How Do You Crack Corn

[razerhawg]

I have done several sugar washes and decided to move on to a corn mash. Everything calls for using cracked corn with no preservatives in it, but all of the store bought cracked corn has some type of preservative.
I bought a barley cracker from a brew house and it won't crack squat ( I am guess that as the name implies it is made to crack smaller grains? ). I bought a mill from a health food store and it makes powder. What do you use to make cracked corn?

[ga flatwoods]

Cracking corn is a pita! A roller mill will not do the job nor was it intended. Most of us all buy it cracked from the feed store. Tractor Supply is available to a lot of users here as it is regularly mentioned. Do not try a meat grinder cracking vs. Cutting through a grain is a different thing altogether. Meal consistence is fine. Chicken scratch makes a good whiskey and may be a blend or just cracked corn. If it is safe for animal feed then go with it.
GA Flatwoods

[Mr Shine]

I use something like this:



http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-G ... B000U5NZ4I

[Truckinbutch]

I just buy cracked corn at the feed store . Lucky'er than many here , if I need to mill down some grain I have a hand cranked adjustable mill that's been in the family for 4 generations . It will mil from chicken scratch to fine flour if you want to crank it long enough .

[OzKev]

I do have some cracked corn from the local stock feeds ready for a whiskey, but was thinking if it was cracked a bit more I may be able to push a better efficiency from the mash. Does anyone use a MonsterMill for corn. I see on the site they refer to the setting being able to be adjusted for corn, but I was always told not to crack corn in it as it will damage the rollers?

[shadylane]

I use the same grinder as Mr Shine.
A word of warning, corn mash probably isn't as easy as you think it may be.
Cracked corn is good for a sugar head such as UJSSM but for a real mash you have to grind the corn fine, and cook it to free up the starch.
Mash it just right, then figure how to get the home made corn sugar separated from the glutenous mess you have made.
Not trying to discourage you, just pointing out some unforeseen difficulties.

[razerhawg]

I thought the cracked corn from say Tractor Supply had preservatives in them that would kill the yeast? And yes I am starting off with UJSM, but it needs cracked corn as well doesn't it? I have a Country Living Grain Mill, but the output from it seems pretty small and fine. Thanks for all of the advice.

[Hound Dog]

How do you crack corn? The same way Jimmy does but I really don't care........

[Bushman]

If you don't have access to that equipment you can also cover with wax paper and use a rolling pin.

[Jimbo]

How do you crack corn? The same way Jimmy does but I really don't care........

This is how this jimmy does it...

http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Quality-G ... =corn+mill" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Still a pain in the ass. Its like grinding pebbles.

[razerhawg]

Is that similar to this? I have one of these, but it cracks it into very small pieces with a lot of basically corn meal. If that size works then I am in good shape.

http://www.pleasanthillgrain.com/Images ... 20200o.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Jimbo]

There should be an adjustment nut on the grinder wheel?

Corn meal is fine, it will convert better (if yoru making an AG) or add more flavor in a sugarhead, but youll have to stir more often as it will want to settle into a brick in the bottom of your mash or fermenting bucket

[Ghost]

I thought the cracked corn from say Tractor Supply had preservatives in them that would kill the yeast? And yes I am starting off with UJSM, but it needs cracked corn as well doesn't it? I have a Country Living Grain Mill, but the output from it seems pretty small and fine. Thanks for all of the advice.

I have used their cracked corn MANY times and never had a problem with it. Matter of fact had a UJSSM go dry in about 5 days flat with it and sure enough the triple scale shows .998

[razerhawg]

Thank all of you so much for the advice. This site is full of generous people who are willing to share their experiences.