A Beginner’s Guide to Baking with Freshly Milled Flour

If you’ve ever thought about milling your own flour at home, it can feel a little intimidating at first. There are questions about which grains to use, what equipment you need, where to buy grains, and how freshly milled flour behaves differently from store bought flour.

The truth is that baking with freshly milled flour is surprisingly simple once you understand a few basics.

In this guide I’m sharing what I’ve learned about working with freshly milled flour, including the grains I use most often, the tools that make baking easier, and how I make our family’s go to honey wheat sandwich bread. I’ll also share some tips for storing grains, maintaining a grain mill, and why freshly milled flour makes such a difference in flavor and nutrition.

Once you start baking with fresh flour, it’s hard to go back.

Why Bake with Freshly Milled Flour?

Freshly milled flour keeps the entire grain intact. That means the bran, germ, and endosperm are all present when you bake with it.

Because of that, freshly milled flour contains more fiber, more vitamins, and more nutrients compared to most store bought flour. It also has a much richer flavor.

One thing that surprises people is how good freshly milled flour tastes. Whole grain bread from the store can sometimes be dense or dry, but bread made with fresh flour is soft, flavorful, and naturally sweet.

Fresh flour also behaves a little differently in baking. It absorbs more water and usually benefits from resting before kneading so the flour can fully hydrate. You’ll typically need less freshly milled flour when replacing it in recipes calling for all-purpose flour. I use all sorts of recipes and swap it out with freshly milled flour without too much difficulty.

Once you get used to working with it, it becomes second nature.

What Grains Should I Use?

For most of my bread baking, I keep things simple and stick with two grains: hard red wheat and kamut.

  • Hard Red Wheat: Hard red wheat is my main grain for bread baking. It has a higher protein content, which helps develop strong gluten and gives bread the structure it needs. It also gives bread that classic whole wheat flavor and color. Azure Standard offers a great price on hard red wheat.
  • Khorasan (Often referred to as Kamut): Khorasan is an ancient grain that I like to add for extra flavor and nutrition. It also has a relatively high protein content compared to many ancient grains, which is why it works well in bread when combined with hard red wheat. Azure standard offers a great price on Khorasan.

There are plenty of other grains you can experiment with as well. Some that work well include einkorn, spelt, and soft white wheat. These grains tend to have less gluten, which makes them great for muffins, pancakes, cookies, and other baked goods where structure is less important than in sandwich bread.

What About Hard White Wheat?

The reason I don’t talk about hard white wheat very often is because I simply don’t have much need for it when I’m already using hard red wheat and ancient grains. In my experience, hard red wheat is superior for bread baking. It has better flavor and slightly more protein, which really helps with rise and structure.

The main benefit I personally see with hard white wheat is that it produces a lighter, whiter-looking loaf. Other than that, I tend to reach for hard red wheat instead.

I will say that soft white wheat is fun to keep around for things like cookies and pancakes. It works well as a substitute for a fine pastry flour. I still don’t buy it very often, but when I do, it performs really nicely for those kinds of recipes.

There are so many grains to choose from that it can feel overwhelming to narrow them down. My hope is that these recommendations will help you get started as you figure out what works best for you and what you enjoy using most.

Where Can I Buy Grains?

One of the questions I get most often is where to buy grains.

I often but mine from Bread Beckers, which is a local store here in Georgia. They sell grains in bulk and have a large selection to choose from. However, after researching grain prices a little more I switched over the Azure Standard. Turns out I can get organic grains at a better price, and pick up locations closer to home. Azure offers a wide variety of products including storage options for your grains like large 5 gallon buckets and gamma lids to keep your food safe from rodents and moisture. Use my affiliate link to 👉🏻 try out Azure for yourself.

Azure Standard usually has really good prices if you’re buying grains in larger quantities, and the quality has been great in my experience. Organic grains are always nice if you can find them, but honestly even conventional grains from a good source are still a big step up from the highly processed flour you typically find at the store.

If you don’t have a local grain supplier near you, there are several other options. I also like Grand Teton Ancient Grains, or Great River Organic Milling Company on amazon. I’ve linked several amazon options on my amazon storefront.

