Switching To Freshly Milled Flour
Milling Your Own Flour At Home
Get ready to explore a whole new world of fresh, homemade flour—where the flavor is richer, the nutrition stays intact, and the possibilities are endless! If you’re just curious about grain mills, this is the perfect post for you. Already sold on the benefits of a home flour mill? Then read on, my friend. This blog post is all about the newest (and oldest) thing in the world of homesteading: the countertop grain mill!
What’s In My Flour?
I have to admit, I’m a sucker for a solid baked goods post. When I scroll through Instagram and see a pan of cinnamon rolls being slowly pulled apart, I can’t help but pause and watch. My husband teasingly calls it “food porn,” but let’s be real—you know exactly what I mean!
However, baked goods don’t always love me back. For a while, I thought I was gluten intolerant, like so many others. After eating anything made with commercial flour, I just didn’t feel great. But then something happened. I stopped at a bakery while visiting Snohomish, and I had a sandwich made with their freshly milled flour. I felt completely fine afterward! That’s when it hit me—it wasn’t the gluten causing the problem; it was the store-bought, mass-produced flour.
After some deep diving, I realized that many commercial flours contain trace levels of glyphosate (Roundup) and have been processed in ways that strip out essential nutrients. Even so-called “organic” flour brands often process their wheat near conventional farms, where cross-contamination is possible. That’s when I knew—I needed to take control of my flour, and that meant grinding my own grain at home.
Wheat Berries? I thought flour was made from grain?
Great question! A wheat berry is actually a type of grain, but not all grains are wheat berries.
Grain vs. Wheat Berry
- Grain is a broad term that refers to the edible seeds of grasses like wheat, rice, oats, barley, and corn. So, wheat itself is a type of grain.
- A wheat berry is the whole, unprocessed kernel of wheat—it includes the bran, germ, and endosperm. This is the part of the wheat plant that gets ground into flour.
So, wheat berries are a specific kind of grain, just like oat groats are the whole form of oats before they are processed into oatmeal. When people say “whole grains,” they are usually referring to the unprocessed form, like wheat berries, rye berries, or whole barley. A wheat berry is the whole, unprocessed wheat kernel, containing the bran, germ, and endosperm. Unlike commercial flour, which is stripped of nutrients, wheat berries retain all their fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
There are several types of wheat berries you can buy:
- Hard red wheat berries – High in protein with a more robust flavor, and good for homemade bread flour.
- Hard white wheat berries – Milder flavor, great for soft bread baking.
- Soft wheat berries (red or white) – Lower protein, ideal for pastries, cookies, and cakes. Most similar to All Purpose flour
When choosing wheat berries for your home grain mill, look for organic, non-GMO, and glyphosate-free options to ensure the best quality flour.
What exactly is a “Countertop Grain Mill”
A countertop grain mill is a small kitchen appliance designed to grind whole grains, like wheat, oats, corn, or rice, into fresh flour. It allows you to make flour at home instead of buying pre-milled flour from the store. These mills can be electric, using a motor to grind the grains quickly, or manual, which requires hand-cranking but offers an off-grid option. Some models use steel burrs or impact mechanisms for a fine, consistent grind, while others use stone burrs for a more traditional milling process. There are lots of options out there. I have used 3 variations of these mills and I have to say that in my opinion there isn’t a huge difference. I like to keep my mill on my countertop, so its easy access for whenever I need it (which is daily). For this reason my favorite is the NutriMill Harvest. Its beautiful wooden exterior makes it a statement piece instead of an eyesore. Its also pretty compact which I love for fitting underneath the cupboards above. It is a stone ground mill.
My second favorite is the NutriMill Impact. It is an impact mill which means it uses steel blades to grind the grains instead of stones. It is larger in size and is not as aesthetically pleasing, but it is a workhorse and actually grinds faster than the Harvest. It was designed recently by NutriMill with bread bakers in mind, to grind large amounts of flour at a time. It also happens to be the most cost effective mill on the market.
Both of these mills are recommended highly by me. I have both because I wanted to see the difference for the purpose of giving you my review. So by no means should you think you need both. Just pick the one that best suits your needs.
I have an awesome discount code for you that works on any item on the NutriMill website, and it is stackable on top of any sale price! Use my Code: PIVOTFARM20 and save an extra $20.
