A Guide to Different Types of Flour
Flour is made from ground-up grains that are called “grains of paradise.” It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in bread and other baked goods and cooked. There are levels of flour that you can buy as well as different types of flour. This article is about all the different types of flour.
Different Types of Flour and Their Uses
Flour is a staple in most kitchens and a very common ingredient in baked goods, pastries, and desserts. The different types of flour are also very common in all parts of the world, as they differ in their color, texture, and taste.
There are many different types of flour that you can buy at the grocery store. This can be confusing for many people who are trying to find the best type of flour for their needs. No worries. Through this guide, we will be introducing to you the various types of flour as well as their uses.
Check out the following types of flour, as well as their uses:
- Rice flour – Rice flour is a fine powder produced by grinding rice grains. It is mainly used for making desserts, pastries, and baked goods. Also, it can be mixed with wheat flour to make what is called an all-purpose flour. This type of flour is very similar to regular wheat flour. Both come from the same kind of grass – from the same seed – but rice flour has been used since ancient times. Rice flour is made from ‘brown’ rice, the type of rice used in Asian cuisines. The grains of rice are soaked in water and then ground down to form a powder.
- Noodle flour– Noodle flour, commonly known as Chinese flour, is a kind of protein-rich flour that is used in making different varieties of noodles, from the fresh noodle to the hand-pulled noodle and the fresh-made noodles. It is a kind of flour that is obtained from soft wheat flour after a process of cleaning, drying, and grinding. This noodle flour is one of the different types of flour, and it is low in carbohydrates and is high in protein. It is also used in making fresh-made noodles and hand-pulled noodles.
- Whole wheat flour – Whole wheat flour is a type of flour that is made from unbleached wheat flour. This means that the grain has not been processed through the use of chemical bleaching agents. Whole wheat flour is also known as stone-ground flour and high protein flour. This type of flour is the most nutritious, is high in dietary fiber, has lower levels of carbs, and contains higher amounts of heart-healthy cholesterol. It is high in minerals like magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, and selenium.
- Cake flour – Cake flour is flour derived from the non-gmoized seed of the Coccinia indica fruit. It is a low-protein flour that is low in gluten content and is used in the preparation of a variety of desserts and pastries. Although it is not technically flour, it is commonly used as a substitute for gritty-type flours in baking.
- Hard flour – Hard flour is one of the different flour types used in the bakery industry. It is a coarse, whole grain flour intended to be used in place of refined flour in bread, as it helps with the texture of the final product. The best thing about hard flour is that it is low in sodium, has more protein and fiber than refined flour, and can also act as an alternative sweetener in baking.
- All-purpose flour – All-purpose flour is a variety of flour used for baking and cooking. It is used for baking cakes, biscuits, cookies, and muffins. It can also be used in other products such as bread and pastries. All-purpose flour is a blend of flour types with other additions such as starch. All-purpose flour is also known as plain flour or all-purpose flour. All-purpose flour has a high level of protein. It has a soft and tender texture than other types of flour. It is one of the most widely used flours and is found in most households.
You may be wondering which is which. You see, different types of flour are used for different purposes. All of them can be used to make different types of food. Some of them are used for baking and making sweets, while others are used to make different types of noodles or other cooked items. So, which of these flours do you often use?