Wheat Flour Vs Plain Flour: A Complete Overview

Wheat flour and plain flour are two of the most commonly used flours in baking, but what’s the difference between them? And which one should you use for your next recipe?

Wheat Flour

Wheat flour is made from the entire wheat kernel, including the bran, germ, and endosperm. This gives it a higher protein content than plain flour, which makes it ideal for breads, pasta, and other baked goods that require a strong structure. Wheat flour is also a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Plain Flour

Plain flour is made from the endosperm of the wheat kernel, which is the starchy part of the grain. This gives it a lower protein content than wheat flour, which makes it ideal for cakes, cookies, and other baked goods that require a tender crumb. Plain flour is also a good source of carbohydrates and energy.

Which One Should You Use?

The type of flour you use will depend on the recipe you’re making. If you’re making a bread, pasta, or other baked good that requires a strong structure, you’ll want to use wheat flour. If you’re making a cake, cookie, or other baked good that requires a tender crumb, you’ll want to use plain flour.

Other Types of Flour

In addition to wheat flour and plain flour, there are also a number of other types of flour that you can use for baking. These include:

• Whole wheat flour: Whole wheat flour is made from the entire wheat kernel, including the bran, germ, and endosperm. It has a higher protein content than wheat flour, which makes it ideal for breads, pasta, and other baked goods that require a strong structure. Whole wheat flour is also a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
• Bread flour: Bread flour is a type of wheat flour that has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour. This makes it ideal for breads that require a strong structure, such as sourdough bread and baguettes.
• Cake flour: Cake flour is a type of plain flour that has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour. This makes it ideal for cakes, cookies, and other baked goods that require a tender crumb.
• Pastry flour: Pastry flour is a type of plain flour that has a very low protein content. This makes it ideal for pastries, such as croissants and puff pastry.

How to Substitute Wheat Flour for Plain Flour

If you don’t have plain flour on hand, you can substitute wheat flour in most recipes. However, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid you use, as wheat flour absorbs more liquid than plain flour. A good rule of thumb is to use 1 cup of wheat flour for every 1 1/4 cups of plain flour.

How to Substitute Plain Flour for Wheat Flour

If you don’t have wheat flour on hand, you can substitute plain flour in most recipes. However, you may need to add some extra protein to the dough or batter. A good way to do this is to add 1 tablespoon of vital wheat gluten for every 1 cup of plain flour.

Questions We Hear a Lot

What is the difference between wheat flour and plain flour?

Wheat flour is made from the entire wheat kernel, including the bran, germ, and endosperm. Plain flour is made from the endosperm of the wheat kernel, which is the starchy part of the grain.

Which one should I use for baking?

The type of flour you use will depend on the recipe you’re making. If you’re making a bread, pasta, or other baked good that requires a strong structure, you’ll want to use wheat flour. If you’re making a cake, cookie, or other baked good that requires a tender crumb, you’ll want to use plain flour.

Can I substitute wheat flour for plain flour?

Yes, you can substitute wheat flour for plain flour in most recipes. However, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid you use, as wheat flour absorbs more liquid than plain flour.

Can I substitute plain flour for wheat flour?

Yes, you can substitute plain flour for wheat flour in most recipes. However, you may need to add some extra protein to the dough or batter.

What are some other types of flour that I can use for baking?

In addition to wheat flour and plain flour, there are also a number of other types of flour that you can use for baking. These include whole wheat flour, bread flour, cake flour, and pastry flour.