Posted: 5/6/2007 11:59:04 AM EDT
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Through the generosity of the Internal Revenue Service, I have finally been able to fund a decent food storage program. To get the most bang for the buck, I've started out with bulk packed wheat. The local supplier (a small bakery run by fellow home schoolers), sells it for a whopping $30 per 45lbs bucket. He also carries a couple different models of grain mills. I asked him which one he would recommend, and he simply pointed towards the back of the bakery where he ground his flour every morning. It was a "Wonder Mill". Now, orthodox survivalist thinking is that you should get a mill that doesn't require electricity. Be that as it may, I have an electrical background and one way or another, I'm going to obtain electricity somehow some way. The generator/deep cycle battery/inverter sitting out in the garage comes immediately to mind..  This thing makes flour fast, like crap through a goose (  ). It is a self-contained unit, in that the flour is deposited directly into the storage container. Another interesting factoid is that this mill doesn't actually grind the wheat. The mill head is spun at a very high RPM, and the wheat is pulverized. One pass through the mill:  <embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://img.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v521/GySgtD/100_2941.flv"> 
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Good pics and post. How long will that container of wheat last you if you use it exclusively for your baking needs? ( I guess it really depends on how much bread ya'll consume!) Also, not being familiar with wheat storage and use, I assume you keep grains sealed and only grind what you'll use - how long does it take from storage pail to enough wheat for baking some bread? Reason I'm asking is: My wife would only go for things that are convenient at this time. There's almost no buy in from her on preps.I could go for this like I do for reloading - its the capability that really counts. One day convenience may be the luxury most lacking. |
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I don't know how long a single 45lb bucket will last us, but I'm guessing for the rest of the year, based upon current consumption of flour for bread and waffles. Am fairly certain that this is not nitrogen packed wheat. It came with an oxygen absorber packet, and that was it. The vendor told me to consume the bucket within one year after opening. How long will non-nitrogen packed bulk wheat store for? Dunno at this point, but I'm fairily certain that it will still be good at least three years from now, assuming that I do not crack the seal. At any rate, the buckets purchased recently will be consumed as part of our normal daily diet. Additional bulk wheat may be purchased nitrogen packed, but I suspect that the shelf life of the non-nitropacked stuff may be more than sufficient for our needs. I ground a total of twelve cups of grain today (producing approximately 20 cups of flour), and it took the mill very little time to complete the task. Didn't have a stop watch, but it was certainly under two minutes. Flour produced during this process should be consumed within 72 hours for best nutrition and taste; assuming that it is to be kept at room temperature. Otherwise, refrigeration/freezing will prolong it. I currently have about twelve cups in the deep freezer. That will probably last me at least a couple weeks, based on my usual flour using habits. I'll post pics of the end result in a few hours. Have got a large loaf of bread in the oven.. |
As promised; this was with four and two-thirds cups of flour: Container added for scale:  Inside:  This was plain wheat bread. This particular recipe: 4.66 cups of flour, 1.75 cups of water, .5 cup of packed brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, 3.5 teaspoons of yeast, and 2 tablespoons of butter. Yes, it was good stuff. Particularly hot out of the oven. The Wonder Mill runs for about $230 |
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How is your grinder holding up? We've killed two of them and won't try it again. Fist had a motor go bad under warantee, then a gear. Second killed the motor. Both broke plastic where the four goes into the bowl. We used to have a very old, large, heavy and slow stone grinder that sucked for day-to-day grinder, but much better in the long term. I'm looking for a new grinder again, still haven't seen one that I like. My old stone grinder is no longer in my possesion, not really sure where it is. |
i believe you but it seems odd that you can take a portion of wheat the is all jumbled together and not at all packed and then pulverize that so that there is very little non used space how does it work that you make 12 into 20? |
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Nice post! thanks! I use a Kitchen Aid grinder attachment on my Kitchen Aid Mixer for everyday use of stored foods, rotation, and have a Golden nugget stone hand grinder, and a cheapy metal China grinder for SHTF. The China grinder won't go very fine, but if you pass it through a few times you can make bread, sort of. The Golden nugget grinds nice, but requires a lot of work, so the Kitchen Aid does the job while the electricity is still on... Also, I have a bucket of wheat I'm working through right now with no packaging of any kind other than a sealed bucket, and it's been fine. The date is nov 11, 2006. If you freeze the stuff for a few days and then seal it, it should last forever. |
You could try Walton Feed. Personally, I buy the glass jars with metal tops on sale, and stuff them in my freezer with dates on the lid. I also note that if you proof your yeast, you need perhaps 1/3rd to 1/2 as much for bread - experiment yourself, but yeast is a very significant part of the cost of bread when bought at the grocery store as I do. I also like knowing I can do more with less. |
Keep it cool and unopened and it will last. I keep mine in the refrigerator. Just in case you run low on yeast: www.geocities.com/nursehealer/NL0002.pdf
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I am not the most qualified to say but...My father in law was visiting a few weeks ago and he always bakes much bread while he is here. He is a pastry chef and he had us get more yeast because he would not use the stuff that was in the freezer. I forget exactly the reason. |