Teach Me!!what Is The Difference Between
Decorating By soldiernurse Updated 22 Aug 2013 , 7:06pm by soldiernurse

A1. Bleached and unbleached all purpose flour? 2. Cake flour? 3. Better than bread Flour?
And when/why do you use each??:shock:

You'd be smart to go to a flour milling company website like http://www.kingarthurflour.com/flours/ for an exact definition of each. I'm too busy this morning to type, sorry. Sometimes, you've got to experiment yourself using the same recipe and changing out the flours in order to really comprehend the differences and make your own opinions about what you like.

Does anyone else have anything to add?? I'd rather not waste product if I don't have to..

Do you have a more specific question than the ones you asked that were answered by Stitches?
Bleached flour is best used for cookies, pancakes and pies. Unbleached for everything else.
Cake flour - for cakes
Bread flour - for bread.
You can use AP flour in any of these instances, bleached or unbleached per your own preference. I prefer to use unbleached AP for everything. You can use the specific flours for a more refined product, but it's not a necessity.


Does anyone else have anything to add?? I'd rather not waste product if I don't have to..
lol then you must not want to learn to bake. Unfortunately wasting product is part of the process of being a baker and developing recipes. If you are worried about wasting product due to funds try using boxed mixes and canned frostings until you can experiment with scratch recipes without stressing yourself out....

Actually your questions make sense because different types of flour work for different products and it is important to know about that.
Flour types are based on the wheats ( a variety) with different proteins contents...some produce more gluten than others and so your choice for a recipe will be ... do you want more gluten or not.
a) high proteins are recommended for yeast products like breads, rolls and stuff that needs support. This would be your bread flour.
b|) L.ower protein flour is good for chemically leavened baked goods ie. using baking powder or baking soda.
c) cake/pastry flours have low end of protein. This gives you delicate fine crumb cakes and light airy biscuits.
If a recipe recommends cake/pastry flour you want to use it. Growing up we only used cake flour for cakes but I sometimes try it now for shortcakes and cookies. I use to use only all purpose flour for just about everything but now can get the bread flour and use that for breads and bread machines.
What I can remember about bleached vs. unbleached flour has to do with processing the flour. Bleached is faster but has a different taste ( at least for me... only had unbleached flour in stores in my area.) I think they use chemicals to treat the bleached flour and it is much faster method of production. ( That turned me off right there).
I have found in a pinch I use all purpose unbleached flour a lot but when the recipe calls for pastry/cake flour you will get a nicer cake.
Understand why you don't want to waste product. I always get upset when a new recipe ends up so so or crummy. You will need to experiment once in a while but hope this flour info keeps you on budget.

I googled "difference between flours" and it came up with 15,000,000 results.
here's one of those:
http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-cake-flou-74565

I googled "difference between flours" and it came up with 15,000,000 results.
here's one of those:
http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-cake-flou-74565
ikr...thank you!
lol then you must not want to learn to bake. Unfortunately wasting product is part of the process of being a baker and developing recipes. If you are worried about wasting product due to funds try using boxed mixes and canned frostings until you can experiment with scratch recipes without stressing yourself out....
good idea..tks

Actually your questions make sense because different types of flour work for different products and it is important to know about that.
Flour types are based on the wheats ( a variety) with different proteins contents...some produce more gluten than others and so your choice for a recipe will be ... do you want more gluten or not.
a) high proteins are recommended for yeast products like breads, rolls and stuff that needs support. This would be your bread flour.
b|) L.ower protein flour is good for chemically leavened baked goods ie. using baking powder or baking soda.
c) cake/pastry flours have low end of protein. This gives you delicate fine crumb cakes and light airy biscuits.
If a recipe recommends cake/pastry flour you want to use it. Growing up we only used cake flour for cakes but I sometimes try it now for shortcakes and cookies. I use to use only all purpose flour for just about everything but now can get the bread flour and use that for breads and bread machines.
What I can remember about bleached vs. unbleached flour has to do with processing the flour. Bleached is faster but has a different taste ( at least for me... only had unbleached flour in stores in my area.) I think they use chemicals to treat the bleached flour and it is much faster method of production. ( That turned me off right there).
I have found in a pinch I use all purpose unbleached flour a lot but when the recipe calls for pastry/cake flour you will get a nicer cake.
Understand why you don't want to waste product. I always get upset when a new recipe ends up so so or crummy. You will need to experiment once in a while but hope this flour info keeps you on budget.
very informative..thanks for taking the time..I have a better understanding now!!

Do you have a more specific question than the ones you asked that were answered by Stitches?
Bleached flour is best used for cookies, pancakes and pies. Unbleached for everything else.
Cake flour - for cakes
Bread flour - for bread.
You can use AP flour in any of these instances, bleached or unbleached per your own preference. I prefer to use unbleached AP for everything. You can use the specific flours for a more refined product, but it's not a necessity.
got it..tks

AA little tidbit we got from school was that ap flour was created so housewives could have a reasonably soft cake and a reasonably firm bread without breaking the bank buying both flowers. Unfortunately I cant find any info on that on the web so it may just be a charming anecdote

A little tidbit we got from school was that ap flour was created so housewives could have a reasonably soft cake and a reasonably firm bread without breaking the bank buying both flowers. Unfortunately I cant find any info on that on the web so it may just be a charming anecdote
The above explanation is fairly accurate (except for the "housewife" word). At my bakery, I used several kinds of white flours: hi-gluten, cake, and pastry. For whole wheat flours: stone ground, ww pastry, and white wheat. We made our own oat flour.
For most home bakers, buying one kind of flour is simpler than keeping several bags in your pantry.

AThis article on flour is very interesting: http://www.realbakingwithrose.com/baking_science/

This article on flour is very interesting: http://www.realbakingwithrose.com/baking_science/
..very interesting..that took quite a bit of work..

The above explanation is fairly accurate (except for the "housewife" word). At my bakery, I used several kinds of white flours: hi-gluten, cake, and pastry. For whole wheat flours: stone ground, ww pastry, and white wheat. We made our own oat flour.
For most home bakers, buying one kind of flour is simpler than keeping several bags in your pantry.
yes, it is!!
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