Welcome to Lovely Bell Bakes! If you’re new to baking with fresh milled flour, you’re in the right place. Fresh milled flour offers unparalleled taste and nutrition, and I’m here to guide you through the basics to getting started with fresh milled flour.
Why mill your own flour?
Nutritional Benefits: Fresh milled flour is a powerhouse of nutrition. It contains 40 of the 44 essential nutrients our bodies need daily, making it a superior choice for your baking. These nutrients include:
- Vitamins: B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate), vitamin E, and vitamin K.
- Minerals: Iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and selenium.
- Fiber: Whole grains are rich in dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and helps maintain a healthy weight.
- Antioxidants: Compounds that help protect your cells from damage.
- Healthy Fats: The germ of the grain contains essential fatty acids that are beneficial for heart health.
Flavor: The flavor of freshly milled flour is richer and more complex, enhancing the taste of your baked goods. The oils in the germ, which are often removed in store-bought flour, add a distinct and delightful nutty flavor to your bread and pastries.
Texture: Baked goods made with fresh milled flour have a superior texture, often described as more tender and moist. This is because fresh milled flour retains the natural oils and bran, giving your baked goods a wholesome and satisfying mouthfeel.
Equipment needed for whole grain baking
Invest in a quality grain mill There are some cheap options that may look tempting but trust me, it will only cause frustration and tempt you to throw in the towel prematurely.
Here are my grain mill recommendations for beginners to seasoned bakers. For the sake of simplicity, I’m keeping it short.
- Nutrimill Classic the NutriMill Classic Grain Mill is an efficient and powerful impact mill, perfect for home bakers. It can grind up to 20 cups of flour quickly, with adjustable coarseness settings for versatile baking. Durable and easy to use, it preserves essential nutrients in your grains, making it an invaluable tool for fresh milled flour enthusiasts.
- Nutrimill Harvest is a stone mill that offers adjustable coarseness settings and a sleek, compact design, making it a stylish and efficient addition to any kitchen.
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Invest in a quality mixer
While a mixer is not required, it is EXTREMELY helpful in achieving your desired baked goods.
Here are my mixer recommendations for whole grain dough. Again, let’s keep it simple. The goal here is to have a quality mixer to help feed your family nourishing baked goods, not to overwhelm you with options.
- Bosch Universal is a workhorse built to stand the test of time. Great for batches of 2-7 loaves. Use code LOVELYBELLBAKES20 to save $20
- Nutrimill Artiste is very similar to the Bosch. Built almost identical, but great for batches of 1-4 loaves. Use code LOVELYBELLBAKES20 to save $20
- Zacme 8qt Mixer is great if you’re looking for a KitchenAid style mixer with a stainless-steel bowl. This mixer is almost completely silent and holds up well with 1-4 loaves.
*This page contains affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links or promo codes, at no cost to you. Rest assured, I only recommend products that I genuinely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Lovely Bell Bakes!
Choosing the right grain for getting started with fresh milled flour
Bread This includes cinnamon rolls, rolls, sandwich bread etc. Use hard red or hard white wheat. Hard white wheat will give you a light-colored bread. Hard red will produce a darker bread.
Pasta Choose durum, kamut/khorasan, or hard white wheat.
Cake For cakes, waffles, pancales, biscuitd etc, use soft white or soft red wheat.
My favorite place for quality affordable organic grain is Azure Standard. For quality grain that ships quickly, try Palouse. Use code LOVELYBELLBAKES to save 5% on a purchase of $75 or more.
Adapting recipes for fresh milled flour
Hydration: Fresh milled flour absorbs more liquid, so you may need to adjust the amount of water or other liquids in your recipes. You’ll typically need 5-10% more liquid with fresh milled flour.
Fermentation Time: Dough made with fresh milled flour may ferment faster, so keep an eye on your dough during the rising stages.
Experimentation: Start with small adjustments and keep notes on how different flours and hydration levels affect your baked goods.
Essential recipes to get started
Everyday sandwich bread recipe
Dinner roll recipe
Pizza dough recipe
What next?
Baking with fresh milled flour can seem daunting at first, but with a little practice, you’ll find it rewarding and delicious. At Lovely Bell Bakes, I’m here to support you every step of the way. For a free download with more recipes and information to get you started, visit Dr. Mel’s website here…Home – Just Mill It Happy baking!
Join the Community:
Connect with other bakers who use fresh milled flour. Share your experiences, ask questions, and learn from others. Join my fresh milled flour baking group on Facebook.
