Grain Mill Purchase: Five Important Facts

In two previous articles I have discussed important issues to consider when making the decision to purchase a grain mill. There are some other important things I did not cover which need to be covered. The first two articles were published in Ezine Articles: Grain Mill Reviews: How to Find a Grain Mill and Grain Mill Purchase: Three Things to Know.

This article deals with things that are also important and are facts that I believe you should know before making a decision to buy a home grain mill.

1. Electric or Manual Grain Mill? That is a hard one to answer. Here are some considerations. Will you be using it very often? If not, you might want to buy a manual grain mill and save some money. I know people who use it infrequently and are satisfied with a manual grain mill. If you are physically unable to use a manual, then you will want to buy an electric. Some people have an electric and a manual grain grinder as a back up. Normally, the manual system is cheaper, but not always. Some of the home manual grinders can be a bit pricey. But, to sum it up, the cheaper prices tend to be manual and the more expensive models are electric.
2. Ease of Cleaning. You will find that almost all of the grain grinders are easy to clean and rarely need much cleaning at all. Usually, the clean up is the dust from the flour. The only time that it becomes a real issue to clean up is if you try to grind oily or wet items. Then, it can become a real nightmare.
3. Noise Level: Companies usually tell you how many decibels of noise they make. I don't know one decibel from 2 so I'll give you my take on it. They all make some noise unless you muffle the sound with something that will take the noise like memory foam under the grinder or something of that nature. The loudest are not shrill, but they do make noise and over time can become annoying.
4. Motor Size: The amount of use is an important factor when checking the motor size. A smaller motor may work fine, even if a bit slower, if you are an infrequent user. But, if you plan to use it often, you should consider a larger motor for both speed and longevity.
5. Warranty: This is always important to me. I expect things I buy to last forever. I know they will not, but I still expect it to happen. What I really do not like is when something only lasts for a short period of time and the warranty has expired. I look for long warranties because I believe the item must be good or the warranty would not be so long.

Ultimately all of these factors should be considered along with others we have discussed in other articles. It is impossible for me to rate one above the other for you because you are the ultimate judge of what is important to you. These are the factors I find extremely important to me. I hope that you can use this to help you make a decision.

Be sure to check out a good grain mill comparison or grain mill review site before making a final decision. It is an extremely important part of the overall decision process.

Whatever you do, I hope you will make a decision to buy one for your good health.

Grain Grinder Whole Wheat Recipes

Locate some of the tastiest and healthful whole wheat recipes on the web using your home grain grinder.!

Grain Grinder Review / Comparison Chart

Get the lowdown on grain grinders when you check out the information in our review and comparison chart.

Whole Wheat: Is It the Same as Refined Flour?

The flour in most bakery products today is highly refined.  It normally tastes good because it is full of sugar and other ingredients that enhance the taste.  Whole-wheat bread is in the minority on the grocery shelves.  It takes up less than 2% of the bakery shelf space and frequently the only whole-wheat products you find are whole wheat bread, whole grain bread and a few specialty items.

Is there any difference between whole wheat and highly refined bakery goods?  Absolutely there is a difference and it is substantial.  Whole wheat contains endosperm, bran and cereal germ.  Highly refined flour has only the endosperm that is the largest part of the grain but has the least nutrient value.

Most whole grains are a natural source of protein, fiber, iron, vitamin B, Omega 3 and Omega 6.  White flour does not have these natural substances because the bran and germ are removed.  Bakeries add back the nutrients they took away during the milling process because of the law. 

At Healthy Kitchen Plus we teach you how to maximize your health by using the products that can help you achieve you healthy lifestyle goals.  Our Grain Mills and Grain Grinders are the best on the market and at a price you can afford.  Join us and find out how you can benefit from grain mill ownership.

Whole Wheat Bread: From Ancient Times to Today

In the modern grocery store and health food stores you will find long isles of bakery products.  These stores sometimes have in-store bakeries that also carry specialty breads including whole-wheat bread.  If you check carefully you will not find many that are whole-wheat products.  What is whole wheat?  Simply put it is a product with all the natural goodness of wheat.  Whole wheat contains the endosperm, bran and germ.  Most bread is made from the endosperm that helps make the bread light and fluffy but it is the nutrient poor part of the wheat.  Bakeries are required by law to add back the nutrients that are taken out during the milling process.

For over four thousand years man has been grinding grain.  In early times people ate nothing but whole grain.  Today, whole grain is in the minority, and our nation’s health shows some of the results.  Of course, not all of our health concerns can be attributed to the lack of whole grain in our diets, but much of the health problems relate directly to the empty calories of highly milled grain.

The first grain mills were driven by paddle wheels that were attached to a shaft that turned a millstone.  The millstone was on top of a similar sized stone that was stationary.  This method worked well in areas where water ran swiftly.  There were no gears which helped on maintenance, but it was also a disadvantage because there was no consistency in the speed of the mill.  During the Roman Empire, grain mills began to advance in technology.  Because of the advancement of vertical wheels, the Romans were able to produce 2.4 to 3.2 tons per hour.  That was significant in those times even though today it would be considered very small for our population.  In a 1086 census in England, it was found that there were 5624 water-powered flourmills

In the past centuries, the grain mill was a major part of many countries as well as America.  Many grain mills were needed for the farmers who grew various types of wheat and corn.  The grain mill in Americana was often the meeting place for farmers on the weekend as they had their grains ground to flour and meal.

The classic grain mill was designed to be driven by water with some driven by livestock and others driven with slave labor.  These methods lasted until the end of the eighteenth century when Oliver Evans revolutionized the grain mills of the world.  Evans invented, patented and promoted a fully automated grain mill.

Modern mills turn heavy steel or cast iron flat and serrated rollers to separate bran and germ from the endosperm.  The endosperm is used to make white flour. 

The modern flour mills can produce significant amounts of flour, but in the manufacturing process, the goodness of the whole-grain is frequently lost.  Whole-grain products can be found in the grocery store, but it is difficult to find what you are wanting in terms of texture, flavor and cost.

WonderMill Grain Mill

We have progressed to grain grinders used in homes which can produce virtually the same and better quality flour as the modern gristmills.  Modern family grain mills are easy to use, lightweight, adjustable to a special grind, can produce as much or as little as needed, and have a consistent quality.  The home grain mill of today is truly an engineering marvel.

There are ways to avoid the empty calories of highly milled flour.  You can buy bread and variety products at your local grocery stores and health food stores.  You also have the opportunity to own a home grain mill where you are in control.  When you have a home grain mill, you are assured of having the whole grain goodness you want in every bite.

Wolfgang Grain Mill

At Healthy Kitchen Plus, we help you capture that everyday wholesome goodness that you are looking for in Grain Mills & Grain Grinders that can fit your lifestyle and pocket book.  Please give us a look today and find out why a home grain mill is one of the wonders of the world.