Grain Grinders - Choosing a Grain Mill

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Things to consider when choosing a grain mill

Updated March 2, 2012

There are several kinds of grinders. The grain grinder that's best for you depends on how you'll use it.

Grain grinders, grain mills or flour mills come in three basic styles:

Stone
Stone Grinders are the oldest type of grinder there is. It was the only kind until only a few years ago. Stone grinders have two circular grinding stones. One stone turns against a stationary stone. Grooves are cut into the stone radiating out from the center of the stone to the ends. These grooves become shallower as they near the ends of the stone, until they disappear at the outer edges. When grain is ground, it falls through a channel into the center of the two stones. As the stone rotates, it pulls the grain out through the channels where it is ground. The flour falls out the outer edges of the two stones.
A hundred years ago these stones were two or three feet across, weighed hundreds of pounds and were turned by windmills, water wheels, animals or slaves. In modern home grinders the stones are small, usually only about three inches in diameter. They're not natural stones like the old grinders, but are made from very hard materials that will last a lifetime if used with care.

Burr
Burr grinders are nearly identical to stone grinders except their grinding wheels are made out of steel with small burrs protruding out the sides (sometimes called "teeth") which shear the grain into flour. Burr grinders have some advantages and disadvantages over stone grinders. More on that later.
Impact
Impact grinders use rows of 'blades' placed in circular rows on metal wheels. One wheel turns and the other wheel is stationary, like the stone grinder. But this is where the similarity ends. The two wheels are aligned so that the rows of blades intermesh, running extremely close, yet never touching the blades on the opposite wheel. The rotating wheel turns at several thousand RPM. As grain is fed into the center of the fixed wheel, the interaction between the two wheels `impacts' the grain and pulverizes it into fine flour as the grain works its way to the outside of the wheels.

Hand or Electrically operated?
You should consider whether you want a hand or motorized grinder, or both. This depends on what your present circumstances are and your needs for the future. Powered grinders are nice, but the speediest grinder won't do you much good if you've got no power. Two of the manufacturer's pamphlets for hand grinders we sell claim they can be motorized. But after having a bit of experience with both of them, Al thinks that the Country Living Mill is the only

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one that could easily be changed over. (Some hand operated mills come in both stone and burr varieties. Impact grinders must turn far too fast for manual operation.) One last thing: Hand grinders are more work than you might, at first, guess. Al owns a Little Ark, which takes about five minutes to grind two cups of wheat. After the wheat's ground, he knows his arms have had a workout. (Our experience with the Family Grain Mill has proven much more pleasureable! It's a less tiring grind.) We prefer an electric grinder for everyday use, and a relatively inexpensive hand grinder for emergencies. Of course, you'll need to make your own decisions based on your situation.

Here are some of the positive and negative features of each class of grain grinder:

Stone Grinders

Favorable Characteristics

Very durable

Adjustable to any setting from cracked wheat to fine flour

Much safer if you are grinding grain that has not been completely cleaned of grain-sized stones and small pieces of metal

Should last a lifetime

Unfavorable Characteristics

Usually larger, bulky machines that can't easily be put away
Grind more slowly than impact grinders
Stones quickly become `loaded' if you grind oil bearing seeds or nuts

Little Ark (Hand operated, can be motorized), (X025) 10 lbs., $126.00 - stones and burrs. NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

Burr Grinders

Favorable Characteristics

Will grind dry grains as well as oil bearing seeds (wheels will not "load up".)

Unfavorable Characteristics

Will not grind as finely as a stone grinder. (But close!)

The Family Grain Mill (Can be ordered with a hand and/or a Bosch-motorized electric base.) Numerous attachments available. See pricing and attachments on linked page. Hand mill, (BP27) $129.95

Little Ark (Hand operated, can be motorized) (X025) 10 lbs., $126.00 - stones and burrs. NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Clamp for Little Ark (P084) 1 lb., $19.80 NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Country Living Mill (Hand operated, can be motorized), (Z011) 15 lbs., $429.00 W/ Free Shpping

Country Living extra set of burrs (Z012) 5 lbs., $107.00

Country Living Power Bar Extension (extends 12" flywheel to 19" for easier grinding). (Z013) 2 lbs., $25.40

Country Living Nut-Bean Auger Assembly (Z014) 1 lb., $36.90

Country Living Clear Polymer Flour Bin w/ lid (Z015) 1 lb., $24.60

Back To Basics Grinder (Hand operated) (X024) 3 lbs., $65.30

Impact Grinders

Favorable Characteristics

Very small, light and compact. Can be put in the cupboard when not in use.
Grinds very quickly
Grinds grain into very fine flour

Unfavorable Characteristics

The blades are somewhat fragile. Small rocks or metal pieces will damage and misalign the wheels. (Grind only well-cleaned grain and these grinders will last many years.)
Noisy (except the motorized Family Grain Mill)
Even on the coarsest setting the flour comes out relatively fine. (You won't be able to crack wheat.)

