Probably many of us think that flour is grown somewhere in the world by elves who work for a long time in a factory. In reality, you can create flour, and in a few "seconds"! Why do you use a modified product that has lost its nutritional qualities by remaining stale on some shelves, when you can have it fresh immediately? You will need a type of grain that can be used as flour and a grinder (for coffee for example).
Ingrediants
Any type of grain, nut or bean that can be grown (wheat, barley, oats, rye, quinoa, corn, rice, peas, chickpeas, etc.)
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Stock the Kitchen
Step 1. Get your grains, seeds, nuts, beans… Something that can be ground, in short
Virtually any seed can be made into flour - think quinoa, popcorn, peas, or more traditional options like rice, wheat, oats, and barley. Fresh whole wheat grains, rye grains, whole oats and the like can be found in organic food stores, and are sold wholesale. They can be white, rust colored, violet or amber. In addition, you would pay even less than the flour already made!
Decide what kind of flour to make. Do you want whole wheat flour? Take some whole wheat grains (they don't look like grains - but they're called that). Do you want some rye flour? Take rye grains. Flour is not difficult to make
Step 2. If you have decided to make wheat flour, think about what you will need for cooking
Each type of flour, in fact, has its own specific use in the kitchen. Spelled, for example, can be a good and healthy alternative to wheat. To make yeast for bread, the best type of wheat is the hard red one (both winter and spring).
For preparations that do not need yeast (such as muffins, pancakes and waffles) the best choice is white soft wheat flour. Good alternatives can be spelled, kamut, or triticale
Step 3. Decide how to grind
If you feel like spending hours chopping seeds to train your muscles, you are welcome. More simply, you can put the seeds in the coffee grinder, and let it do the work for you. If you use electrical appliances, remember that the more power you use, the thinner the flour will be.
- The manual grinder has an advantage: it does not create heat which could damage the nutrients of the seeds. However, be aware that if you use it you will need more time.
- The biggest downside to electrical appliances is that they are more expensive than grinders (the least expensive is around 144 euros).
- The only downside to using a blender or a coffee grinder is that it won't give you very fine flour, but obviously it depends on what kind of seed you use.
Part 2 of 3: Grind
Step 1. Place the seeds in the grinder / blender
Just put in the amount you plan to use - fresh flour spoils very quickly. Only fill half of it, to be able to mix better.
1 cup of wheat grains yields over half a cup of flour. For beans and nuts, or other, one and a half times the original quantity will be produced
Step 2. Grind well
If you are using a grinder, turn the crank until all the grain has been ground. If you are using the blender, turn on the highest power for about 30 seconds. Then turn off, remove the lid and mix with a rubber spatula. Finally, put the lid back on and grind a little more.
The grinding speed depends on the equipment you will use. If you use one of those high-powered blenders (like Blendtec or Vitamix), your flour will be ready right away. If you do it manually, then you'll need a whole afternoon
Step 3. Continue turning the handle or blending until the flour is of the desired fineness
You can check by placing the flour in a bowl and observing it closely. Touch it to make sure it has reached the right consistency (remember to wash your hands before the operation). If it hasn't reached it yet, continue grinding.
The coffee grinder will never give you the same consistency as the flour you buy in the store. You could sift the flour to remove the larger pieces, and use the rest. Http://www.abreaducation.com/fai-la-farina-a-casa.php It will still be delicious
Part 3 of 3: Using and Storing Flour
Step 1. When you have reached the desired consistency, put the flour in a resealable container
If you have produced a lot of flour, you will probably need more than one, but it will be worth it. And there you have it: the flour for the dough of your dreams is ready!
Keep the flour in a cool, dark place to avoid giving birth to insects or spoiling it in the sun. You can also put a bay leaf in the flour to prevent it from being besieged by insects
Step 2. If you have a large amount of flour, keep it in the fridge or freezer
Durum wheat flour goes bad quickly, a few months are enough to throw it away. If it changes color or smells bad (which you won't smell if you keep it cool), throw it away immediately.
To freeze it, place it in a resealable container and place it in the freezer. It will last you years! Obviously try to use it every now and then
Step 3. Test your flour
You will feel that it tastes different from the one you bought and that it reacts a little differently when you cook, because it is fresh. For this reason, it is better to avoid using it for special occasions: first do some experiments.
