If you’re looking into milling your own flour, it can feel like there’s a lot to figure out at the beginning …or at least that’s how it felt to me.
I started milling my own flour because of the nutritional difference (see → Fresh Milled Flour Benefits). Fresh milled flour actually gives your body something, while most store-bought bread doesn’t offer much nutritionally – it is often neutral at best, if not a detriment. Once I realized that, it felt worth figuring out how to make fresh milled bread.
At first it felt overwhelming to choose a grain mill, figure out wheat berries (see → What Are Wheat Berries?), and find recipes that worked with fresh flour (see → How to Bake with Whole Wheat Flour).
The good news is, you don’t need to know much to get started.
You Don’t Need to Know That Much to Start
There’s a lot you can learn about fresh milled flour, but not much you need to know right away.
The simplest way to think about it is:
- Yeast → hard wheat
- Baking powder or baking soda → soft wheat
That’s enough to get started.
What You Actually Need
At its core, you only need three things:
- a grain mill
- wheat berries
- a loaf pan
You can figure out the rest as you go.
If you’re deciding which grain mill to get, I walk through the options in my guide to choosing the best grain mill for home use.
Helpful but not required:
- stand mixer
- thermometer
How to Choose a Grain Mill (Keep It Simple)
It’s easy to get stuck comparing options. I’d keep it simple:
- Set your budget
- Choose what fits your space (countertop or store after use)
- If you still have multiple options, pick the one you like aesthetically
Then buy it and get on to the good part – making bread.
The Simplest Way to Understand Wheat
Wheat berries can feel complicated at first, but they don’t need to be.
Just remember:
- Hard wheat → bread with yeast
- Soft wheat → pancakes, muffins, cookies, quick breads with baking soda or powder
If you want a full breakdown of the different types of grain and how to use them, I have a simple guide to the best wheat berries for baking (see → Hard vs Soft Wheat).
Start with One Recipe
Start with one recipe and make it five times.
It’s tempting to try a bunch of different recipes, but sticking with one helps you:
- understand how fresh milled flour behaves (see → Hydration Explained)
- get consistent results
- build confidence quickly
Once you’ve made something five times, you know what it’s supposed to look and feel like.
What to Make First
The best place to start is a simple, reliable recipe.
A 100% whole wheat sandwich bread is a great first recipe because:
- it uses a lot of flour
- it helps you get into a rhythm of making bread
- it’s forgiving
Start here → 100% Whole Wheat Bread Recipe (Fresh Milled Flour, Soft Sandwich Loaf)
Pancakes are another great option because:
- they’re quick
- they’re very forgiving
- they help you get used to how fresh milled flour behaves
Or start here → Whole Wheat Pancake Recipe (Fresh Milled Flour)
Pick one and make it 5 times.
What I Overcomplicated at First
You really don’t need to learn much to get started. There’s a lot of information out there, but most of it isn’t necessary, especially at the beginning.
When I started milling grain, I tried to learn everything at once. There are so many different grains that are popular – einkorn, spelt, kamut – and it can feel like you need to understand all of them before starting.
You don’t. Those are great to explore later, but they’re not where you should begin (see → Hard vs Soft Wheat before exploring other grains).
Where to Go Next
If you’re ready to start, here are the next steps:
- Choose a grain mill that fits your budget and space → Best Grain Mill for Home Use
- Buy a 5lb bag of hard white wheat berries
- Pick one simple bread recipe and make it 5 times → 100% Whole Wheat Bread Recipe (Fresh Milled Flour, Soft Sandwich Loaf)
And if you want to understand why fresh milled flour is so different nutritionally, you can read more about that here → Fresh Milled Flour Benefits.