A complete guide to purchasing the best flour mill, with all its advantages and main aspects.
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The Complete Guide to help you choose the Best Flour Mill
by the Real Experts of Kitchen Equipment
1. Introduction
Nowadays, it is becoming more and more difficult to accurately trace the origin and the whole processing that food undergoes before it reaches our tables. Food adulteration is a process that involves all kinds of food, including even the most basic ingredients of our cuisine. As a result, the white flour sold in supermarkets, but also the flour used in industry, is often of inferior quality due to various factors:
- the large grinders of industrial mills and intensive processing overheat the flour, depriving it of its main nutrients.
- the bran and wheat germ are removed, and only the endosperm is milled to give the flour its typical white colour and to prevent oxidation.
- after milling, chemicals such as chlorine are added to the flour to increase the bleaching effect and ensure a long shelf life.
Many people, driven by a desire to rediscover healthier foods, are deciding to buy products made from wholemeal flour. However, in most cases the most commercially available wholemeal flour is the result of misrepresentations: simply mixing ground bran with ordinary white flour produces a mixture with a mineral content that is legally classified as wholemeal flour.
If you wish to have an healthy and nutritious flour, there is no better and more cost-effective solution than to produce this valuable ingredient yourself, using a flour mill.
2. What is a domestic flour mill?
Owning a flour mill offers a number of benefits. First and foremost, it is a space-saving machine that can grind a large number of hard and soft seeds, as well as spices, pulses and coffee. Above all, being able to produce wholemeal flour while retaining full control over the origin of the grain and the milling process, brings a whole range of advantages for oneself and the environment.
3.1 Personal benefits and convenience
- Milling your own flour at home will allow you to make bread, pizza and cakes using a final product rich in fibre, vitamins, antioxidants and very low in sugar.
- It will be possible to recover traditional flavours, giving new life to genuine products that can not be reproduced industrially.
- By buying cereals from trusted producers, not only will you contribute to the reduction of supply chains, but you will always be aware of the origin of the raw material and its cultivation methods. In addition, getting “zero mile” cereals can bring considerable economic benefits.
- The possibility of grinding the exact amount of flour you need with your own mill will ensure that it is always fresh and does not get wasted.
- A tool capable of processing such a variety of grains will give you the possibility to prepare your own food by mixing different flours according to your taste.
3.2 What types of flour can be made?
With the exception of oil seeds such as flax, poppy or sesame, there are no particular limits to the possibilities offered by a flour mill. Starting with the more classic barley, spelt and durum wheat seeds, this tool will perfectly grind maize, amaranth, oats, rice and buckwheat, as well as pulses such as chickpeas, broad beans and peas. For those who like to try special flours, the mill can also produce kamut, quinoa and spelt flour.
4. Manual or electric operation
The different mode of operation of the flour mill grinders primarily affects its yield. The output of a flour mill is its production capacity in relation to the processing time. Obviously, manual flour mills have a lower output. In fact, they are the less expensive models in the category, given the absence of any type of motor. By turning the traditional crank at a constant speed according to the desired degree of fineness, small quantities of flour can be produced easily and efficiently.
Electric mills, on the other hand, offer a yield that is proportional to the power of the motor fitted to the machine. The choice between the two operating modes therefore depends solely on your needs.
In addition, as already mentioned, electric mills generally have a power controller, which can be activated by simply rotating the flour mill hopper. This mechanism adjusts the speed at which the grinders move and thus the degree of fineness of the flour. However, it is important to be aware that too extensive a use of electric flour mills in the preparation of ultra-fine grain flour risks damaging the grinders due to the excessive friction with which they are forced to work.
5. Two different types of grinders
Flour mills can mount both traditional stone grinders and the more modern and innovative stainless steel grinders.
5.1 Stone grinders
Electric mills, on the other hand, mount grinders in ceramic, more suitable to withstand prolonged use over time. The grinders are made by mixing the minerals, pressing them and finally cooking them at high temperatures. It should be noted that this process involves all-natural elements to make the grinders suitable for contact with food.
