Do you like the idea of being able to grind your own wheat or making your very own peanut butter at home?
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Are you searching for a way to become more self-sufficient?
If you answered “yes” to either of those questions, then you may have considered purchasing a grain mill in the past.
While grain mills aren’t something you’ll find in most modern kitchens, they can offer quite a few benefits and be a great addition if you purchase the right one.
If you are ready to take the dive and purchase the best grain mill, use the information found here to ensure you find the one that best suits your needs.
FASTER THAN THE COMPETITORS IN ITS PRICE RANGE -…MADE TOUGH; HEAVY DUTY - An electric grain grinder…HIGHLY CERTIFIED; LIFETIME WARRANTY - Wondermill…
Best High-End: KoMo Classic Grain MillBest Manual Grain Mill: Victorio Deluxe Grain Mill
Chard GM-150 Cast Iron Grain MillNutriMill Classic High Speed Grain Mill
What is a Grain Mill?
If you want to purchase a grain mill, you may wonder how they work. Each of the grain mills you will come across will have some type of mechanism that grinds, beats or crushes grain into meal. Each of these different options will result in a different texture, ranging from fine to coarse.
There are some mechanisms that are more versatile than the others, being able to grind soft, hard, wet or oily items. While the oat roller is extremely popular, other standard options include burr mills and impact mills.
Types of Milling Mechanisms
There are two basic types of milling mechanisms that you will find when purchasing a grain mill.
Burr mills
These are considered the most common options and feature two grinding plates. One is fixed, and the other rotates thanks to a power source. The grain is fed into a hole in between the two burrs. Of burr mills, there are two types of grinding mechanisms:
- Stone Burrs: These crush the grain.Steel Burrs: These shear and break the grain.
Impact mills
This type of mill is made up of two different stainless steel heads with rows of jagged teeth that will spin at high speeds. The grain is dropped into the mill and hammered, instead of ground, to create flour.
Power Type
There are three basic power sources for grain mills for you to choose from. These include:
Electric Mills
An electric grain mill has the primary goal of getting the flour ground and ensuring the bread makes it to the table without any fanfare, frills or fuss. The main drawback of choosing an electric mill is that you can’t use it if the power happens to go out. While this is rare, it is possible. The cleanest and easiest mills for you to use are somewhat inexpensive and will do an excellent job of grounding the grain of choice.
Manual/Hand Mills
If you enjoy doing things by hand, then a manual mill is going to be best. This has a very minimal chance of damaging the nutrients because of the buildup of heat. Keep in mind, the majority of manual mills are going to require a bit of work to make sure they work properly, so you should be realistic – if you are unable to do the work to produce flour, then there isn’t going to be any bread.
Combination Mills
There are some mill manufacturers that have created methods to convert their mills from electric to manual and vice versa. This ensures you can continue using it regardless of if you have a power source.
Other Features and Considerations
If you are planning on purchasing a grain mill, there are a few features you need to keep in mind to make sure you get one that can suit your needs. These considerations include the following:
Speed: The faster it is, the more grain you can turn into flour. However, this also means more heat is produced. Try to find a happy medium.
Heat: When grain is crushed in between the burrs or in the metal pins, heat is generated. As the speed or milling time increases, the heat increases which can increase the risk of damage to gluten and nutrients. It is imperative to keep heat under 155 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid damage.
Grinding Plates: Make sure to purchase a mill that uses high quality grinding plates. This is what is going to do all the work.
Horsepower: While this isn’t a huge concern, the real number you want to look at is how long it takes the machine to grind up your grains.
Noise: If you want an electric mill, make sure you look at the noise level. In some cases, the sound is quite annoying.
Best Grain Mills
Best Grain Mill – Overall
WonderMill Electric Grain Grinder
- Milling Method: ImpactMilling Rate: 24 oz/minWatts: 1250Hopper Capacity: 3 pounds, 12 ounces
According to the manufacturer, this mill is the quietest, cleanest and easiest to use in the entire world. It is made of stainless steel and high-powered. It will not overheat the flour, which is a concern for some users. It is also designed in a way that ensures it is easy to clean and maintain.
