I need help! I've spent the last forever, along with Avram, on the Internet reading review after review for electric grain mills. I'm wavering between the Wondermill and the Nutrimill. They are the same in many respects, but the Wondermill, some claim, can do finer flour than the Nutrimill, and therefore is better for pastry making (read; desserts). Nutrimill can do coarser flour, so cornmeal. Nutrimill costs ten dollars more than the Wondermill. Nutrimill seems to have a better warranty, although I haven't actually seen either warranty written out. Nutrimill takes up less space. Wondermill has less flour that puffs out into the air (although Nutrimill doesn't have much). Wondermill cannot be turned off in the middle of a batch of grinding, but Nutrimill can. Nutrimill can grind more at a time, but since I only need what I use immediately, this doesn't really help me.
The more I read, the more indecisive I become. Surely someone among my readers owns one (or both?) of these mills. Which one would you recommend?
I currently make all our own bread, 100% whole wheat, with a blend of hard white and hard red wheat - about two batches a week. I would like to branch out into buying soft wheat for better quick breads, like biscuits, as well as whole wheat desserts that will be AMAZING and everyone will love, and will never guess was whole wheat. Also we make homemade pizza, could do homemade pasta if I ever figure out how to not have to knead the dough by hand (do kitchen aids make pasta dough, or is it too tough?), and homemade lots of desserts. I want to be able to do courser grains so I can make homeground cornbread as well.
Ok, so now I sound like a granola nut, but I like to grind my own wheat. I think it tastes better, is a great way to rotate food storage (and learn to like all the whole grains stored in food storage), and is healthier because of the freshness - ie no lost nutrients (compared to store bought whole wheat flour, since most of the nutrients are lost within 72 hours of grinding).
Can someone just tell me which one to order? We'll call it a giveaway - of my choices. Whoever convinces me to buy one, just got my agency in that choice. (I know, real tempting, huh?) Thanks in advance.
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Peppermint Bark Fudge
5 days ago
i have no idea but when you decide i will get the same one since it must be good! and then i want you to start a section of your blog for your recipies. specifically and starting with you roll and bread one!
ReplyDeleteThis is Beth's mom. You go girl, making your own bread on a regular basis!!
ReplyDeleteI have a Kitchen Mill, and, as you probably know, it's noisy and tends to "bless" the whole room with flour. I honestly don't know much about the Nutrimill, but I have thought for a long time that if I were getting another grain mill it would be the WonderMill. It looks like the capacity is good, you can grind a variety of grains, and it's easier to clean than my current one.
This site tends to get pretty good prices for most of the stuff they sell:
http://www.ldfr.com/catalog/product/0108801?-session=store:4A0566750a4e122F05knlr744205
(They didn't pay me to say this. They hardly know me. I just buy stuff from them every so often.)
About pasta, I have made pasta quite a bit. I have a pasta machine, which just rolls it out and cuts it. It's not hard, but you need to let the Kitchenaid do its thing (I'm assuming you have one??) and then roll it flat, fold it over, roll it out again a couple of times.
My sister taught me this bit: If you don't have a pasta machine, roll the dough out flat yet again, making sure there is some flour on it (just enough not to stick), then roll it up like a jelly roll and cut it into little slices. Unroll the slices and stretch them out a bit so they will be thinner. You can boil these right away (in salted water or soup broth) or drape them on something (I'm sure you can be creative about this) and let them dry for later.
Your blog is always entertaining.
Cheers!
OK, now I feel stupid. The price on LDFR is the same as the price on Emergency Essentials.
ReplyDeleteI still think I'd go with the Wonder Mill. It's nice to be able to grind the greater variety of beans and grains.
Thanks for the advice, Beth's mom! I'm glad someone could help me!
ReplyDeleteI'm Ashley's sister, and I am a blog-stalker. I have the Nutrimill and I love it! It grinds it very fine and does an excellent job with a lot of wheat. I haven't yet tried corn or anything besides wheat, but I am VERY happy with my Nutrimill. I don't know how it compares with the Wondermill, but . . . there's my $.02.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Camilla, so no pressure, but you will not be making a decision for yourself alone. I make all our bread/rolls/buns, but I usually make part wheat, because Todd doesn't like whole wheat. And I can never get whole wheat to rise properly, it always ends up looking like a brick. And I agree about fresh ground being better all around. So hurry and decide, so I can copy you, and then add something else we can't really afford to the list of "needs."
ReplyDeleteI asked my friend Pam about the grain mill question. She has an older model that is no longer made. But she came down in favor of the Nutrimill because it's easier to slide the hopper out, accessing the ground flour. And she was concerned about a one inch connecting hose that the flour goes through in the Wondermill, worrying that it might get clogged. But there are plenty of people who have had that one for years and not a speck of trouble.
ReplyDeleteSo it looks like you can't really go that far wrong with either one. This is a good time to buy, though because several sites are having Mother's Day sales. Too bad. I was hoping for a toilet plunger. Or a toaster. Pair of socks?