Wheat flour is the most common type of flour used in yeast baking. It contains a high amount of protein that, when mixed with liquids, form gluten. Gluten is a rubbery substance that gives structure and elasticity to doughs. When yeast dough is kneaded, the gluten forms a structured network that captures the leavening gas produced by the yeast, allowing the dough to stretch and expand during rising.
Choosing the correct flour is important for making good bread. There are two basic types of wheat grown in North America, hard and soft. Flour made from hard wheat has a higher level of protein, making it the flour of choice for most yeast doughs. Flour made from soft wheat has a lower level of protein and is best suited for making pastries and cakes.
Wheat Flour
- White Flour: white flours are milled from the endosperm or inner part of the wheat kernel.
- Bread flour is the preferred flour for most yeast-leavened products. It is made from hard wheat and contains high amounts of the gluten-forming proteins.
- All-purpose flour is a blend of hard and soft wheat and contains lower amounts of the proteins that form gluten. It is the most versatile of all the wheat flours and can be used for cookies, cakes and pies and some yeast-raised baked goods. Yeast-leavened breads made with all-purpose flour may have a smaller volume.Some brands of all-purpose flour contain higher amounts of protein that would make them comparable to bread flour quality. Protein levels of around 11-12% are ideal for yeast-leavened breads.
Magic happens when you mix flour and water together! The mixture transforms into a smooth and elastic web of gluten strands. Think of the dough as a balloon. The job of the dough is to hold the gases produced by the yeast.
- Whole Grain Flour: whole grain flours are milled from the entire wheat kernel, which includes the bran and germ. These don’t contribute to the gluten-forming properties of dough.
Yeast breads baked with the whole grain flours (like whole wheat) are more compact and lower in volume than those made from white flour.
The whole grain wheat flours form less gluten and are usually combined with bread flour to insure good volume and appearance in breads.
Looking to add more whole grains to your breads? You can substitute up to 50% of bread flour with the whole grain flour. Start substituting in whole grain flours with a lower percentage, working your way up as you make more breads.
To compensate for the low bread volumes, vital wheat gluten can be added to help make the dough lighter, rise higher and have a better texture and taste.
Explore our Whole Grain Recipes
Rye Flour
Rye flours are used frequently in yeast breads. They form less gluten than wheat flours and are usually combined with a substantially larger amount of bread flour for the bread to rise properly.
Typically, you can substitute up to 1/3 of bread flour with rye flour.
Give rye flour a try with our fan-favorite Rye Bread Recipes.
Self-rising flour
Self-rising flour is an all-purpose flour that has baking soda and salt added. It is used for dumplings, biscuits, and pancakes. Self-rising flour is never used in yeast-raised baked goods.
How to measure flour correctly
Because flour is sifted many times before being packaged, sifting flour before using is not necessary. However, it is important not to dip the measuring cup into the flour bag (unless recipe specifies this method); instead, scoop or spoon the flour lightly into a dry measuring cup. Do not tap or shake the cup to put more flour into it. Using the flat edge of a knife, scrape off the excess to make the flour even with the rim of the measuring cup. This method will assure an accurate measurement.
For most recipes, use the Spoon-and-Sweep method to measure flour
Moisture variances in your flour
Flour can vary in terms of how much liquid it can absorb due to differences in flour types, protein levels, weather conditions, and how the flour has been stored.
Always start out using the lower amount of flour in the range suggested in your recipe, adding more in as needed during the mixing and kneading stage. Doughs that are too dry or too wet will not rise well.
Storage Tips
Store flour in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from heat. Whole grain flours and other varieties of flour have a higher amount of fat and should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer to preserve its freshness and baking quality. Let flour come to room temperature before using.
