Bread flour [General]
2013 May 3
Interesting topic....last time in the US I brought back some KA flour for bread and pizza crust. Did not notice that much of a difference but then again I am no artisan baker.
What I did notice was that it was cheaper than flour here but expected KA to be a bit more expensive than a regular brand. I am sure there is a study being done by some govt organization to explain why ;)
What I did notice was that it was cheaper than flour here but expected KA to be a bit more expensive than a regular brand. I am sure there is a study being done by some govt organization to explain why ;)
2013 May 6
Wheat board set the price for wheat in Canada, it may be higher or lower than prices in the States. Mills buying the flour are not regulated regarding pricing, nor are the retailers, so price differences probably have nothing to do the wheat board in this case. The US has much higher subsidies than Canada but I'm not sure at what level they kick in.
The reason 50% of Canadian farmers want to abolish the wheat board is that they can get better prices selling across the border. - i.e. the price of wheat should be slightly more expensive in the US. The difference lies between the wheat producer and the flour customer.
The reason 50% of Canadian farmers want to abolish the wheat board is that they can get better prices selling across the border. - i.e. the price of wheat should be slightly more expensive in the US. The difference lies between the wheat producer and the flour customer.
2013 Jul 5
Picked up a hammer mill yesterday to make my own pig feed and also plan a trip to Bulk Barn tomorrow for some Hard Wheat berries. Will see how it does on making flour for a rustic bread....stay tuned!
We do not do that much baking but as much as flour is a staple in many ways, it just seems darn expensive.
We do not do that much baking but as much as flour is a staple in many ways, it just seems darn expensive.
2013 Jul 5
The wheat berries reminded me of an 18 month adventure in bread making. At the time, I was baking all of my own bread because it was cheaper than buying it. Then I saw the price of wheat berries and realized how cheap they were.
Putting aside the fact that I didn't own a grain mill, had never tried blending the wheat berries and had a $20 blender from Walmart...It wasn't terrible. Sort of. I did get flour, but it was more like flour from the 1700s.
I sifted for hours. and hours. and hours.
And then re-ground the parts left in the sifter. This heated the remainder so much in my poor, about-to-explode blender that they became bitter.
I did this for four weeks until my blender was no more.
Long story short: I buy my flour.
Putting aside the fact that I didn't own a grain mill, had never tried blending the wheat berries and had a $20 blender from Walmart...It wasn't terrible. Sort of. I did get flour, but it was more like flour from the 1700s.
I sifted for hours. and hours. and hours.
And then re-ground the parts left in the sifter. This heated the remainder so much in my poor, about-to-explode blender that they became bitter.
I did this for four weeks until my blender was no more.
Long story short: I buy my flour.
2013 Jul 6
Here is a mill I got at Preston Hardware about 12 years ago. Think I paid around $35. Made in an Eastern European country.
Because of the range of control of the grinding plates, I found it very useful in cracking grains, making flours ..... AND the ultimate in grinding coffee to a very precise size and even consistency. On par with $300 grinders.
Small batches only ... unless you have kids (child labor) to sit and turn that crank for extended periods of time.
Because of the range of control of the grinding plates, I found it very useful in cracking grains, making flours ..... AND the ultimate in grinding coffee to a very precise size and even consistency. On par with $300 grinders.
Small batches only ... unless you have kids (child labor) to sit and turn that crank for extended periods of time.
2013 Jul 16
P-I-O I should check out that place one day.
Went for a drive for ice cream this past Sunday and saw a field full of hard spring wheat. I think I may stop by that farm and ask if I can buy a few sacks come harvest time. Current cash price is about $0.15 per pound on the commodity market and over $1 per pound at bulk barn. At $0.15 it would be worth my while to invest in a proper flour mill.
Went for a drive for ice cream this past Sunday and saw a field full of hard spring wheat. I think I may stop by that farm and ask if I can buy a few sacks come harvest time. Current cash price is about $0.15 per pound on the commodity market and over $1 per pound at bulk barn. At $0.15 it would be worth my while to invest in a proper flour mill.
2013 Aug 28
Was able to procure King Arthur flour in 50# sacks from the US and the price was stellar! We sure are getting the sh^*t here in Canada. Will post some prelim bread pics over the next few days.
Also got a Country Living Grain Mill off Craigslist and motorized it. Some local farmer is supposed to get me hard red wheat right off the combine in the next few days if it dries up. I did try some bread from milled wheat berries and it makes for a pretty dense bread. There is lots of science there on milling flour to get a lighter loaf, but the home milled was perfectly fine for things such as cookies, pancakes and muffins etc.
Stay tuned for some videos as well.
Krusty
Also got a Country Living Grain Mill off Craigslist and motorized it. Some local farmer is supposed to get me hard red wheat right off the combine in the next few days if it dries up. I did try some bread from milled wheat berries and it makes for a pretty dense bread. There is lots of science there on milling flour to get a lighter loaf, but the home milled was perfectly fine for things such as cookies, pancakes and muffins etc.
Stay tuned for some videos as well.
Krusty
Tree Pug