K-Tec Grain Mill Review
K-TEC GRAIN MILL
Product Review by Vickilynn Haycraft
Storing dimensions:
10" x 8" x 6"
Pan capacity: 24 cups
Weight: 8 lbs
I was very excited to re-test the K-Tec grain mill recently since the
last time I had product tested this mill was more than 10 years ago.
The K-Tec is a mill in the micronizer category, using steel "teeth" or
blades to burst grains or legumes into flour. Micronizers can mill
flour very fine to slightly coarse, but do not "crack" grains.
Features:
- This mill has a large smoky-gray Lexan hopper that allows me to see
the flour after being milled. The capacity is 24 cups of flour. I personally
liked the see-through feature as it allowed me to make sure the catch pan
was not overfilled with flour.
- A plus of the new K-Tec is the fact it is lightweight (weighs about
8 pounds) and it has a small footprint and compact size when stored. The
hopper (where the grain is poured into) fits upside down inside the pan
when storing. It was easy to lift for me, a woman with a physical disability,
and it was easy to operate. The smaller storing size was also a plus for me,
a woman with little space and lots of stuff!
- The K-Tec milled my grains and legumes quickly and produced fine flour
perfect for making baked items from pastry crust to breads and all sorts
of other flour products.
- The milling chamber is self-cleaning and requires no maintenance.
- The K-Tec comes with a plastic "cyclo" cup and a mesh filter which are
designed to trap the ultra-fine flour particles to keep them from being blown
back into the air (and to protect the consumer from breathing them in).
- The K-Tec grain mill is UL listed and approved and meets all the of standards
set forth by Underwriter's Laboratories.
The K-Tec performed as advertised, milling grains and legumes into
flour, very fast and very fine.
Important notes:
- Most micronizer mills are loud. I found the K-Tec painfully loud when it
was operating, however, I recommend using quality ear plugs to reduce the
motor noise which can damage hearing over time. I have used the flexible type
of ear plugs approved for police officers firing guns. The ear plugs were inexpensive
and comfortable and did an excellent job of cutting the noise of using a
micronizer mill. I do not recommend milling with young children present
in the room.
- There is flour residue underneath the mill that must be wiped or
brushed off after each use. The cyclo cup should be emptied and
cleaned and the mesh filter tapped clean or washed and dried. These
are not a cumbersome chores, but it should be noted that they must be
done after each milling session so the flour residue does not remain on
the mill, becoming rancid and mixing with new flour that is milled
during the next milling session.
- It should be noted that flour dust can be aggravating to lung conditions
such as asthma and allergies and care should be taken when using a micronizer
mill or any mill high-speed that produces flour dust. I found the Ktec emitted
some fine flour dust in my kitchen while milling. One way to avoid any flour
dust while milling is to use the mill outside of the home, on a porch, deck or
garage.
Overall I found the K-Tec mill to be a sturdy and safe mill which performed
as advertised. I was very happy with the flour it produced and how quickly
the K-Tec milled flour. In my opinion, the reasonable price makes the K-Tec
an affordable mill for families that need a first mill and cannot afford the
higher priced brands. By following the simple instructions, the K-Tec mill
should give its owners good service for years.
Warranty: 5 year limited warranty, lifetime warranty on the milling chamber.
© Copyright 1995-2008 Vickilynn Haycraft
All Rights Reserved
No portion of this review may be copied, stored or transmitted
in any medium, for any reason without prior written permission
of the author.
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