Power to The Bakers.The Most Popular Types of Flour And When to Use Them
Flours are of different types. They are milled from different grains and exhibits different properties. When the flours have different properties and comprise different nutrients, they can be used for baking different items. If you are a baker, then you might be knowing that using the right flour for baking brings out the best taste and texture in the food item. For using the right flour, you should have a proper understanding of all the popular flour and the purpose they are used for.
If you are not aware of the right flour and how to use them, when to use them – don’t worry. We have got you covered. Through this article, you will get to know about the most popular flour and how it can be used for preparing different items.
#1 All-purpose Flour
When you are talking about popular flour, you would always find all-purpose flour topping the list. This is not just popular but also commonly available in all the kitchens. It is because the all-purpose flour is versatile and can be used for a wide range of baked items. The protein content in this flour is lower than that of whole wheat flour – 11 to 12 percent.
How To Use It:
You can substitute the all-purpose flour for various other flours to enhance the taste and texture of the baked items.
When To Use It:
You can use it for baking muffins, pancakes, cookies, biscuits, and much more.
#2 Cake Flour
Cake flour is another popular flour that is milled from wheat grains. According to the experts, it has the lowest percentage of protein content, therefore it does not produce gluten. You might have to use yeast in excessive quantity to ensure that the final product is fluffy and soft in texture. When the amount of gluten is less, it is best used for baking cakes and pies. Moreover, the liquid absorption ability of the cake flour is higher than the all-purpose flour. So you will have to add liquid in excess to ensure that the dough is moist.
How To Use It:
It can be used with all-purpose flour and party flour to bake different baked items.
When To Use It:
For baking a wide variety of cakes.
#3 Pastry Flour
Pastry flour – as the name suggests, is usually used for baking different types of pastries, cakes, and muffins. The protein content of the pastry flour is higher than cake flour but lower than all-purpose flour.
How to Use It:
You have to use pastry flour for bringing a perfect balance between the flakiness and softness of the baked food items.
When To Use It:
You can use the pastry flour for tarts, cookies, scones, the crust of the pie, etc.
#4 Bread Flour
The bread flour is specifically used for baking bread loaves. It has a dense texture and nutty flavor that develops the structure of the bread. The denseness of the flour is because it is milled from hard wheat grains. Moreover, the protein content is high in bread flour (12 to14 percent). This also entails that the amount of gluten produced in the bread flour is quite high.
How To Use It:
You can use the bread flour in case you do not want to use yeast for fluffiness. The bread has gluten that makes the dough rise to an appropriate level. Even the chewiness of the bread is maintained with the help of gluten.
When To Use It:
You can use the bread flour for baking bagels, bread, pizza, etc.
#5 Self-Rising Flour
Self-rising flour is popularly used for a wide range of baked food items. Usually, it is a perfect combination of all-purpose flour along with baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Protein content in the self resign flour is higher than the all-purpose flour (9 to 10 percent)
How To Use It:
You cannot substitute the self-rising flour for multiple flours that do not require yeast to increase fluffiness. It will destroy the measurement of other ingredients and the overall taste of the baked item.
When to Use:
You can use it for baking cookies and biscuits.
Summary
Now you know about all the major types of flour that are popular in the baking world. If you want to bake something unique, you can choose any one of the flour types and get started. Always get good quality flour to ensure your baked items turn out perfect. Check the wide variety of flour available at US Flour.