Beginner’s Guide: Gluten-Free Grain Milling, Tools & Tips

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

From manna in the desert to Jesus multiplying loaves, the Bible celebrates whole, nourishing grains. Unlike today’s hybridized or stripped grains, biblical bread was made from traditional wheat flour or whole grain flours—think Ezekiel bread, a blend of wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt (minus the cooking over dung, of course!).

But gluten isn’t for everyone. Whether managing gluten intolerance, a wheat/gluten allergy, or an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s, gluten can trigger mild to severe inflammation. This guide shows you how to mill your own grains at home, produce fresh flour, and bake excellent gluten-free baked goods for everyday use.

Whether it’s your first time trying milling flour or you’re seeking the right tools for the best results, this guide helps you navigate the tasty world of gluten-free baking with simple steps.

Why Fresh Milling Matters

Fresh milling preserves nutritional value, enhances flavor, and improves digestibility. Store-bought gluten-free flour often contains additives, gums, and standard components that affect the texture of your flour.

Benefits of Milling Your Own Flour:

  • Keeps whole fiber and natural nutrients intact
  • Produces fluffy flours for soft sandwich loaves and lighter textures
  • No additives or gums, giving the finished product a pure, wholesome taste
  • Allows for soaking, sprouting, or souring to improve digestion

A great advantage: freshly milled flour allows you to experiment with different gluten-free flours, including buckwheat flour, chickpea flour, white rice flour, almond flour, and cassava flour, each with its unique characteristics.

Best Gluten-Free Grains for Milling

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the best grains for home milling, including their flavor profiles, health benefits, and ideal uses. Each can be milled into fresh flour for gluten-free bread, pancakes, muffins, or even pizza crust.

1. Millet

Millet

Nutritional Highlights: Magnesium, phosphorus, fiber

Flavor Profile: Mild, slightly sweet

Best Uses: Muffins, pancakes, flatbreads, snack bars

Recipes to Try: Millet Dinner Rolls, Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

2. Oats

Oats

Nutritional Highlights: Beta-glucan, B vitamins, manganese

Flavor Profile: Mild and creamy

Best Uses: Cookies, smoothies, muffins

Recipes to Try: GF Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

3. Sorghum

Sorghum

Nutritional Highlights: Fiber, iron, protein

Flavor Profile: Mild, earthy

Best Uses: Breads, flatbreads, crackers

Recipes to Try: Gluten-Free Fig Quick Bread, Naan Skillet Bread

4. Teff

Teff

Nutritional Highlights: Iron, calcium, resistant starch

Flavor Profile: Nutty, sweet

Best Uses: Pancakes, porridge, breads

Recipes to Try: Teff Injera

5. Amaranth

Amaranth

Nutritional Highlights: Protein, iron, magnesium

Flavor Profile: Earthy, dense

Best Uses: Muffins, porridges, breads

Recipes to Try: Herb & Garlic Amaranth Crackers

6. Buckwheat

Buckwheat

Nutritional Highlights: Complete protein, magnesium, rutin

Flavor Profile: Nutty, hearty

Best Uses: Pancakes, crackers, soba noodles

Recipes to Try: Buckwheat Pancakes

7. Brown Rice

Brown Rice

Nutritional Highlights: Manganese, selenium, protein

Flavor Profile: Mild, gentle

Best Uses: Muffins, gravies, quick breads

Recipes to Try: Brown Rice Sourdough Starter, Healthy Lemon Bars

8. Quinoa

Quinoa

Nutritional Highlights: Complete protein, folate, iron

Flavor Profile: Mild, slightly nutty

Best Uses: Muffins, pancakes, porridge

Recipes to Try: Quinoa Chocolate Cake

  • Nutritional Highlights: Complete protein, folate, iron
  • Flavor Profile: Mild, slightly nutty
  • Best Uses: Muffins, pancakes, porridge
  • Recipes to Try: Quinoa Chocolate Cake

9. Corn (Non-GMO)

Corn (Non-GMO)

Nutritional Highlights: Carotenoids, B vitamins, fiber

Flavor Profile: Sweet, nutty

Best Uses: Tortillas, arepas, polenta

Recipes to Try: Corn Muffins, Oven-Fried Breading, and grits! (try all of these in Mom’s Diner!)

Pro Tip: Mix different gluten-free flours to create amazing flours with unique characteristics for soft sandwich loaves, pizza crust, or other baked goods. This is the Fresh Milled Gluten-Free All-purpose Cup4cup Flour Blend that I use frequently.

Where to Buy Quality Gluten-Free Grains

Trusted sources:

Local options: farmers’ markets, natural grocers, or grocery store health sections.

Tools for Fresh Milling

When I first started experimenting with home milling, I used the KitchenAid grain mill attachment. It’s a great first-time option for small batches of flour. Later, I upgraded to the NutriMill Classic, which quickly became my go-to. It mills much faster and has an enclosed storage canister—so the flour goes straight from the mill into the container with minimal mess. That simple feature makes a big difference for everyday baking.

If you’re just beginning, a stand mixer with a grain mill attachment or even a high-powered blender can handle small amounts of grain. These are especially handy for oilier grains and seeds that don’t do as well in impact mills.

Many in our Fresh Milled Flour | Gluten Free Grains community also use mills like Mockmill, WonderMill, or Salzburger. But my focus—and affiliate partnership—is with NutriMill grain mills. Their line is especially well-suited for gluten-free grains, and they offer great options depending on your needs:

Starter Options

  • Grain mill attachment for stand mixer – affordable, easy entry point
  • High-powered blender – good for small batches and oilier grains

Upgrade Options: NutriMill Grain Mills

NutriMill Classic

Integrated storage bowl reduces flour mess.

