Grain millers are a great addition for the kitchen enthusiasts and cooking hobbyists. The idea of grinding cereals to try out a new recipe you came across is exciting.
Well, in the age of more efficient devices, and the easiness at which you can acquire ready flour from the stores makes grain mills unpopular. But some of us still love the process that goes into making your own flour.
If therefore, you are looking for the best grain mill, then the following information will prove helpful.
Top Grain Mills Reviewed
Country Living Grain Mill with Large Corn & Bean Auger
A grain mill should be adequately durable to withstand the associated stress of grain grinding. In that regard, the Country Living Grain Mill with Large Corn & Bean Auger has cast aircraft aluminium, one of the sturdiest metals you will find on grain mills. But what about the grinding plates?
With high carbon construction, the grinding plates have a high level of ruggedness. The same also applies to the cast iron V-Groove flywheel.
The FDA-approved powder coating on the grinder is safe – you need not worry about contamination.
Pros
- Constructed of sturdy cast aircraft aluminium for durability
- FDA-approved powder coating for food safety
- It does not have complicated controls
- The grinding plates are high carbon steel for ruggedness
- A sturdy flywheel for grinding strength
Cons
- May not produce adequately fine flour
- The angle of the hopper is not ideal and may hold a significant amount of flour
NutriMill Classic 760200 High-Speed Grain Mill
If you are looking for the best grain mill, which incorporates the latest technology, then NutriMill Classic 760200 High-Speed Grain Mill is, definitely, your machine. It has some of the most powerful milling heads, reduced noise and an efficient motor cooling. Unlike other grinding mills that produce a lot of noise and a lot of heat, thereby, destroying the nutrients, this is one of the best options you can get.
Pros
- An advanced technology mill for convenience and efficiency
- Powerful milling heads
- Has the top of the range features such as an efficient motor cooling and high level of noise reduction
- The mills protect the nutrients by maintaining the heat at the right levels
- Has a powerful 1¾ HP motor for the right grade of flour
- Impact grain milling heads, made of stainless steel
Cons
- Some people may find it a bit noisy
- May not have sufficient power to process oats
- Not easy to clean
KitchenAid KGM All Metal Grain Mill Attachment
If you are a fan of low moisture grains, then this machine is the one for the grinding job. But the feature that will make any cooking enthusiast and healthy foods follower, happy, is the 12-level grinding, giving you a real choice as to how fine or coarse you need the flour.
Pros
- Ideal for grinding low moisture grains such as corn, wheat, oats, rice and rye
- Has 12 levels of grinding to choose from
- It is a versatile grinding attachment that will provide the ideal ingredients for your bread
- The grinding mill is all metal for efficiency
Cons
- Not for grinding anything with a high oil content
- Only compatible with a kitchen aid mixer
Deluxe Grain Mill by VICTORIO VKP1024
Deluxe Grain Mill by VICTORIO VKP1024 is another grain mill, perfect for your home. The machine is for those that love batch baking. It is easy to operate and comes with a front dial for choosing how fine you need the flour.
It also has a mounting clamp to secure the grain mill for stability, efficiency and safety. The grain mill is a high capacity machine that can mill up to 4 ½ cups of flour for your needs – sufficient for your needs.
Pros
- A perfect grain mill for those that love batch baking
- Comes with a front dial that allows you to choose the right grade of flour
- It is easy to use
- Has a mounting clamp for stability when grinding
Cons
- The flour may not be fine enough for some baking applications
- May be slow
Victoria Commercial Grade Manual Grain Grinder with High Hopper
The cast iron grain mill is one workhorse that can easily handle some of the toughest grains you have for your cooking, and mills in big batches. That means you don’t have to wait for long to prepare the delicious bakeries you have been looking to have.
Pros
- A cast iron body for durability
- Easily grinds the hard grains in big batches
- it is versatile and will mill coconut, nuts, vegetables and coffee among others
- You easily choose your ideal grade between coarse and fine
- A double tin coat that complies with all international standards
Cons
- May take long to finish a batch – it is manual
- It may fail to grind enough for the pastry flour
What is a Grain Mill?
These are machines that help convert grains into flour through a crushing or beating mechanism. Some grain mills have various options to help you choose the texture you want on the grains, starting between course and fine. Some mills on the market may boast mechanisms that handle wet, oily or even hard grains.
The benefits of freshly-ground flour include the fact that it’s healthy. It does not contain the chemicals that are so common with processed foods. Furthermore, the process allows you to blend with other healthy grains if you prefer.
Dry grain can stay for a long without going bad. Seeds such as wheat seeds are inexpensive, and you can purchase a bag. You can store your grains and only get a portion for grinding, according to needs.
Types of Mills Available
Burr mills are some of the most popular and utilise double grinding plates. There is a fixed and rotating plate between which you feed the grain.
The burr mills further come in two types of mechanisms; the steel which shear and break; and the stone, which crush the materials.
There are also impact mills that feature rotating stainless steel heads, which spin at high speeds, hammering the grain into flour. Impact mills do not use a grinding mechanism.
Power
There are different power types that grain mills utilise, and the most reliable and convenient is, of course, electric. It is clean, easy to use, and most of all, inexpensive. Electric mills are also quite efficient, and at the touch of a button, reduce your grains, within a short period into a meal.
The manual mills are all about using your hands to move the mechanism to grind. The benefit of these hand-operated models is that chances of nutrient loss are minimal – it is usually a possibility with electric-powered mills because of the heat produced. You should always keep in mind that your input is always necessary, and if you are not in the position to do it efficiently, then chances of abandoning your recipe are high when you can’t grind enough flour.
You will also come across combination mills that feature the option of using it manually or through electric. These have the best of both worlds with the added advantage of using it even when the power goes out – some things are unavoidable.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Grinding Mill
There are various types of grinding mills, and choosing the right one is never an easy task. However, there are several features that you can look out for and below are some of them.
Speed
Obviously, the faster the grinding mechanism, the more flour you are likely to get within a short time. However, there’s a cost to such a high speed, and it is heated. The bad thing about heat is that it kills nutrients in the food. Therefore, the ideal machine shouldn’t be too fast lest you end up with flour with nothing regarding nutrients. It also should not be too slow, or you will be waiting for eternity to have your bread.
Horsepower
Power machine owners are familiar with horsepower. The unit of measure indicates the much power the machine boasts. The ideal horsepower will pretty much depend on the type of grains you will be crushing.
Noise
If your choice is electric, then you may want to check the noise level it produces. Some machines on the market produce a significant amount of noise, which you may have a hard time tolerating.
Heat
The process of crushing grains between burrs eventually produces heat. The longer it takes, the more heat the process will produce, which is not ideal for the grains and the nutrients they hold.
If you are dealing with a significant amount of grains, then you may want to take short breaks to allow cooling. However, you can save yourself from the hassle by choosing an efficient grain mill with the right features and space to allow airing and cooling.
Grinding Plates
You need the best quality grinding plates for longevity. Typically, the grinding plates will be doing all the donkey work, and it makes no sense to have something that will break under the slightest stress.
Conclusion
The best grain mill makes milling of grains easy work. The machine makes sure you have the right quality of flour for the baking – think of all the baking recipes you can try out. Grain mills are not too common, but you will still need the best one. The above products are great suggestions. However, Country Living Grain Mill with Large Corn & Bean Auger is in a class of its own.
It has one of the sturdiest constructions, such as an aircraft aluminum body and carbon steel plates. The grain mill is easy to use, and you can choose how fine or coarse you need the grains. It is one of the highest quality mills.
