Food Question - Grinding Grain

[twobarkingdogs]

Ok, So I have a grain grinding question maybe someone more experience can help me out with

I have a retsel grain mill I bought over a decade ago which has both stone plates and metal plates. I have used it a few times but honestly I normally just buy flour in the store. The times I have used it I did a single pass with the stone plates decently tighten. I noticed that the flour is not as fine as store bought flour. So my question is how to get store bought flour like flour when grinding from home. Multiple passes or some other trick.

I'm asking because I am going into this virus thing with just 3 bags of flour and I know I am going to need to learn to make bread. Home ground flour for pizza was ok but I know it won't fly for bread.

Also in case it matters I have #10 lds cans of both red and white wheat in storage and several bags of feed store wheat which I've bought in the last month of an unknown type which I have been feeding to the chickens but I might put a stop to that. Naturally I'd like to use the feed store wheat first and save the cans for the future.

Any help or suggestions

Thanks

tbd

 

[summerthyme]

Ok, So I have a grain grinding question maybe someone more experience can help me out with

I have a retsel grain mill I bought over a decade ago which has both stone plates and metal plates. I have used it a few times but honestly I normally just buy flour in the store. The times I have used it I did a single pass with the stone plates decently tighten. I noticed that the flour is not as fine as store bought flour. So my question is how to get store bought flour like flour when grinding from home. Multiple passes or some other trick.

I'm asking because I am going into this virus thing with just 3 bags of flour and I know I am going to need to learn to make bread. Home ground flour for pizza was ok but I know it won't fly for bread.

Also in case it matters I have #10 lds cans of both red and white wheat in storage and several bags of feed store wheat which I've bought in the last month of an unknown type which I have been feeding to the chickens but I might put a stop to that. Naturally I'd like to use the feed store wheat first and save the cans for the future.

Any help or suggestions

Thanks

tbd

It's really tough to get "store bought" flour texture with a hand mill. My electric whisper mill *does* produce that quality, and I think some of the higher end mills might, even by hand.

You can run the first flour through a shifter (or wire mesh strainer)... the fine flour will sift out, the coarser stuff that's left gets run through again. Or, use the flour for baking, and the coarse bits for hot cereal... or to add to whole wheat bread for texture.

Someplace on this board is my post with a very simple, foolproof 100% whole wheat bread recipe. I've got to get busy feeding dogs and cooking supper, but if you can't find it using search, I'll see if I can a bit later.

Oh... actually, home ground flour, coarse bits and all, work very well for bread! Not for fine pastries, but bread is very forgiving.
Summerthyme

 

[Hfcomms]

I've used the stone in mine and run it thru a couple of times. The little husks and stuff are good for roughage anyway.

 

[summerthyme]

Here's my recipe...http://xf.timebomb2000.com/xf/index.php?threads/bread-recipes.512893/post-6387360

There is also a link to the king Arthur flour recipe site... they have tons of recipes, tips and troubleshooting...

Summerthyme

 

[nomifyle]

I only have manual grinders, one for corn and one for wheat. The grain comes out course, but that will be okay with me.

Judy

 

[twobarkingdogs]

Thanks for the suggestions on shifting the flour before making another pass and also for the link to the bread recipe. I have several wire mesh strainers as well has shifting screens which I use for other things that I can repurpose. My mill is electric which makes it easier to use

Previously using home ground flour did not meet with glowing reviews from my friends and family who like myself all grew up and were used to store bought items.

The virus is causing things to be relooked at as we prepare for both riding out the current wave and planning for the next. It was easy to prepare for what is currently going on as the stores have been fully stocked up until recently. However the thinking in my household is that as another wave hits next winter the stores may be still lacking in food inventories and thus it will be harder to acquire supplies to ride out that next wave.

Again thanks for the advice.

tbd