How Should I Store My Grains?

Whole grains store really well as long as they are kept dry, sealed, and in a cool space. When protected from moisture and pests, grains can last for years without any issues.

One of the benefits of storing whole grains instead of flour is that they stay fresh much longer. Once grains are milled into flour, the nutrients begin breaking down more quickly, which is why I usually mill just what I need when I’m ready to bake.

If you’re buying grains in bulk, it helps to keep most of them in sealed long term storage and then transfer smaller amounts into kitchen containers for everyday use.

You can find the specific storage containers and equipment I use listed in the equipment section below.

When Should I Mill my Flour?

One of the things I love most about freshly milled flour is just how fresh it is. When you mill the grains yourself, you’re using the flour right at its peak flavor and nutrition.

Once grains are milled into flour, the nutrients start to break down fairly quickly and the flour can eventually go rancid if it sits too long. That’s why I usually try to mill just the amount I need right before baking.

If I ever end up with extra flour, I’ll put it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer so it stays fresh a little longer.

What Equipment should I Use?

You really don’t need a huge setup to start baking with freshly milled flour. I started pretty simply, and over time I’ve just added a few tools that make the process easier and more enjoyable. Below are some of the pieces of equipment that I personally use and love.

Grain Mill

A grain mill is what turns whole grains into flour. The mill I use is called the Harvest Grain Mill, and it has worked great for years. You simply pour the grains into the mill and within a couple minutes you have fresh flour. Most mills allow you to adjust the grind size from coarse to very fine depending on the type of flour you need.

Another option is the Komo mill, which is a bit more of an investment but is also known for its quality and durability.

💡 One little maintenance tip I’ve picked up over time is to occasionally run some white rice through the grain mill. It helps clean the stones and keeps everything running smoothly.

Stand Mixer

I use an Ankarsrum mixer, which works especially well with freshly milled flour. Fresh flour can be a little more delicate because the bran can cut through gluten strands during kneading, so it helps to have a mixer that is a bit gentler on the dough.

The Ankarsrum uses a rolling motion that moves the dough around the bowl and mimics hand kneading, which helps develop gluten without overworking the dough. I’ve found it works really well for larger batches of bread too.

Another popular option for bread baking is the Bosch mixer. Both mixers are great choices if you plan to bake bread regularly and want something that can handle heavier dough.

Kitchen Scale

A good kitchen scale is one of the most helpful tools for bread baking. I use mine constantly when I’m milling flour and mixing dough.

Weighing ingredients keeps your recipes much more consistent, especially when working with freshly milled flour. Since fresh flour can absorb water a little differently depending on the grain and humidity, measuring by weight helps keep everything balanced and repeatable from one batch to the next.

I love this scale because it’s very accurate and easy to use when measuring ingredients for bread baking. It also has a pull out display, which makes it really convenient when you’re weighing ingredients in large bowls.

Storage Containers

You will need large 5 gallon buckets with gamma lids for long term grain storage, as well as smaller airtight containers for keeping grains on the counter near your mill. This makes it easy to access what you need for daily baking while keeping the bulk supply sealed and protected. I love the ones from Azure, but these 5 gallon buckets from Amazon are also a great option.

Look for containers with tight sealing lids and a sturdy build. Glass or high quality BPA free plastic both work well, as long as they seal tightly and keep the grains protected in a cool, dry space.

Ok I am ready! Where should I start?

Once I started milling my own flour, I realized how versatile it really is. I use it for so much more than bread. It works beautifully in muffins, pancakes, waffles, cookies, cakes, and brownies, and soft white wheat is especially great for those kinds of baked goods.

I also love how easily it fits into everyday cooking. On a typical day I might mill flour for sandwich bread, biscuits for dinner, or something simple like muffins or pancakes. It’s become a really natural part of my kitchen routine and adds so much flavor and nutrition to the food we make.

If you’re just getting started, here are a few recipes on my site that work really well with freshly milled flour:

👇🏻 Be sure to check out my YouTube video below where I walk through all my tips for getting started with milling your own flour.

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through one of these links, at no additional cost to you. I only share products I personally use and love.

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