The mill is able to hold up to 12 cups of flour at one time, which is more than most of the other models. It also features a canister that ensures the flower can be held and doubles as storage. This is one of the only mills sold with a lifetime warranty, which means you can feel confident that this mill will last.
Pros
Grinding your own grains offers more than a few benefits. However, if you want to know some of the specific reasons you should choose this particular mill, consider the following:
- It is extremely quiet when being usedConstructed out of stainless steelMaintenance and cleaning the mill is simpleAbility to mill approximately 12 total cups of flourThe canister that catches the flour can also double as a storage containerSold with a manufacturers lifetime warranty
Cons
Buying a grain mill means that you need to consider quite a few things. Getting to know the good, along with the bad, is paramount if you want to make the right decision. Some of the less appealing factors of this grain mill include:
- Higher price due to durability and lifetime warrantySmaller opening where grains go in to be milledNot able to be used in emergency situations because it requires power
Best Manual Grain Mill
Victorio Deluxe Grain Mill
- Milling Method: Stainless SteelMilling Rate: 10 oz/minWatts: 60Hopper Capacity: 4.5 cups
This grain mill has a number of appealing qualities that would be beneficial in emergency situations or for day to day use. It is designed to grind grains, including barley, rice, wheat and other types of hard grains. This is a great tool to have if you are going to have a baking session to product small batches of baked goods.
- PERFECT HOME MILL: Great for small batch baking or…MULTI-GRAIN: Stainless steel grinding burrs Grind…COARSE TO FINE: Front dial lets you easily adjust…
This Victorio Grain Mill can hold up to four and a half cups of any given grain at a time and the front dial allows you to make adjustments depending on if you need coarse or fine textured flour.
The mill offers users a sturdy clamp for mounting it, which means you can attach it to the edge of any surface or counter. As a result, it is portable and can go anywhere you go. When you purchase this grain mill, it is sold with a two year warranty.
The Victorio Deluxe Grain Mill offers a number of advantages that make it a positive option, which include:
- The ability to grind a very fine flourExtremely easy to use (even for beginners)Extremely quiet without the motor
There are also a few disadvantages you should know about to ensure you purchase the right grain mill for your needs, which include:
- It has a smaller openingIt is unable to be used for grinding certain types of materialsCompared to other brands, it is slower
Best High-End Grain Mill
KoMo Classic Grain Mill
- Milling Method: Stone (ceramic corundum)Milling Rate: 8 to 9 oz/minWatts: 360Hopper Capacity: 2 pounds, 1 ounce
If style and looks is your main concern, then the KoMo grain mill will not disappoint. It doesn’t look anything like the other models available. In fact, when you first look at it, you won’t even thing that it is a grain mill.
- Beechwood construction & long life…Grinds from fine flour to coarse meal360W (1/2 HP) motor, 8-9 oz flour per minute for…
This mill is crafted out of beechwood and when you buy it, you also get a 12-year warranty. It has adjustable settings, which allows you to choose how fine or coarse you want the texture to be. One of the best parts of this particular mill is that it can produce eight to nine ounces of grain each minute – which is pretty fast.
This mill is more costly than the others but well worth the investment.
If you are searching for the perfect grain mill for your home, then you have to know what you want. When you do, you can use the pros and cons lists to determine which one best meets your needs. Some of the advantages of this grain mill include:
- Unique design that makes it look like décor, rather than a grain millMade of beechwoodAdjust the settings from fine to coarse depending on what you needAbility to mill up to eight or nine ounces of your chosen grain each minute
Cons
Just like the other grain mill options listed here, there are also a few potential disadvantages of this particular grain mill. These include the following:
- Higher price than other millsSmaller output spout, which may result in clogs or blockagesRequires power so can’t be used in emergency situations
Other Good Options
Chard GM-150 Cast Iron Grain Mill
- Milling Method: ImpactMilling Rate: 1 pound/minuteWatts: 450Hopper Capacity: 20 pounds
If are searching for a durable, yet old-timey looking grain mill, then the Chard is an excellent option. It looks as though it comes right out of the 1800s. However, once you get past the unique, antique appearance, you will find it offers a powerful tool for milling grain. It is a manual mill and can be used for all types of grains, as well as shelled nuts, soybeans and corn. If you are planning on making homemade peanut butter, this is a great mill to use.
