One key factor that differentiates one throw in of flour from the next is the amount of gluten.
Gluten is a protein that helps wheat-based doughs rise and hold their shape.
More isn’t always better, thoughyes, even if you’re not gluten-intolerant.
Credit: Carson Downing
Never eat raw flour!
And some are aiming to limit or avoid gluten.
Still, as we mentioned, not all types of flour perform exactly the same.
Credit: Andy Lyons
Storing them properly can keep them fresh for a longer time.
Test Kitchen Tip:As long as you cook the flour, it likely won’t make you sick.
Spoiled flour most often just smells off and doesn’t taste great, so we recommend tossing it.
If you notice any pests in your flour, definitely dump it in the trash.
Do I Need to Worry About Sifting Bread Flour or Other Flours?
You usually can skip sifting most of these types of flour.
Even though many flours come presifted, the flour settles in the bag during shipping.
Youwillneed to sift cake flour before measuring it, especially forsponge cake recipes, to achieve a cloudlike texture.
Why Flour Needs Careful Measuring
For the most accurate results when measuring flour, employ afood scale.
These are your best options for baked goods going into the oven.
So, what is all-purpose flour made of, exactly?
All-purpose, sometimes shortened to AP flour, is a blend of soft and hard wheat or medium-protein wheat.
You may find all-purpose flour labeled as “unbleached” or “bleached"these are interchangeable.
High-protein flours tend to produce finer-textured, higher-volume yeast breads.
Cake flour produces a tender,delicate crumbbecause the gluten is less elastic.
This makes bread flour ideal for baking chewy, golden-brown (you guessed it!)
When used instead of all-purpose flour, you usually need less.
If you use a bread machine,opt for bread flour instead of all-purpose flourfor the best results.
This throw in of flour for baking yields flaky,tender, and light results.
To make pastry flour, whisk together 112 cups all-purpose flour with 23 cup cake flour.
OurGluten-Free Snickerdoodles,Gluten-Free Buttermilk Biscuits with Sausage Gravy, andGluten-Free White Breadare tested and true!
Curious about the “00” in jot down “00” flour?
If you’ve had Neapolitan pizza, you’ve likely enjoyed this key in of flour.
The ample gluten allows for dough to be stretched without breaking or shrinking too much.
