The 3 Best Grains for Milling Your Own Flour | Episode 523

If I had to start my pantry completely over tomorrow, there are only three grains I'd buy for all my baking and cooking. And two of the grains most beginner guides recommend aren't even on my list!

When you first start milling your own flour, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices. Hard red wheat, hard white wheat, soft white wheat, spelt, einkorn, rye... the list goes on!

But after nearly 20 years of grinding my own flour, I've learned you don't need a pantry full of different grains to make delicious homemade bread, cookies, cakes, and pastries.

In today's episode, I'm sharing the three grains I always keep stocked, why I prefer them, and how to choose the right grain for whatever you're baking.

In this episode, we'll cover:

• 🌾 The three grains I'd buy if I were starting from scratch.

• 🍞 The difference between hard and soft wheat, and red and white wheat.

• 🧁 Which grains work best for bread, cookies, cakes, and biscuits.

• 🥖 How fresh-milled flour affects sourdough starters and rising times.

• 💰 The two budget-friendly grains I'd recommend for beginners.

• 🫙 Why storing whole grains makes so much sense for a well-stocked pantry.

Whether you're brand new to fresh-milled flour or you've been grinding your own grains for years, I hope this episode helps simplify your baking and gives you the confidence to get started.

Resources Mentioned

• Different Types of Flour: Which Is Best for Baking? – My complete guide to choosing flour for different baked goods: https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/best-flours-for-baking-flour-guide-101/

• Baking With Fresh-Milled Flour: 6 Tips for Success – Helpful tips for adjusting recipes and getting better baking results: https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/grinding-flour-6-fresh-flour-baking-tips/

• Ancient Grain Einkorn: Health and Baking Guide – Learn how einkorn differs from modern wheat and how to bake with it: https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/ancient-grain-einkorn-baking-guide/

• How to Choose a Grain Mill and Grind Flour at Home – What to know before purchasing a grain mill: https://melissaknorris.com/how-to-choose-a-flour-mill-grind-your-own-whole-wheat-flour/

• Where to Buy Grains in Bulk – My favorite sources for wheat berries, spelt, einkorn, and other grains: https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/where-to-buy-grains-in-bulk/

• Sourdough Baking Tips and Tricks – Tips for working with sourdough and choosing the right flour: https://melissaknorris.com/podcast/sourdough-baking-tips-tricks-for-success/

Ready to start milling your own flour? Shop