Home Distiller

So tractor supply is about the only place near me to buy corn. Would you buy whole corn and grind it or cracked corn and just grind it finer? I wasn't sure if there was any benefit one way or the other. Plan on making HBB.

thanks for any assistance

Utvol

Whatever is cheapest

Bee's answer is good if you have a decent grinder. Otherwise cracked corn would be preferred, because some of the work has already been done.

If a true feed store were available then “steam flaked” (or steam rolled) corn would be even more desirable.

viewtopic.php?t=83566
viewtopic.php?t=70581

utvol wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 11:18 am
I wasn't sure if there was any benefit one way or the other.

Depends on what kind of grain mill you own. If a roller mill then, as mentioned above, cracked corn will save you time and effort. If you have a hammer mill then my preference would be whole kernel.

How quickly you intend to use it is also a consideration.

Cracked if you're gonna use it quickly. Otherwise go with whole kernel and invest in a solid mill.
I've bought both and the cracked is less work than the whole with my 100 year old hand cranked mill.

I personally buy whole at my local feed mill. I started with TSC, but feed mill is both cheaper and has a bolder flavor and aroma (I believe it's primarily due to how long TSC holds it in a warehouse before stocking to be sold). Saving 25 cents on whole vs cracked makes no difference to me (that's the price difference at my feed mill), but whole will retain it's flavor better in long term storage (freeze, toast, or treat with CO2 to control possible corn weevil infestations if you store it) and cracked I feel isn't ground fine enough and I have to mill it more regardless - I find milling whole no more labor intensive than milling cracked. That's why I buy whole. If you don't have a way to mill it, cracked is probably a better option, but keep in mind you're yield will more than likely fall short.

It’s like buying spices or coffee, you’ll get better flavor if you buy it whole and then grind yourself.

PLAYMP wrote: ↑Mon May 22, 2023 3:35 am It’s like buying spices or coffee, you’ll get better flavor if you buy it whole and then grind yourself.

Cant put it more simply than that

Personally I prefer whole.....besides what others have said about the flavour, you may want to try malting it...