- High quality, durable Tin-Coated Cast Iron Grain…Large capacity Hopper, grinds 1 lb. per minute,…Removable Poly Handle allows for simple and easy…
This Chard mill offers a hopper that is extra-large, which means it can hold more grain that others. It is crafted out of cast iron, which means if you properly care for it, it will last a lifetime.
The grinding plates are also high quality and easy to adjust, providing you with a coarse or fine chop, depending on what you are making. This mill has everything you would need in an emergency or if you are using it daily. It is a dependable and durable product offered at an affordable price.
If you are physically able to grind your own flour, then this is a great mill to consider.
This grain mill is appealing to a number of people due to the advantages it offers:
- Authentic antique lookPowerful grinding power for a manual millAbel to grind all types of grains, including nuts, soybeans, and cornCast iron construction for superior durabilityExtra-large hopper allows you to add a larger amount of grain
Just like anything else, there are a few disadvantages of choosing this grain mill, as well. Being informed means that you have all the information necessary. The most prevalent disadvantages of this particular grain mill include:
- Not ideal for those who are weak as it requires quite a bit of physical powerDoesn’t have a motor which means that “fast grinding” is not possible
NutriMill Classic High Speed Grain Mill
- Milling Method: ImpactMilling Rate: 17 oz/minWatts: 1200Hopper Capacity: 5 pounds
Are you looking for a powerful and efficient mill that makes short work of any grain? If so, then the NutriMill is a great option. Unfortunately, it is electric, which means it is not a contender for anyone wanting to prepare for an emergency situation.
- Advanced technology: Improved texture control,…Protects nutrients: The NutriMill Classic keeps…Powerful 10 amp, 1-3/4 hp motor quickly produces…
However, if you are searching for a mill that will allow you to grind your grains and reap the health benefits this has to offer, then it will definitely handle the job. It operates at low noise level and uses strong mill heads to grind the material put inside. Additionally, the maker of this mill made some adjustments recently to help with the cooling mechanism, which ensures this mill has a long, usable life.
If you want a mill so you can reap the nutrition benefits offered by grinding your own flour, then this machine is a great option. It has a feature to keep the grains at 118 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the temperature that will ensure the nutrients of the grains are protected.
There are also settings for you to choose from regarding how you want the grains ground. You can choose options including coarse, medium or fine. It is also possible to grind as much as five cups of flour every minute.
If you want to increase the grain capacity, you can use the grain hopper extension that is included. If you are looking for an affordable, quiet option, then you will love this grain mill.
If you are ready to reap the benefits of hand-milled grains, then this mill may be just what you are looking for. In addition to being a powerful option, some of the other advantages offered by this particular mill include:
- Quiet machine so you don’t disturb others while it is being usedBetter calibrated cooling mechanisms to help machine last longerMore settings for the texture of your grainAbility to grain up to five cups of flour each minuteIncluded grain extension which increases the amount of grain that it can old
Keep in mind; nothing is perfect. As a result, you need to consider the cons of this mill, too, which include:
- Higher price due to more durable design and additional featuresNot able to be used in an emergency situation because it requires powerIf you get an older model, you may have issues with heat while the grains are being milled
If you are thinking about purchasing a grain mill, the information here will help to guide your buying decision. Make sure to consider the options and factors here to get a grain mill that fulfills your needs and that is stylish and durable.
Keep in mind; these models are being updated constantly. So you can always find something that you like and that will provide you with the results that you want for your kitchen.
