE and happy shopping! (and yes! Azure has more than just grain! think costco meets tractor supply but with loads of organic options and prioritizing small business. Check out My Honest Review of Azure Standard.

How do I store my grain?

Depending upon the volume you’re purchasing, I really like 1/2 gallon Mason Jars for small quantities to 5 gallon buckets and gamma lids (links below). Whole berries do not need to be treated as anything special. You can pour your whole grain into your container and that’s it! It’s only when freshly milled that you need to do something specific.

Here are my suggestions on storage containers:

• half gallon jars
• Canning lids & Vacuum Sealer (use code FLOURING10 at forjars.com)
• 5 gallon buckets (take a moment to create an azure account to order your buckets and grains)
• gamma lids

If you would like to store your berries and grain for longer term storage, you’ll want to use the pack fresh mylar and use my code FLOURING to save. More to come on theflouringhome.com on how to package food for long term storage.

Do I need a mixer?

Having a mixer will be a huge benefit to help you in kneading your dough. The one on my wish list is the Bosch Mixer. It is also available at the nutrimill site and my discount code works site wide so be sure to use the code FLOURING at checkout.

Fresh Milling Tips and Tricks

Fresh milled flour is the WHOLE berry ground up: the bran, endosperm and germ. It is not sifted like all purpose or bread flour. Think of it as whole wheat flour, because it is the WHOLE wheat berry.

Whole wheat behaves differently. You’ll want to mix your liquids and flour and let it rest. It will take a moment for the whole wheat to soak up the moisture. If you don’t allow it to sit, you’ll want to keep mixing in flour and your product will be dry and not work.

My favorite fresh milling accounts:

I am far from a milling expert. The accounts I turn to for help are:

• Kristin: Generation Acres Farm, you’re in for a real treat! Kristin is my GO TO for milling! She is a PRO. Everything you want to know about milling flour and baking, you’ll want to learn from Kristin. She has so graciously offered a discount for you. With the exception of grain mills (see above NutriMill links & discounts), you can get 10% off with code FLOURINGHOME10 at generationacresfarm.com
• Kate: Venison For Dinner
• Michal Grappe
• Milli: My Whole Homestead

Additional Resources

• The Beginners Guide to Home Milling
• how to jumpstart your lagging sourdough starter
• Frequently Asked Sourdough Questions
• Dehydrated Sourdough Starter

Happy Baking! ~Boots

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.