Milling your own flour at home is a rewarding way to enhance the flavor, nutrition, and freshness of your baked goods. Whether you're baking rustic sourdough loaves, tender pastries, or gluten-free treats, choosing the right grain is key. I am working on a multipart series to run through the most popular grains and where to buy, starting with the 3 most popular wheat berries used in baking.
Popular Wheat Berries for Home Milling- Top 3 most common
- Hard Red Wheat
- Best for: Hearty yeast breads and artisan loaves including sourdough
- Why: High protein content (~12–14%) provides strong gluten structure, resulting in chewy, flavorful bread
- Flavor: Rich, nutty, and robust. Many people also say this is bitter and not the best tasting flavor, so be aware, especially if you are new to milling grains, this flavor will be hard to adjust to.
- Hard White Wheat
- Best for: Sandwich bread, rolls, and pizza dough & artisan breads including sourdough or yeast breads
- Why: Similar protein to hard red but with a milder flavor and lighter color, making it versatile for various baked goods.
- Flavor: Mild wheat flavor, much more mild than hard red, and a great grain to start with.
- Soft White Wheat
- Best for: Pastries, cookies, muffins, and pancakes.
- Why: Lower protein (~9%) yields tender, delicate textures ideal for non-yeast baked goods.
- Flavor: Light wheat flavor, very comparable to all purpose flour when milled fine and correctly (but remember, this cannot be used for things like yeast bread and sourdough).
Trusted Grain Suppliers
- The Farmer’s Storehouse (my favorite)
- Overview: A cooperative of over 100 organic farmers offering a variety of grains and flours.
- Pros: High-quality, organic products with a focus on traditional farming practices.
- Cons: Shipping timelines are slower (compared to amazon), and can be more expensive
- Website: Farmers' Storehouse - Organic Co-Op, Flour Mill & Bakery
- Country Life Natural Foods:
- Overview: Offers a wide selection of bulk natural foods, including grains and flours.
- Pros: Affordable bulk options, organic products, and nationwide shipping.
- Cons: Shipping costs can add up for smaller orders.
- Website: countrylifefoods.com
- Azure Standard
- Overview: Provides a vast selection of organic and non-GMO products, including grains.
- Pros: Cheaper than other places
- Cons: Can be hard to coordinate the pick ups, sometimes the grain is very dirty
- Website: Azure Standard - Azure Standard
- Amazon
- Overview: Amazon has some options, and can be good if you need a quick delivery, but there are some concerns too.
- Pros: quick delivery, affordable options, people enjoy the options and have had good experiences with purchasing grains off Amazon.
- Cons: unsure about how the grains are stored in the warehouse and how long (could lead to weevil issues but unknown), and some brands are not certified organic
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