Wheat Milling Process – From Grain to Flour

Wheat is among the most widely consumed cereal grains globally and forms a staple part of diets across India and the world. It originates from the Triticum family, with bread wheat (common wheat) being the primary species used in commercial food processing plants. Other wheat varieties include durum, spelt, emmer, einkorn, and Khorasan wheat.

Common Wheat Products in Food Industry

Wheat is the key ingredient in:

White and whole-wheat flour
Pasta and noodles
Semolina and couscous
Bulgur wheat and cracked wheat

Wheat's widespread usage in food manufacturing stems from its versatility, availability, and nutritional value—particularly in whole grain form, which offers antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Following are the steps involved in wheat milling process-

1. Grain Cleaning

Vibrating Screens remove straw, stones, and coarse impurities.
Aspirators lift off lighter dust and debris using airflow.

2. Size Separation

Disc Separator classifies kernels by size.
Scourer removes kernel hairs and polishes the grain.

3. Magnetic Separation

Magnetic separators eliminate iron particles and ferrous contamination.

4. Washing and Destoning

Washer Stoner separates clean wheat from stones and floating debris in a water bath

5.Tempering

Adds moisture to aid bran separation
Key factors: moisture %, soaking time, and temperature
Custom settings for soft, medium, and hard wheat

6. Entoleter Treatment

High-speed impact eliminates unfit or unsound kernels

7. Grinding and Sifting

First Break Rollers crush wheat into coarse granules
Sifters separate flour, bran, and granular particles

8. Purification

Air classifiers and screens remove bran and grade the endosperm
Regrinding with corrugated rollers refines middlings to pure flour

Conclusion

Wheat milling is a foundational process in the food processing industry, converting raw grains into refined flour for widespread culinary and industrial applications. By incorporating advanced cleaning, separation, tempering, and grinding technologies, modern food manufacturing consultants help ensure consistent product quality, safety, and operational efficiency. Whether you're designing a new food processing plant or upgrading existing milling lines, integrating optimized wheat milling processes is essential for delivering superior output, meeting compliance standards, and sustaining profitability in the competitive food industry. As a food industry consultant, PMG Engineering offers end-to-end expertise in designing high-performance milling facilities tailored to your business needs.

Reference

Slide 1 (iaom-mea.com)

flour | Production, Types, & Facts | Britannica

Wheat Milling (cerealsdb.uk.net)

wheat milling process - Google Search

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/USDA_wheat.jpg/220px-USDA_wheat.jpg

PMG Engineering | Build World-Class Food Factories | Article | Wheat Milling Process – From Grain to Flour

Conclusion

Reference