.png){kind=small}
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in freshly milled flour among home bakers and health enthusiasts, and for good reason. Milling your own flour at home is super easy and provides many benefits over store-bought alternatives.
Our family has been using freshly milled flour for over a year, and although we still use all purpose flour for sourdough bread, we mainly use fresh, whole-wheat flour for our daily baking and cooking. But what exactly does it mean, and how does it differ from the flour commonly found in grocery stores? We will explore the concept of freshly milled flour, its potential benefits, our favorite grains, where to purchase, and how to store them.
Exciting news! You can save a $20 on selected collections when you use our special discount code: FRESHMILL24
What is Freshly Milled Flour?
Freshly milled flour is flour that is ground from the whole grain just before it is used for recipes. Unlike commercially produced flour, which is often separated, processed, and stored for many months losing their nutritional value, freshly milled flour is made from the whole grains that retain their bran, germ, and endosperm. When learning about whole grains and refined grains, I found the picture and article from Harvest School of Public Health below very helpful. It quickly made me realize that what I was feeding my family was not the most nutritious flour out there.
Once I read this, I became very interested in milling my own flour at home so I could reap all the benefits and freshness that flour can offer. Let me tell you, it has been the best decision for our family!
Benefits of Milling Your Own Flour
Nutrition: One of the main advantage of freshly milled flour is its enhanced nutritional benefits compared to regular flour. Whole grains are packed with vitamins, mineral and fiber; all of which can be decreased during storage and process of commercially produced flour.
Cost: We have found out that purchasing grains in bulk, particularly organic ones, can lead to significant cost savings. I love the fact that I can mill hard-to-find (and more expensive) ancient grains like einkorn. Our favorite places to buy organic grains in bulk is through Azure Standard.
Enhanced Flavor and Texture: Freshly milled flour has a nutty, sweet, and rich flavor. It is hard to explain, but you simply must try to understand this amazing flavor.
Shelf-life: Wheat berries can last over 20 years if stored properly. We love these food-grade buckets to help keep our grains fresh and away from any little intruders. Now, your flour will be the freshest as soon as you mill your grains and is best to use days within milling. It can last up to 2-3 months after being milled, but I have never saved milled flour. I tend to measure and mill exactly what I need for our recipes (by weight or mass, NOT VOLUME, as milling wheat berries creates air pockets in the flour and results in volume increasing by about 150% once milled).
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Our Favorite Grains to Purchase
Soft white wheat is my favorite wheat berry whenever I need to bake cookies, muffins, pastries or pancakes. This wheat berry is not recommended for breads as it does develop gluten as hard red/white wheats.
Hard red wheat is mainly used for bread since it contains a greater amount of gluten. Not only does it help with the gluten structure of the bread, but it also adds more fiber and nutrients to my sourdough bread.
Einkorn contains less gluten than a more modern wheat. This makes it much easier to digest, so it is typically what I use for quicker recipes.
Have you thought of milling popcorn to make a delicious cornbread?
Where to Buy Wheat Berries
Azure Standard
Azure is probably one of my favorite storefronts to buy in bulk. Not only for wheat berries, which they have an amazing selection of, but we also shop for all kinds of things! They offer a great variety of grains, but also the cheapest prices and free shipping. The only setback is that you need to pick up your groceries at a drop-off site once a month.
The drop off site has not been a deal-breaker for us; we really enjoy bringing the kids and meeting other like-minded families at the drop-off. If you can't make it to the drop-off site, you can always get in touch with the coordinator or a friend to help. Check some of Azure's wheat berry selection HERE.
They offer several drop-off locations near us: Newton, MA and Millbury, MA
 |  |
Amazon: Believe it or not, Amazon has a great selection of wheat berries and it is delivered straight to your door steps!
  |
Storing Your Wheat Berries
The method of storing your grain will be determined by the quantity purchased and the duration for which you intend to consume it. For short-term storage of up to 6 months, wheat berries can be stored in a glass container or a plastic bucket with a secure lid, ideally in a cool (40-60 degrees F), dark location away from direct sunlight.
We opt for food-grade buckets for storing our grain. These airtight containers will help maintain its freshness and preserve all essential nutrients.
If you aim to include them in your emergency food supply and ensure long-term freshness, up to 30 years, I recommend adding five 300cc oxygen absorbers to your 5-gallon bucket.
If you're intrigued by the idea of enhancing your baking experience with freshly milled flour, join me on this wholesome journey!
STAY UPDATED WITH OUR NEWEST CONTENT FOR OUR BLOG UPDATES!
Comments