Impact mills are powerful and fast electric mill

Produces super-fine flour for soft, smooth baking

Perfect for dry gluten-free grains, such as rice, millet, and corn.

NutriMill Impact Mill

Ideal for frequent bakers or large families

Same power as the Classic, but quieter

Compact design with a convenient retractable cord

Built-in storage for flour makes cleanup simple

NutriMill Harvest (Stone Burr Mill)

Best for those who prioritize nutrition and tradition

Stone mill uses stone burrs to grind grains

Features slow-turning granite stones for gentle, traditional grinding

Retains more nutrients through low-heat milling

Beautiful wood finish—fantastic for countertop display

NutriMill Highlights at a Glance

  • Classic → produces super-fine flour, easy to use, integrated storage canister for less mess
  • Impact → quieter operation, compact design, perfect for large batch convenience
  • Harvest → traditional stone burrs, low-heat milling for higher nutritional value, and a beautiful countertop design

All three NutriMill models handle dry, non-oily gluten-free grains with ease. If you’re ready to invest, you can get $20 off your purchase with [this affiliate link] and the code VINTAGEVIRTUES.

Pro Tips for Milling Flour

  • Use a separate grinder (spice or coffee grinder) for flax, chia, or other oily seeds to prevent clogging your main mill
  • Always mill grains at room temperature for the best results
  • Store whole grains in a dark place to maximize shelf life and preserve nutrients
  • Mill only what you need for each bake to keep flour at peak freshness
  • Keep flour in an airtight container; refrigerate or freeze extra for longer storage
  • Try mason jars with vacuum sealing for freshness and easy organization

Gluten-Free Binders & Boosters

Binders: psyllium husk powder, flaxseed meal, chia, eggs

Starches: tapioca starch, arrowroot, potato starch, cornstarch

Gums: xanthan, guar (use sparingly or avoid if sensitive)

Using the right combination improves the texture of your flour and finished product in your baked goods.

Grain-to-Flour Yield (Quick Reference)

Whole Grain (Dry)Approx. Flour YieldNotes
1 cup Millet1 1/4 cups of flourFine, slightly sweet
1 cup Oats1 1/3 cups of flourBest when fresh rolled or ground
1 cup Buckwheat1 1/4 cups of flourUse hulled groats
1 cup Sorghum1 1/3 cups of flourMild, sweet taste
1 cup Rice1 1/4–1 1/3 cups flourYields vary by variety
1 cup Corn1 cup of flourUse whole dried kernels
1 cup Teff1 1/3 cups of flourFine, best stored cold
1 cup Amaranth1 1/4 cups of flourNutty, sticky when wet
1 cup Quinoa1 1/4 cups of flourMill dry. Most store-bought quinoa is pre-rinsed to remove bitter saponins

Final Thoughts

Freshly milled gluten-free grains reconnect you with real food, tradition, and nutrition. Start small: one grain, one recipe. Try a muffin, pancake, or pizza crust. Experiment with alternative flours like almond meal, cassava flour, chickpea flour, or buckwheat flour to find excellent gluten-free flour choices.

Join our Fresh Milled Flour | Gluten-Free Grains Facebook group or comment below—let’s reclaim our own bread and the tasty world of gluten-free baking, one grind at a time.

References & Further Reading

  • America’s Test Kitchen. How to Use Psyllium Husk in Gluten-Free Baking.
  • America’s Test Kitchen. The How Can It Be Gluten-Free Cookbook.
  • Asbell, Robin. The Whole Grain Promise.
  • Bob’s Red Mill. How to Replace Eggs in Your Recipes.
  • Celiac Disease Foundation. Gluten-Free Baking Tips.
  • Desta, S. (2010). Overview of Teff Production, Use, and Research in Ethiopia. Journal of SAT Agricultural Research.
  • FAO (1995). Amaranth: Ancient Crop for Modern Times.
  • Hagman, Bette. The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread.
  • Hu, F. B. (2003). Plant-Based Diets and Cardiovascular Disease. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN).
  • King Arthur Baking Company. Baking Without Eggs.
  • O’Hara, J., & Day, L. (2019). Oats in Human Health. Nutrients.
  • Publications International. The Gluten-Free Bible.
  • Ranhotra, G. S., Gelroth, J. A., & Leinen, S. D. (1993). Properties of Sorghum and Millet. Cereal Foods World.
  • Sathe, S. K., & Salunkhe, D. K. (1984). Bean Protein Functionality. Journal of Food Science.
  • Serious Eats. The Science of Eggs.
  • Taylor, J. R. N., & Schober, T. J. (2005). Sorghum and Millet in African Foods. Food Reviews International.
  • USDA FoodData Central. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/
  • Weaver, C. M., & Plawecki, K. L. (1994). Dietary Calcium in Vegetarian Diets. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN).

Bonus Resources:

Affiliate Disclosure

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links. That means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through one of these links. Your support helps cover the costs of running this blog and means a great deal. Thank you!

2 responses to “Beginner’s Guide: Gluten-Free Grain Milling, Tools & Tips”

  1. […] more guidance, check out our detailed guide: [Beginner’s Guide: Gluten-Free Grain Milling, Tools & Tips]. Learning to bake with your own flour ensures soft, well-textured sandwich bread and a healthier […]

  2. […] wheat. But there are many gluten-free grains and pseudo-grains available for milling into flour; check out this milling guide. Some of the same principles apply to gluten-free grains. Milling your own whole-grain flour […]

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