The Fresh Loaf

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Help deciding on grainmill

wunderlong88's picture
wunderlong88

Help deciding on grainmill

I am interested in purchasing my first grain mill.  I've done some research and really need some help from you who have actually experienced using these various mills.  I have a lot of reasons for wanting one and not sure one will check all of the boxes.  I may need 2! LOL

I want a handmill for power outages (we have a lot) and in case that gets worse.  I also would enjoy (I think) using one for smaller amounts of grain.  I already know that it will take too long and be too much work for larger amounts of grain so I know I would want to have an electric option.

I of course want to be able to do soft and hard wheat and dry grains. I want to be able to get close to pastry flour fine (as you can with whole wheat)  It would be nice be able to do dry herbs/roots occasionally. I don't need these to be powder necessarily, just roughly chopped if I can turn into powder that would be a bonus.  I have dried astragulus root that I have trouble even chopping in my Cuisnart food processor. I don't know if any grainmill could coursely chop it or not.  Other herbs I need to do are not as hard and could be done in my food processor if a grainmill can't do them.

I'm not really looking to do peanut butter but I might like doing flaxseed.  This would be an added bonus but isn't necessary.

I've considered Grainmaker with motor (just too much money), Wonder Deluxe Jr. with motorizing kit (like this for it's compact fit on the counter).  But after thinking about it if I motorize it it makes it would have to be disassembled to use the hand crank.  

I've started looking at Komo.  How is there handcrank model? I see it has a motor available.  Although I'm not sure I would prefer getting a handcrank (Komo or Wonder Deluxe Jr) and also one of the Komo electric models instead of trying to make a handcrank one electric.

I've determined the difference in Komo Fidibus line (classic maybe?) and the Mio?

I can't find much about Komo handcrank (reviews or videos)

Thanks,

 

Linda

 

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

First,  if you decide to go with a hand mill,  I can't help.  I have owned a number of different mills, but they are all powered.  

Second, I suggest you reconsider the hand powered mill.  I have read others that suggest that they need a non electric model because power goes out .  While some here mill just enough to bake that day,  others mill a large amount at one time, then store the excess in the fridge or freezer.  So unless power went out for a week,  I would still be able to bake with home milled wheat.    Note that I keep it in the freezer in case it will be a long time before I use it,  if you are using it frequently, I doubt there would be a problem keeping it out of the fridge or freezer for a few days.  Of course, if you have no power, you couldn't keep it refrigerated very long anyway.

My main reason to suggest that you consider powered is that users who have used hand operated mills have said that it takes a lot of energy -  and I suspect that will get old real quick, even if you are only milling small amounts at a time.   

justkeepswimming's picture
justkeepswimming

but only very rarely use the hand crank one. Ours is an older version of this one. And yup, I don't use it because it takes too much a) futzing to set up, mill, clean, and put away, and b) it's more work than I want to do. That said, I do pull it out on occasion. It does a great job at making steel cut oats (or whatever). Not sure if something like this would fit your needs? It's not very big, but it certainly did the job until I figured out what I wanted. There are only 2 of us, and generally I only bake 1 loaf at a time (usually use 450-500 gm flour each). 

My electric mill is a Mockmill 200, which I use quite often. It has earned a coveted piece of real estate on our limited counter space. It does a really great job milling whatever I need it to. 

Best wishes for whatever you decide!

Mary

alcophile's picture
alcophile

Mary,

How well do you think the hand crank mill in your link would make fine, medium, and coarse rye meal? With NYBakers ceasing retail sales, I am looking for a source of rye meals. I may have to resort to milling them myself.

Some of the reviews on Amazon complain about metal chips in the flour. Have you noticed any such contamination with the mill?

 

justkeepswimming's picture
justkeepswimming

Mine is an older model, and I have never had that issue. Rather than getting a potentially lower quality one from Amazon, you might look elsewhere? I suspect some of the Amazon ones are the equivalent of buying tools at Harbor Freight, lol. Hubby considers those as "disposable tools". 

I haven't done much with rye, but also wondered if it would be useful for coarse milling rye chops. I may pull it out and do a handful as an experiment.