Subscribe To This Site
Fresh Milled Flour Versus Shelved Whole Wheat FlourFresh milled flour from the entire wheat grain is different from store bought whole wheat flour. Below is a great question I received along with my answer.  QUESTION: "I buy whole wheat flour that has 4-6 month using time. The sellers don't keep them in the refrigerator. So is that flour really whole wheat flour or germ-removed whole wheat flour? I really have doubts. It never smells bad when three months pass. But I've read that whole wheat flour goes rancid after 1 or 2 months. How can I identify REAL whole wheat flour? Should I buy some wheat kernel and mill them on my own?" ANSWER: Great question. You are right. Fresh milled flour does go bad and certainly before 4-6 months. Flour from fresh ground wheat has a short shelf life. Given the fact that whole wheat flour goes bad because of the oils in the wheat germ, the whole wheat companies usually process the wheat in some way to extend its shelf life. Now let's say you find a company whose flour is labeled as having a very short shelf life, well maybe it really is flour from the 100% whole grain with no filtering out of the perishable and nutritional parts of the grain. But you still will not know how long that flour has been sitting in storage before it made it to the store shelves. Most likely the oils are rancid along with there being a great loss of nutrition. As more time lapses from when the whole wheat grains are ground, more valuable nutrition is lost. Maybe the ingredients list on the wheat flour package would help explain more about the whole wheat flour product. You can try calling the Whole Wheat Flour Company and speaking to their customer service. You can mention how you know that whole wheat flour does go rancid and you would like to know if they process the flour in some way to extend its shelf life. Ask them if it is made from entire whole wheat grains with none of their parts taken out. Most likely the company will reply "that is proprietary information." In other words, that information is under lock and key not to be revealed to the consumer. They have a patent on that information and most likely do not want to share their exact processing methods. Maybe they have extracted or stripped the oils from the wheat. They have the technology to remove all the nutritional parts of the wheat flour and just leave behind the white flour. Here is a chart showing the interesting parts of this wheat grain wonder and its life cycle. Perhaps they have taken out some of the more perishable parts of the grain. They could be removing most of the bran and middlings too and just putting enough back in to be able to call it whole wheat flour. To learn the differences in nutrition between fresh milled flour and white flour, please click here. Also, perhaps these companies that sell whole wheat flour are adding some preservatives. The company should disclose that to you. I believe the organic whole wheat flour companies don't use the preservatives. I always buy organic wheat grains or as close to that label as possible. I also sprout and grow my own wheatgrass from these very same grains. When I see these grains are sprouting beautifully, I feel even better about the health of the actual wheat seed I have purchased. Each whole wheat flour milling company can be different in their approach to producing their wheat flour. Once again, if the flour has been sitting on the store shelves or in storage for awhile, it is no longer fresh milled flour. Stay smart and keep asking questions. I have a dream that one day "real whole foods" will once again be the main part of our diets. Why Does My Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Taste Bitter? Many people wonder, "Why does my homemade whole wheat bread taste bitter?" Well, the rancid oil in the shelved whole wheat flour can cause this bitter taste. This taste will negatively impact those foods you prepare with it. Never mind the fact that we all know how bad rancid oils are to our health. Whole wheat bread made from fresh milled flour tastes very different than when made with whole wheat flour from the store that has been sitting on the shelves. Flour from whole grains is light and fluffy. It has no bitter taste at all. Soaking this fresh milled flour leads to nutrition enhancement, phytic acid break down, delightful texture and the scrumptious taste of your homemade bread. Sprouted grain bread and soaked flour bread are equally nourishing and delicious.  To learn how to make a fantastic tasting homemade bread using soaked fresh milled flour, please click here. There is no substitute for fresh milled grain from organic grain, and baking your own awesome tasting bread. The flavor is unlike any bread you have ever bought in your life. I would certainly love to see more bakeries selling the "real thing" with 100% whole wheat fresh milled flour. I would definitely invest in a grain grinder eventually, or borrow a friends. It is such a fantastic appliance that produces nutritious fresh milled flour. I think the Nutrimill Grain Mill is the best grain grinder on the market. I love mine! Here are the Top Ten reasons you'll immensely enjoy your Nutrimill Grain Grinder. Following are the bread making appliances I use to make homemade bread from whole grain fresh milled flour... 
I would definitely invest in a grain grinder eventually, or borrow a friends. It is such a fantastic appliance that produces nutritious fresh milled flour. I think the L'Equip 760200 Nutrimill Grain Mill  I also love my Bosch Universal Mixer. I have owned it for several years. If you choose a Bosch, I think you will fall in love with your bread making machine too. They have now come out with a new and improved version, though I thought my older Classic model was wonderful and I never had any problems with it. It is the bread making machine I use for my homemade bread. Do choose the bread machine that is right for your needs and your budget. You will never go wrong if you choose the highly reputable Bosch bread mixer, though. This new version, the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer with Blender Model: MUM6N11UC
Do remember to order your Bosch Cookie Paddles, set of 2 The new Bosch Universal Plus Mixer accepts all Bosch Universal Mixer accessories.
I hope this fresh milled flour and bread making information helps you a bit. Return to Health Banquet Healthy Living Tips Home PageBack to Introductory Whole Wheat Flour Components Page Go to Amazon Homemade Bread Making Appliances Store Go to Delicious Homemade Bread Recipe Made With Whole Wheat Soaked Flour
 |
at Amazon is the best grain grinder on the market. It is a very wise purchase and I absolutely love mine!
, comes with more power, more features and a different design. A member of the Porsche design team collaborated with Bosch on this stylish new look. 
, if you choose the Bosch mixer and find yourself wanting to make cookies. These cookie paddles fit the older Classic Bosch Universal Mixer and the new Bosch Universal Plus Mixer. If you want to mix up your cookie dough with your Bosch mixer, then definitely get these cookie paddles.
|
, or access Amazon through any of our Amazon.com links and order any desired item of your choice, then HealthBanquet.com will receive a small commission. Amazon.com transaction must be completed within 24 hours, from click to purchase, for HealthBanquet.com to receive credit.