Wheat flour is a powder made from grinding wheat, making is usable for human consumption. There are different types of wheat flour, distinguished by the amount of gluten they contain, their color, the parts of the grain used, and the type of wheat. Wheat flour is an essential ingredient in bread, cakes, cookies, and most baked goods.

What Is Wheat Flour?

Wheat flour is made from grinding up parts of the wheat grain. There are three main parts of the grain:

 
  • The endosperm, or protein/starchy part
  • Germ, the rich in protein/fat/vitamin part
  • Bran, the fiber-rich part
 

White flour is made from only the endosperm. Brown flour includes the germ and bran. Whole grain flour includes all three parts. Once each part has been separated, it is ground into a powder. White flour has a naturally yellow-ish color but is often bleached or mixed with oxidizing chemicals to produce a white color.

Wheat is classified by several different characteristics: the season it is grown (spring or winter wheat), its color, whether it is “hard” or “soft,” by the amount of protein it contains, and by the amount of a specific protein, called gluten that it contains. Hard wheat is usually a bronze-color and has a higher gluten content than soft wheat, which is a light golden color.

Varieties

Gluten is naturally occurring in the wheat. It’s the protein that gives baked goods structure. Glutens develop and become more elastic when the dough is kneaded. Strong flours are those made from hard, high-protein wheat. They have higher gluten content. Flours that are made from low-protein, softer wheat are called weak flour and have less gluten.

There are a number of wheat flours, including:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Bread flour
  • Cake flour
  • Pastry flour
  • Self-rising flour
  • Whole wheat flour

Flour Uses

Flour is an essential ingredient for most home chefs. You can use it to make bread, baked goods, pancakes, and more. Additionally, it can be used to thicken sauces or create a roux. Flour is also used for coating foods like fried chicken or cutlets. Finally, flour is a key ingredient in making pasta.

How to Cook With Flour

Flour should be used according to the recipe and its specific use. For tender baked goods, it can be helpful to sift the flour into the mixing bowl. For baked goods like bread, the flour mixture will need to kneaded and often will need time rest. This will help activate the gluten proteins.

What Does It Taste Like?

Raw flour should not be eaten. Flour is a raw agricultural product, so it has not been treated to kill germs. If there are any bacteria present in flour, they are killed when food made with flour is cooked. White flour does not have an odor while whole wheat flours may smell a little nutty.

Flour Substitute

There are many wheat flour substitutes on the market. One major reason for swapping out flour is gluten sensitivity or intolerance. Soy flour, wheat germ, cornmeal, oat flour, spelt flour, and quinoa flour are just some of the wheat flour substitutes available. The flour substitute to use will depend on the recipe, your taste preference, and availability.