5.2 Stainless steel grinders
6. Different types of machine body
6.1 Plastic body
Plastic flour mills, with their simplicity of construction and attractive design, are an ideal solution for anyone wishing to have a domestic tool at an affordable price.
Made of arboblend bioplastic or lignin and cellulose fibre, these mills prove to be surprisingly stable and resistant over time, better than any artificial plastic. The natural origin of the construction materials makes these mills suitable for contact with the grains to be processed, without causing any health risk.
6.2 Wooden body
The pleasantly vintage look given by the wooden housing makes flour mills suitable for any type of kitchen style. A machine body made of wood – usually beechwood or birch – becomes even more valuable given that the components are made and finished by hand and then treated with organic vegetable oils.
The wooden flour mill is therefore the most popular and appreciated by anyone who wishes to start making their own flour, also thanks to its ease of cleaning: it is sufficient to unscrew the hopper and use a damp cloth on the inside of the machine.
6.3 Wood and stainless steel body
The uniqueness of flour mills built with this type of housing lies in the combination of the proven stability and durability of solid wood with the strength of stainless steel. Tradition and modernity come together to create an electric mill for domestic use, but with optimum performance and a long service life.
6.4 Metal body
The metal body is usually only found on heavy-duty flour mills. The high quality of the housing grants this product category an unmatched durability and performance level. These features, combined with stainless steel grinders and a servo-ventilated motor, make flour mills with metal body an obvious choice for any milling operation that requires an intensive and prolonged grinding rhythm over the years.
7. Electric motor
The production per minute of a flour mill, i.e. its production capacity in relation to processing time, depends primarily on the presence or absence of an electric motor to rotate the grinders. While manual flour mills offer a rather low output, for continuous grinding of large quantities of cereals, it is advisable to use a motor-powered flour mill.
An electric grain mill can produce between 100 and 500 grams of flour per minute. Obviously, the desired grain size will also influence the processing time.
Generally speaking, a low power flour mill usually comes with a motor of between 140 W and 250 W. The motor of an electric mill of medium power can be between 360 W and 600 W. The most powerful flour mills, on the other hand, can be fitted with electric motors of up to W.
8. Flaker mills
Available on the market in both manual and electric models, flaker mills, on the other hand, give the possibility to quickly produce flakes when needed, ready to eat and intact in both quality and nutritional properties.
The operating principle of these small tools – which can be made of wood and steel or wood and aluminium – is very similar to that of flour mills. So whether it a hand crank flaker mill or an electric flaker mill, the steel grinders they are fitted with will turn any cereal or spice into flakes.
8.1 Flour mills with flaker
9. The grain grinder
10. Major brands
Before proceeding with the purchase of a flour mill, it is advisable to move towards the most professional and well-known brands in the world of kitchen machinery. Choosing a reliable manufacturer provides the user with the certainty of a safe and efficient machine to carry out work in a smooth and trouble-free manner.
Milling can be traced way back to medieval times as a means through which societies ground grain. Except for technological advancements and mechanization, the concept of reducing friend grains to flour has remained. While milling minimizes the size of grains into minute granules, it can further be categorized according to the method of grinding and the flour produced. Read on for more information on this.
Table of Contents
Demand and market share for flour mills
Key tips to consider when buying a flour mill
Types of flour mills
The target market for flour mills
Conclusion
Demand and market share for flour mills
Flour is one of the most consumed meals across the globe. As of , its market share has been US$ 160.66 billion. The enormous population growth globally has ensured a steady increase in the demand for flour mills. In addition to this is an increase in per capita income. The change from traditional life to a modern lifestyle has also contributed to this growth. Improvement of flour mill products such as adding supplementary ingredients in favor of consumers has ensured a vast number of consumers are reached by a wide variety of products.
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Key tips to consider when buying a flour mill
Before a business considers any flour mill, some factors could help make a good choice. Here are six factors to guide this selection:
Equipment design and efficiency
The output per hour of the flour mill, speed of the motor, and operation design directly input the cost of milling per hour. It is an excellent consideration to have the average price of milling based on the needs of the business before embarking on designing the flour mill.
