Grinding Your Own Wheat

Today we are talking about all things whole wheat! From grinding your own flour, tips for creating light and airy baked goods, and of course my favorite whole wheat recipes.

When I first started to “really” get in to eating healthy whole foods, I got a kick out of telling people “those are made with organic, whole wheat, pastured, grassfed” whatever.  I loved finding new healthy meals, and whole wheat recipes that didn’t taste like paste. Upon hearing this one time, my friend Anne said “did you grind the wheat yourself too”?  To which we both laughed and said something along the lines of “OMG, could you imagine”?

Ahem

Back in 2012, when I realized how expensive flour was versus the cost of a grain mill, I decided to start saving for one.  I saved, and saved, and saved, and was still probably about four months away from even thinking of being able to purchase one.  Then, a random enormous Amazon box showed up one day, and you can imagine my surprise to find the grain mill of my dreams with a note that said “happy birthday AND Merry Christmas, love Anne”. Before you ask, Anne is not accepting applications for new friends.

For the last five years, I have been a proud owner of a Wondermill, but there are many options available.  I know Kitchen Aid makes one that attaches to your mixer, but I feared that it would wear out my motor.  Whatever your machine, they all essentially do the same thing – turn wheat berries in to flour.  It can work with other grains too of course (corn, etc.), but mine has only been used as a basic flour mill.

Wheat berries that I purchase from Azure Standard are soft white, and hard white (which Troy tries to convince me was his nickname in high school.  Not buying it.).  Soft white is best used for baked goods like cakes, biscuits, cookies, pancakes, etc.  I also use it for whole wheat pizza dough.  Hard white is only used in our house for homemade bread.

The cost of wheat berries has doubled in the five years since I have been grinding wheat for whole wheat recipes. Soft white wheat berries on Azure are currently $45 for 50 pounds, and hard white/red runs about $43 for 50 pounds. Good thing I have approximately 4 billions pounds of it in my zombie pantry.  I store my wheat berries in five gallon food safe buckets with Gamma seal lids, which keep the berries in an air and water-tight environment.

Organic whole wheat flour at the grocery store will run you $5-10 for five pounds. The general rule of thumb is that one cup of wheat berries is equal to about 1.5 cups of flour when ground. These mills are pricey, but if you bake like I bake, the “break-even” point is fairly soon.  It’s actually immediate if your friend buys it for you. Ha!

In addition to the mill being cost-effective (eventually), there is also the flavor and nutritional factors to consider.  Freshly ground flour is far superior in taste to store-bought.  It has an almost “nutty” taste to it, and anything made with whole wheat flour keeps you fuller longer than items made from white flour. Additionally, there is convenience in that I never run out of flour in the middle of a baking project. Sure, I may need to grind some, but I’m not rushing to the store to track down whole wheat flour while trying to make pancakes.

The oils in wheat start to turn rancid quickly after grinding. So, the flour that is purchased from the store often has to be treated or processed to make it shelf-stable. For the purpose of disclosure, I still buy King Arthur bread flour from time to time, as I put 1 cup in each loaf of homemade bread that I make. I store big containers of the freshly ground flour in the freezer; it stays soft and fluffy and keeps the oils from getting icky.  And I’m am able to grind less often. Unlike my teeth, which I grind every night. 🙁

The secret to making whole wheat baked goods that are as fluffy as white flour items, is a magical ingredient called vital wheat gluten. As the name implies…it is vital. 🙂 Simply add 1 tbsp of vital wheat gluten per 1 cup of whole wheat flour to any whole wheat recipes, and you’ll have improved results.

Now, if you’re not ready to invest in a grain mill, or simply have zero interest in ever grinding your own wheat, there are loads of great whole wheat flours available for purchase. If you’re looking to make pastries, cookies, or muffins, you’ll want to purchase “pastry whole wheat flour”. For breads, you’d want to buy regular whole wheat flour.

Let’s take a tour of the Wondermill

Here is the base of the grinder:The lid of the grinder goes on the flour bucket.  Flour bucket is not the technical term.  This isn’t food mill porn (well it kinda is).  The gray hose goes in the hole.  It’s a tight fit.  That’s what she said.Lest you forget, you need to turn on the mill before adding the grain. That’s what she said.I always grind everything on the “pastry” setting for a finer flour.  Hit “on”, and let it go for a few minutes, and voila, flour.

• Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins
• Whole Wheat Orange and Chocolate Madeline Cookies
• Whole Wheat Pancakes (blueberry options)
• Whole Wheat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
• Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
• Whole Wheat Waffles

If you’re thinking of adding a grain mill to your kitchen, I’d highly recommend it!  It allows for versatility in cooking so many whole wheat recipes, and delicious meals. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about the ins and outs.

That’s what she said.