May 15, 2008 - 7:20am
Where do you buy your flour?
Hello everyone,
I'n curious as to the best sources for buying flour- catalogs, local stores, small and large chain stores. Are any store brand flours working well for you? I'm interested in both plain old wheat (whole and white) and more exotic flours as well. Prices are so high now, I'm wondering if anyone has found a fairly reasonable price. Right now I buy King Arthur AP and white whole wheat at Trader Joes for $3.99 for 5lbs. That's the best price I've found in the Los Angeles area. King Arthur has one distributer here in Vernon, but gas prices make the cost equal. The rest of my flour comes from Whole Foods. Thanks.
Marni
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I've been using the Whole Foods 365 Organic whole wheat and white for a while now. I tried the KA but their organic flour here in Colorado is going for over $6 for 5 lbs. Even the WF organic just went up to $3.39 for 5 lbs. I don't think it is the best flour but I can't afford to buy any of the better stuff. I also buy from Vitamin Cottage. Their whole wheat is a little more but less than KA. I like their rye though as it is fresh and they keep it in the refrigerator.
When I liven in Colorado, I used to buy Safeway's organic all purpose flour. It was very nice and very reasonably priced. I believe Pillsbury also has a reasonably priced organic flour.
Having used many flours, I strongly feel when you buy the expensive boutique brands you are paying for the name on the sack, not the flour in the sack. That isn't to say they aren't good, just that other flours, ar more reasonable prices, are also good.
Mike
I get my white, whole wheat, rye, buckwheat, and wild rice flour from Swanny White Flour Mill in Freeport, Minnesota. It is a local, family owned company that mills excellent flours. I drive there from the Twin Cities every other month to stock up. With the price of gas and the price of flours going up it is getting rather expensive to do. However, I am not at the point yet where I am going to cut back on the trips. I also buy different malted grains from a local brewer supply store and if I need specialty flour I will go to one of the local co-ops. I bake every weekend and would bake during the week but my vocation gets in the way of my recreation. My hobby (Mrs. Drifty calls it an obsession) gives me too much satisfaction to cut back.
Drifty Baker
Go biking while it's rising!