1. Grind your own wheat for the freshest wheat flour. Turn your #10 can of wheat upside down. It's much easier to open on the bottom with a hand can opener. My electric can opener doesn't seem to like these cans.
2. Pour your wheat into your grinder. I hope you have something newer. Mine is a very ancient Magic Mill, but still works great! I check it for weevils every time I use it, and if they are there, they are sure hiding. Of course you can add wheat from a bag or bucket!
3. It's fun to watch the wheat kernels funnel into the hole that reaches the grinding stones. It takes about 8 minutes for me to grind a #10 can of wheat.
4. Here is the beautiful, warm sweet-smelling wheat flour. Make sure you dust off the wheat flour inside the mill. Never clean with water!
5. Transfer the wheat into a container for the freezer. Burp the air out of the container, and seal.
6. You can also use freezer bags.
7. Store the container in your freezer to help the wheat hold its nutrients, prevent rancidity, and to kill any weevils. (Maybe it shouldn't be on this pizza box for very long as it will pick up the flavor. :-) But I'll use it quickly.) I keep the small freezer bag in my kitchen freezer to make waffles and use in my baking, and the large one in my full-sized freezer for bread making. Always nice to have some on hand.
How long can I store wheat flour?
- Freezer = up to 12 months
- Refrigerator = up to 6 months
- Room Temperature = up to 3 months
How much wheat flour do you get from one #10 can of wheat?
One #10 can of wheat = about 17 cups of wheat flour. (My #10 can was canned at an LDS cannery and weighs 5.8 lbs.) (Sources: Univeristy of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences )
More information on wheat storage can be found from the Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Home Storage of Wheat.
hey - my mom had that same wheat grinder when i was growing up. What fun memories that brings back of helping her grind the wheat! thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteYou are an answer to prayers! My husband bought a wheat grinder today and I was going to look online for all the info you have posted. Thanks for the great info, esp on the storage of wheat flour. I always check your site. You always have great motivating stuff!
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear what you think of the brand of your new wheat grinder!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for posting about this subject. I am looking into purchasing a grinder and wheat but am just learning about this subject matter.
ReplyDeleteWhich do you think is better an electric mill or hand mill?
We inherited the same type of wooden Magic Mill wheat grinder from my husband's grandmother. I haven't been able to find a manual of it online. Does one exist? Also how do I disinfect the machine before using it. It was in my husband's grandmother's basement that reportedly had some mice, and it's been in our garage for a few years. How does this mill differ from newer models? Any advantages?
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to can the wheat flour (back into a #10 can)?
ReplyDeleteCan the wheat flour be stored in a #10 can for long term storage?
ReplyDeleteTricia - I probably would not can the wheat flour as it loses it's nutrition so quickly. It goes from a long-term food to a short-term food. If you can it as the wheat kernal and only grind as needed, it is more healthy for you. Just grind a little more than you need, and keep the wheat flour in your freezer.
ReplyDeleteTricia: Wheat flour is not a long-term storage item. The shelf life is short unless it is frozen. Maybe I am not understanding your question.
ReplyDeleteI was just given a bunch of 5 gallon buckets of wheat. But the lids had been taken off, and I don't know when or for how long. Is the wheat still going to store? Thanks, I'm totally new to this.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't know how long the lids have been off or what temperature the wheat was stored at, you may want to give it to a chicken farm. I wish I knew more.
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