Back to basics Hand Grain mill

by Back to Basics

• Designed with self-aligning, cast stainless-steel cone-shaped grinding burrs; outperforms larger, heavier hand grinders
• Adjusts from fine to coarse; ideal for wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, peppercorns, other dry spices, coffee, herbs, and even nuts
• Mounts securely to countertops or tables; measures 12 by 2 by 5 inches, with rubber pads to prevent scratching and marring
• Performs efficiently without electricity; fill the 2-1/4-cup grain hopper and turn the crank to grind
• Stores easily in a drawer or cupboard; comes backed by a 2-year warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 13.4 x 2.8 inches ; 2.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000PCDTNI
• Item model number: 555
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,500 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

The Back to Basics Grain Mill is perfect for grinding fine, whole-grain flours and coarse-grain cereals. This compact burr grinder out performs larger, heavier hand grinders with its stainless-steel milling cones.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

97 of 98 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little grinder December 4, 2007

By Me and My House

I've had this grinder for MANY years (about 12 I think). I don't use it real often, as it is slow work. I use a NutriMill electric grinder for my everyday flour grinding. But when we want corn bread or cream of wheat or rice, this hand grinder does the best! This meal does a great job of making a true course corn meal and farina/ "cream of ..." cereals. (You'll never want cornbread with storebought cornmeal again, once you've tasted fresh ground.)

For those things that don't require a large amount of grain meal, and that you don't do everyday, this is a great mill. For daily grinding of flour for several loaves of bread - I wouldn't do it.

Another reason I like having this on hand is if we'd ever be out of electricity, and I couldn't use my NutriMill.

87 of 88 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars For Patient Souls...... November 9, 2006

By Alicia Collins

I've used this little guy probably a dozen times over the past couple of months, and overall I've been very satisfied.

However, I am someone who is willing to spend about a hour cranking and cranking for about 8 cups of flour.

If you're not in a rush, you want to tone your arms, and want a very simple machine to grind flour and meal and such, this is a good mill for you. Turn on some music, roll up your sleeves, and let your mind wander while you grind away. The simple, delicious taste of freshly ground whole grain flours in your cooking and baking will make it time well spent. I really like it.

On the other hand, if you're someone who wants to quickly grind a large amount of what-have-you and get on with your life, this is not what you want. Output is slow, it's a little on the rickety side, and you definitely have to speak up to be heard over it.

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Bummer May 1, 2008

By A. Haverty

I did quite a bit of research on this mill, but it left me disapointed. It does not grind up the grains fine enough to be considered flour. It is easy to use though and creates uniform meal. If you're wanting actual flour look somewhere else.

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Quite as Expected But Decent for Emergency Use August 13, 2009

By Christy B

Amazon Verified Purchase

Shopping for a hand powered grain mill isn't a common activity. Like many others who did, I was looking for something I could use in a power out emergency (such as a long hurricane outage). I also like the idea of using hand power when possible rather than electricity. There aren't that many real grain mills to choose from anymore and like most, I was a bit leery of spending a fortune for a diamante and not lucky enough to find one from some pre-industrial general store. I chose this one as my first because of it's compact size for storing, the price and it's very long production run to date.

Grinding grain for fresh flour and home-made bread isn't common, but it produces a very tasty loaf! So, with this low price, I had to try it.

The shipping was fast, it was well packaged and contained easily understood directions. It set up fast and felt firm and safe to use. The spout is at the correct height for a good sized bowl to collect the output. All of those are positive aspects.

But this is touted as a grain mill suitable for flour. I did a great many runs on this mill using multiple kinds of wheat such as hard red and soft white, but found that no wheat really ground down to a fine enough flour. It is more like a course flour of a texture similar to corn meal. It never gets soft feeling, so to speak, like flour does. I ran some batches through up to 5 times with no appreciable change in size after the second grinding.

Aside from flour, I did try some ground corn for corn meal, which is also a favorite at my house, and found that the size of the grain was very suitable for that. Pan bread, baked or made into breakfast much, it make a very tasty corn meal. That said, it was very difficult to operate with the large kernels of corn initially put into the hopper.... The mill tried to come loose from the counter over and over under the force required to get the handle started. As it happens, someone else wandered past the kitchen when I first got a corn batch started and came in grimacing that it sounded like it was going to fall apart! It did sound pretty bad. But, with a little elbow grease and patience, it will do the job on corn.

If you're looking for this to be THE mill for non-powered grinding of flour, I'd pass and pay the substantial difference for one of the others out there, like Country Living or Diamante. If you're looking for something that is totally compact for preps and don't mind making a very course bread, then this just might do the trick. Read more ›

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little grinder December 4, 2007

By Me and My House

I've had this grinder for MANY years (about 12 I think). I don't use it real often, as it is slow work. I use a NutriMill electric grinder for my everyday flour grinding. But when we want corn bread or cream of wheat or rice, this hand grinder does the best! This meal does a great job of making a true course corn meal and farina/ "cream of ..." cereals. (You'll never want cornbread with storebought cornmeal again, once you've tasted fresh ground.)

For those things that don't require a large amount of grain meal, and that you don't do everyday, this is a great mill. For daily grinding of flour for several loaves of bread - I wouldn't do it.

Another reason I like having this on hand is if we'd ever be out of electricity, and I couldn't use my NutriMill.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect! September 23, 2008

By Christian R. Mills

Amazon Verified Purchase

Just what I was looking for. It works great! We use it all the time to grind wheat for homemade bread and it does the job!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good result with elbow grease! March 26, 2010

By Juniormint

This grinder did a good job or grinding popcorn and wheat. Keep in mind that is does take a bit of elbow grease. It is easy to put together and very simple to understand. I would not use it for everyday grinding, but if you want something for emergency preparedness or for those times when you are out of electricity, this is it!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great hand mill that will last for years September 30, 2009

By Brian E. Roscher

We have used our Back to Basics mill for years now and we love it. It does make flour fine enough for bread and pancakes no problem. If someone tells you they have this mill and it does make flour, they must have bought a defective one. Ours works great and has held up great for years now.

I buy wheat, spelt, oat, etc... seeds from the local health food store and make them into flour no problem. I even turned dried garbonzo beans into besam flour using this machine but I had to put the beans in a blender first to make them a bit smaller. This mill can almost handle a full sized garbanzo bean. It can handle grains no problem.

My kids love it too. We have made a variety of things using this mill like pancakes and bread.

I recommend this mill to anyone who wants to make their own flour for immediate use in the home and who doesn't mind using some elbow grease to do it.