How to Use Bread Flour

According to the USDA, bread flour is high in gluten and protein compared to all purpose flour or pastry flour. Bread flour is made from hard red winter or spring wheat or hard white spring wheat. Bread flour purchased at the store is enriched with vitamins and minerals, making the flour a good source of nutrition. The obvious use of bread flour is to make bread, and bread flour is recommended for most bread made in a bread machine. There are a number of other recipes that bread flour can also be used for.

Things You'll Need

• Bread flour Salt Water Oil Alum Medium sized saucepan Wooden spoon Food coloring Milk Meat juices

Instructions

1. Make play dough for your kids by combining 1 cup of bread flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil, 1 tbsp. of alum in a medium saucepan. Add in 1 cup water slowly until the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the dough is stiff. Remove from the pan. Divide if desired and mix in a few drops of food coloring to each section.

2. Make white gravy by mixing together 1 cup of milk, 2 tbsp. of bread flour and 2 tbsp. of butter. Stir over high heat until thick and bubbly.

3. Make brown gravy by measuring out 1 cup or more of roasted meat juices, such as a beef roast or turkey from the bottom of the roasting pan. Place in a saucepan, add 2 tbsp. of flour and bring to a boil. Stir constantly until thick.

4. Mix white bread flour with cold cream to create a zombie-like white face for a Halloween costume. Use a ratio of 2 tbsp. cold cream for every half cup of flour.

5. Use bread flour in any bread recipe that calls for yeast. The glutens in the bread flour break down with kneading and result in a light loaf of bread. This includes rolls and pizza crusts.

Tips & Warnings

• Store bread flour in an airtight container. This will prevent moisture and bugs from getting into the flour.

• All purpose or pastry flour should be used for pie crusts and cakes, as bread flour may give either an undesired heaviness.

References

• Bread Flour, Food Resource, College of Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University
• USDA Commodity Food Fact Sheet for Schools & Child Nutrition Institutions
• Wheat Flour, Food Commodity Fact Sheets, Updated January 2006