Kitchen Mill (Electrically operated) (X040) 8 lbs., $184.95

Bosch Universal Kitchen Machine (H030) 18 lbs., $394.95

Bosch Slicer Shredder (H031) 4 lbs., $119.95

Bosch Cookie Whisk set (H032) 1 lb., $15.95

Bosch Cookie Paddle (H036) 1 lb., $21.95

Bosch Wire Whips, each (H033) 1 lb., $15.95

Bosch Meat Grinder (H034) 5 lbs., $118.55

Adaptor for using the Bosch Kitchen Machine with the Family Grain Mill (BPxx) $45.00

Other Products

Soy Wonder Machine (make your own soy milk or rice, nut, seed milks) (Q074) 7 lbs., $195.45
The Wonder Mill, electric grain mill (X091) 15 lbs., $239.90
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What the Family Grain Mill cannot grind...
The Family Grain Mill (FGM) cannot mill materials that are wet or oily or extremely hard.
• Moisture: Water content not over 15% by weight (which is "air dry" unless your climate is humid)
• Oil: Flax seed (to take one example) is borderline. See note below under "Seeds".
• Hardness: The FGM warranty doesn't cover the milling of popcorn, tapioca pearls, saw palmetto
berries, or similarly hard materials. Rule of thumb: If a sensible person wouldn't risk breaking it between
their teeth, we don't recommend putting it in the FGM because the damage that will ensue probably won't
be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. But all dry grains and dry beans are fine.
(Note: Hard, dry beans will shorten the useful life of the burrs)
Note: With some highly fibrous materials, a portion of the output will remain in fiber form. This fiber may
be sifted out if its presence is unacceptable.
CANNOT GRIND PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING WITH THE FGM: POPCORN - CHICK
PEAS/GARBANZO BEANS OR TAPIOCA PEARLS
In addition to dry grains & beans, the Family Grain Mill is one of the few mills that can grind a
variety of other materials as well. Read more below...
Herbs the FGM can grind:
• Must be dried, not fresh
• Pre-chopping is necessary in most cases.
• Some fibrous materials must be agitated to help them feed into the mill.
Echinacea
St. John's Wort
Ginseng
Parsley
Rosemary
Poppy Seeds
Thyme
Sage
Skullcap
Horehound
Hyssop Leaf
Coriander
Oregano
Hops Leaf
Ginko Leaf
Valerian Root
Goldenseal Leaf
Cinnamon
Cloves
Star anise
Black peppercorn
(Most similar dry herbs can be ground.)
Peppers the FGM can grind:
• Must be dried, not fresh
• Pre-chopping is necessary in most cases.
• Some fibrous materials must be agitated to help them feed into the mill.
Caution: Even small amounts of pepper dust can be extremely irritating. Grind in open
air and wear a face mask for protection.
Cayenne
Habanero
Chili
Jalapeno
Pepperoncini
Black
Abcho
Seeds the FGM can grind:
(Note: If plugging occurs, the Family Grain Mill is exceptionally fast and easy to disassemble and clean.
You can literally have it completely apart in 5 seconds, giving you total access to all of the grinding
surfaces.)
Allspice
Mustard
Fenugreek
Flax (About 1/2 cup straight flax can be milled before jamming will occur, or mix 2 parts flax to 1 part
wheat or oats for continuous grinding.)
Beans & Peas & Lentils the FGM can grind:
Dried Sorghum
Northern Beans
Split Peas
Lentils
Black Beans
Kidney Beans
Red Beans
Small White Beans
Coffee Beans (will stain the mill's plastic parts)
Dried Soy Beans (small quantity)
(Note: Beans are hard, and they will shorten the useful life of the burrs, however
the customer can purchase an extra set of burrs for wheat usage only.)
Sugar:
Refined sugar can be ground to make powdered sugar. It won't be quite as fine as commercial
confectioner's sugar. Unrefined sugar can be done only in very small amounts (think teaspoons). Larger
amounts will gum the mill up. You cannot grind raw sugar.
Peanuts /almonds or any other nut:
The FGM will make a pretty smooth peanut butter with the food/meat grinder attachment and optional
2mm grinder plate. Chunky peanut butter can be made by adding some peanuts that have been chopped
in blender. Home-use grinders will produce a "dryer" nut butter (less oily/creamy), than what commercial
a bit of a healthful cooking grinders make. You can make it creamier by adding oil and/or honey.
Also, the FGM slicer/shredder attachment will shred nuts into a coarse flour that is excellent for pie crust,
and the extra drum set for the shredder will grind nuts into a very fine consistency that could be used as
nut flour.

Order from:

Bruce & Phyllis Hopkins
Best Prices Storable Foods
P.O. Box 3182
Quinlan, Texas 75474
(903) 356-6443 (9am-5pm Central)
(903) 356-6233 - fax

http://www.internet-grocer.net

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