Different Types of Flour

By

LJF

Yes, self-rising flour has added baking powder, and salt, and is handy for biscuits, but also can be used for other things.

Regular flour is the "plain" flour, although it can be bleached, unbleached, or stone-ground, etc.

Bread flour is a flour that has much higher gluten content, and that is what causes the nice rising ability when yeast is used. Regular flour can be used, with the addition of gluten, which can be purchased in most stores, and is usually right with the flour, cornmeal, etc. Just follow the replacement directions for flour and gluten. I make bread often, and have used both bread flour, and plain with gluten added. I choose bread flour, but plain is great for pretzels, pizza dough, etc.

By

PainterLee

Self rising makes things rise a lot! If you want a super puffy coating on onion rings, use self rising flour. When a recipe calls for bread flour, you can use regular all purpose, but your bread won't be as light and soft and fluffy. Bread flour makes bread nice and soft on the inside and fluffy, whereas if you substituted regular it would be dense.

By

OliveOyl

Regular flour comes in unbleached or bleached. This is your average all purpose flour. Use it for baking, breading chicken, etc.

Bread flour is all purpose flour with extra gluten added to make the dough more elastic. Yields a better loaf but all purpose flour can still be used for bread.

Self-rising flour is regular flour to which baking powder and salt has been added. Used for biscuits primarily.