Why Use Freshly Milled Flour?
So the big question? Should I bother switching from all-purpose store bought to freshly milled flour. Well, apart from the wholesome flavor and texture it brings to your baked goods, freshly milled flour retains all the nutrients of whole grains, which are often stripped away in processed white flour. This means more fiber, vitamins, and minerals in every bite! It is also easier for the body to digest due to the enzymes it retains. Plus, it’s a fun way to experiment and bring an artisanal touch to your baking. You can also store wheat berries almost indefinitely if you keep them in the right conditions. Cool dry place, air tight containers to keep out moisture and pests, avoid light and heat.
Counter Top Mill Conversion Calculator
Convert cups to Grams for more accurate measurements
Do I Need To Convert My Recipes
Short Answer = YES
When you buy store bought flour, they sift out the bran and germ that contain many of the fiber and minerals. Not only are these parts healthy, but they also take up volume. Therefore when you are using your countertop mill to make your recipe, it's important to consider the volume difference. I always change my recipe from CUPS TO GRAMS. 1cup of store bought flour is equal to about 1 1/4 cups of milled flour or more accurately 155grams. We made this simple conversion calculator to help you with the math. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
AbsorPtion? Something else to consider
Freshly milled flour has a slower absorption than regular flour. I haven't figured out the magic number of minutes per cup yet but the key is to let your wet and dry mixture sit for a little longer than normal for baking. See Below
The Importance Of A Kitchen Scale
Are you ready to convert your recipes? The key is precision, and that’s where a kitchen scale like this becomes your best friend. Freshly milled flour is less compact than all-purpose flour because it contains the whole grain, including the bran and germ, which are lighter and fluffier than the refined endosperm that makes up most of commercially produced flour, causing the freshly milled flour to be less dense and take up more volume per weight when measured by a cup. Because of measuring by weight rather than volume ensures you get the right amount every time. While it might sound technical, think of it as your secret weapon for baking success!
Conversion Tips & Tricks
Quick Breads & pastries
For non-yeast recipes like quick breads, cookies, and pastries, you’ll generally increase the amount of freshly milled flour by about 1/4 cup for every cup of all-purpose flour. But remember, using a scale to measure by grams is even better for accuracy! Here’s a quick conversion reference:
Using soft white wheat is ideal for these recipes as it closely mimics the texture and tenderness of all-purpose flour.
Yeast Breads
Baking with yeast adds a little twist to your conversion journey. Freshly milled flour absorbs liquid more slowly, which means patience is key. Knead your dough until it passes the windowpane test, ensuring that the gluten has developed properly. If you’re like me and love a good kitchen gadget, a stand mixer can save you time and effort here. The trick is to allow the dough to knead for longer than you might with white flour, giving it time to absorb the moisture and become beautifully pliable.
I love my stainless steel stand mixer! Not only is it non toxic, but it is powerful enough to make a double bread recipe! You can get $20 off of Bosch mixers with my code: PIVOTFARM20 and my discount is stackable on top of sale prices!
Personal Touch
Storage Options
I keep my grain mill and a stash of wheat berries on the counter, ready for action. This setup makes the process of milling and baking feel seamless and inviting. To us it’s now as natural as grinding our coffee each time that we make coffee. There’s something so satisfying about knowing that each loaf, cookie, or cake I make is filled with the goodness of whole grains I’ve freshly milled myself.
Once the flour is milled it should be used or frozen within a few days
Whole wheat berries if stored properly, can be kept almost indefinitely, enabling you to buy in bulk and keeping them on hand for whenever you need them. This is also a way to cut down the cost of using organic non gmo flour. I store mine in ½ gallon or 1 gallon glass jars in my pantry. They can also be stored in food grade buckets and mylar bags in dry storage.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Journey
Making the switch to a home grain mill is a game changer for anyone serious about clean eating, homesteading, or artisanal baking. The best countertop grain mills give you control over your flour, ensuring it’s nutrient-rich, chemical-free, and incredibly fresh.
For me, keeping my grain mill on the counter makes it as effortless as grinding coffee each morning. The process is deeply satisfying, and knowing that each loaf of bread or batch of cookies is made with freshly ground, organic flour brings so much joy.
So, what recipe will you try first with your freshly milled flour?