Cost
A flour mill that produces 10 tons a day costs US$ , while one that produces 30 tons may cost US$ 37,500. The cost of a flour mill also incorporates its maintenance, availability of spare parts, the type of breakdown to be anticipated, and the availability of personnel to repair it. All these should be put into consideration before a business makes a purchase.
Applicable material
The impact and stone burr grain mills are suited for hard, dry grains, while the steel burr grain mill will mill wet and oily grains. Before determining the mill to purchase, a business should consider which material they’ll grind.
The quality of the flour milled
Determining the milling process, the quality of flour expected and how waste is to be handled is helpful for a business to establish before purchasing. The quality of the flour then helps determine the suitable flour mill.
The capacity of the flour milling machine
The capacity of the flour milling machine is determined by the available storage size of the flour mill. Businesses should build the plant and select the flour mill that suits their size.
Milling speed
The purpose of the flour mill will determine this. An electric mill can produce over 80 tons per day. This is not suitable for a mill to be used for domestic purposes. Businesses with several tons to be milled in a day can opt for electric mills.
Application
Flour mills are compatible with different materials to be ground. Some flour mills are suitable for maize, others for wheat flour, and others are good for cassava milling. Businesses should determine the product to be ground before purchasing a milling machine.
Types of flour mills
There are several flour mills from which businesses can choose to purchase. They’re outlined below:
Impact grain mills
Impact grain mills use impact to grind grain. They are relatively common and easy to operate.
Features:
- They have a milling chamber with concentric rings and steel fins.
- They are suitable for dry grains and beans.
- They produce a wide range of flours, from coarse to finer flours.
Pros:
- They have a relatively low cost and are easy to maintain.
- They are easy to operate.
- They produce reasonably fine flour.
Cons:
- They are loud when in operation.
- They only offer an electric version (no mechanical/manual model).
- They are not suitable to grind wet and oily grains.
Steel burr grain mills
The steel burr grain mills use two steel plates that face each other. The bottom plate is fixed while the top plate moves around. The grains are placed in between the plates for grinding.
Features:
- They turn at low RPMs.
- They are adjustable in the type of flour that they produce.
Pros:
- They can grind wet and oily grains.
- They provide ultra fine-textured flour and cracked grain.
- They are quiet when in operation.
- They have manual and electric alternatives.
Cons:
- They are costly to acquire and maintain.
Stone burr grain mills
The stone burr grain mills use stone as their mechanism to grind the grains.
Features:
- They provide a wide range of textures to mill.
- They are quieter than impact grain mills.
- They can mill dry grains, beans, and fibrous materials such as dried spices.
Pros:`
- They are durable and long-lasting.
- They are suitable for dry grains.
- They can grind very coarse to very fine flour.
Cons:
- They cannot grind oily grains.
- They are costlier to acquire and maintain than impact mills.
Industrial flour mill
Industrial flour mills are widely used in industries for bulk processing.
Features:
- They are huge and occupy up to 100m2 of space.
- They can mill an assortment of grains.
- They are either pneumatic, electric, or manual (fuel-powered).
Pros:
- They are swift and efficient.
- They are not noisy when in operation.
- They have high-precision packing equipment.
Cons:
- They are only suitable for industrial-scale milling.
- They are costly to acquire and maintain.
The target market for flour mills
With a CAGR of 3.95%, flour mills sales will grow to US$ 210.77 billion by . The Asia Pacific region has dominated the flour mills industry and is expected to do so in 10 years. This is primarily because of China, India, and the largest producers of wheat in the world. Europe is expected to have the second-highest share, with North America being the third-highest shareholder. The growing health awareness is expected to be the major contributor to this precedented growth.
Conclusion
Besides the types of flour mills and their different milling mechanisms, this article has explained some key factors that businesses should consider before buying a flour mill. Application is one of them. In addition to this, with the growing population, the purchase of flour mills is expected to increase steadily.
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