We know that freshly milled grain is the most nutritious of all, but hey – I don’t have a grain mill yet, do you?
Since many of us have to buy our grains already in the form of flour, here are a few tips to get the best nutrition out of the situation:
- Buy flour at a store with a fast turn-around to try to ensure the most freshly ground you can get.
- Look for unbromated whole wheat flour – King Arthur states that on their package, and Gold Medal claimed to be unbromated when I called the company. It’s one fewer chemical that we don’t need in our bodies.
- Store your whole grain flours in the freezer whenever possible. You can keep some of it in the refrigerator if that helps keep it close at hand. I only bought flour in bulk in the winter when I could store it in a tub outside and in my garage. Just this time of year, I’ve got to start moving it into my already-packed fridge. So sad!
- Why the freezer? Keep the oils in the germ from going rancid and try to preserve the enzyme phytase in the bran.
Wish you could grind your own? Maybe I can sneak a little preview in here: I am just a step away from securing a Nutrimill grain mill as a giveaway prize for a Whole Wheat Bread series in the fall!!!! Yeee hah! I’ll let you know more as I nail down details.
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Nice! I doubt you’d be able to ship it to France though
. Still, I look forward to hearing more about grinding at home since it’s a topic that interests me. . .I’m kind of in the research and wait mode right now. I’m toying with hand-grinders v. electric . . .any ideas?
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Naomi Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Or Slovakia
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Katie Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 2:19 am
S in F,
Heavenly Homemakers did a nice little series on choosing the right grinder, starting here: http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/grain-mills-pt-1-should-you-buy-one-does-it-save-money
My thoughts on hand vs electric are simply that a hand grinder would be a savior in a long-term emergency situation…but an electric is faster for normal times!
Katie
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A bread mill give away? That would be over-the-top exciting!
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I have always kept my flour and sugar in freezer simply because I was always told to now I have a great reason to as well
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Would you believe that I actually have a grain mill? One of those handy little things that we only have because DH wants to mill his own grain for beer
. I’ve never used it for flour. I may have to try it if I can get my hands on some wheat 
.
.-= Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker´s last blog ..Book Review – Living the Mass =-.
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Do you know of a good place to buy different flours–like spelt or kamut? Or do you pretty much just have to order it?
.-= Natasha´s last blog ..I’ve been tagged! =-.
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Katie Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 2:00 am
Natasha, For me it’s my local health foods store, or I order through Country Life, a local co-op type place. Some smaller artisan style delis or markets may carry alternative flours, too.
Katie
Good luck!
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I’m new to Kitchen Stewardship, so I don’t know if this is been talked about already. Is it any less expensive to grind your own (once you are setup) than buying from a store? I’m trying to slowly change my family from white to whole wheat flour, but am having a devil of a time because dh and 11 year old want the taste of white bread, and I want the nutrition of whole grain/whole wheat. Any suggestions?
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Katie Reply:
March 18th, 2010 at 4:47 am
Suse,
Both important questions!
1. From what I’ve read others say, they work out that grinding your own pays for the mill before a year is up and then remains much less expensive than flour.
2. So hard to change over older kids and husbands! You’re not alone! I would recommend trying white whole wheat, a flour that is made from a different kind of wheat (no less healthy). It’s lighter in flavor and texture than traditional whole wheat, and I find it almost indistinguishable in quick breads and brownies. King Arthur brand sells it.
Hiding whole wheat in regular bread is trickier though. Maybe find an excellent 1/2 and 1/2 recipe – I like this one for rolls: http://kellythekitchenkop.com/2008/02/recipe-for-easy-homemade.html – and see if you can cajole them into it. Or just use less bread by offering too many other things and have no lunchmeat for sandwiches on hand!
Best of luck!
Katie
PS – Here’s a fun post on feeding husbands: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/01/29/how-to-feed-a-husband-real-food/
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