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The Grain Mill is an Essential Homesteading ApplianceThe grain mill is an essential part of the homestead kitchen. If you don't have one of these nifty little tools, you're not only missing out on some of the most fabulous-tasting flour ever, you're also missing out on the best nutrition out there.What Do They Do?A grain mill makes flour out of not only wheat, but also other grains such as oats, kamut, rye and triticale. It will also make flour out of legumes, such as lentils and other beans.Why You Need OneWe're talking serious nutrition here. The flour you buy in the store - even the whole wheat kind - is dead. Once ground, wheat loses all of its nutrients within 12 hours. Ground wheat left out longer than a week will even become toxic (always either freeze your freshly ground flour or better still, grind just enough for your daily use). To combat this, manufacturers will add preservatives and vitamins to store-bought flour and breads. These preservatives wind up in your body and stay there for a long time. You can avoid these scary chemicals by grinding your own fresh flour in your own grain mill at home to make your own delicious bread. Besides, wouldn't it make more sense to get all of those great nutrients right up front by grinding your flour fresh daily?The Different Mills Available
With a grain mill you'll make the most amazing bread you ever tasted.
When considering a grain mill to purchase, you have the choice between a grinder that runs on electricity or one you work by hand.
Obviously, the electric grain mill is easier to use, but a hand mill would be useful to have when the power goes out, or if you choose to go off grid.
If you plan to stock up on bulk grains – and I highly recommend you do – it would be wise to invest in a hand-operated mill as well as an electric one.
Different mills use three different ways to convert your grains into flour:
Older Than the Hills - The Stone Grinder
Stone grinders like this German stone mill are a wise investment that will last you for years.
The technique of grinding wheat between two stones has been around for centuries, and until recently, it was the only way.
Rub one stone against another, stationary stone and voila! You get flour.
Until a few years ago, the grinding stones were about two or three feet across and incredibly heavy.
They were turned either by water, windmills, animals or people unfortunate enough to be dragged into this kind of work – usually slaves.Nowadays, the stones are stones at all, but instead an incredibly hard material about three inches in diameter. It makes the grinder lighter – relatively speaking. The nice thing about a stone grain mill is it will last a long time. Unlike the impact grinders (like mine – see the picture below), a stone grinder can be adjusted to different settings, such as cracked wheat or fine flour. Also, it is much safer to use with wheat that hasn’t been completely cleaned of small, grain-sized stones and bits of metal. If you plan to grow and harvest your own wheat, the stone grinder is probably the option for you. 
Burr grinders like this Wondermill Junior Deluxe Hand Mill can grind oil-bearing seeds and coffee as well as grain.
The downside of stone grinders is they are larger and bulkier and grind more slowly. Also, you shouldn’t grind seeds or nuts with these as the stones will become “loaded” and not work.
The Burr GrinderThe burr grinder uses steel teeth that grind the grain into flour. On the plus side, you can use these to grind oil bearing seeds, unlike the stone or impact grinders.On the downside, it won't grind as finely as a stone grinder – although the grind is fairly close. The Wondermill Junior Deluxe Hand Mill is an excellent hand-operated burr grinder. Impact GrindersThese use blades placed in circular rows on metal wheels. The wheels are aligned so the blades mesh together, running extremely close, but never touching. Running at an incredibly fast speed, the two wheels crush the grain and convert it into flour.
Impact grinders like this K-Tec Mill work well and are a good, if noisy, low-cost option.
The nice thing about these mills is they are very light and will fit just about anywhere.
I have a Blend Tec impact grinder like the one pictured on the left, a K-Tec Kitchen Mill.
It weighs only eight pounds, and is light enough that I can lift it with one hand.On the downside, the blades are fragile, and small rocks or pieces of metal can damage the wheels. If you have an impact grain mill, be sure to use only grain that has been well-cleaned (for example, commercially purchased grain). You won't be able to crack wheat with an impact grain mill, and let's be frank: they're noisy little cusses, but for the price, they can't be beat. Learn More About Frugal Cooking Invest in good health and some of the best bread available with a good quality grain mill. 
You can beat frugal cooking both for the excellent nutrition and savings.
Learn why cooking from scratch is so important by clicking here.
Want to see all of our frugal recipes? Click here. Want organic food at a great price? Form a food club, and you'll also foster the growth of locally produced, excellent organic food. Learn more. Do you love Chinese food? Save a bundle and invest in your health by learning to cook healthy vegan Chinese food at home! Avoid that expensive trip to the bakery and make fabulous desserts at home. Learn more. Listen to the general media, and they'll tell you that coconut oil is something akin to the devil's spawn, unleashing an epidemic of heart disease into our country and killing thousands of people. But do a little research, and you learn otherwise. For reasons why you should be cooking with coconut oil, click here.  A good quality cast iron cookware set like this one  is an excellent investment for healthy, even cooking. It can also be used outside as a Dutch oven.
Cook mouth-watering meals that increase your energy and make your feel terrific. Learn more.
The next time you are suffering from a cold, sore throat or other infection, instead of calling the doctor, reach for this healthful oil instead. Learn more. Make authentic sausages right in your own home. Learn more. Thinking about investing in a grain mill, but not sure which one is right for you? Read a review about grain mills by clicking here. Dehydrating foods are a great way to preserve foods in a healthy, low-cost way. Learn more. Use the healing power of vegetables in your cooking. Learn more.  A good quality vacuum sealer makes your food last for months and even years and can save you a bundle of money. Click here to learn more. 
Using a vacuum food sealer is the best way to make sure your foods lasts and to save money, but there are some tricks to using a vacuum food sealer.
Read more.
Do you have a weakness for fine-quality, Mexican food? Learn to cook fabulous Mexican dishes and save a bundle. Click here to learn more. Having and using a cast iron camp Dutch oven is a good idea should the power go out and you're unable to use your electric range. It's also a great way to keep the heat out of your kitchen in the summertime and outside where it belongs. Learn more. When you stock up on bulk grains, don't forget to stock up on yeast as well. Learn more about this crucial ingredient by clicking here. |
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