Plain flour or self raising flour, which flour is best for the job? - FAB (2024)

FAQs

Which is better plain or self-raising flour? ›

Unlike plain flour, self-rising flour already comes pre-mixed with a fixed distribution of salt and a raising agent out of the box. Generally, self-rising flour also has a lower protein content, so it's often used in recipes that benefit from being lighter and more tender, like biscuits.

Either cake flour or pastry flour can be used as a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour in most baking recipes. Steer away from cake flour for chewy bread baking, though, and opt instead for bread or whole-wheat flour for your no-knead and sourdough loaves.

Typically, store-bought self-rising flour contains a lower protein content than generic all-purpose flour, giving baked goods a tender crumb. (You might notice a very small difference when using this homemade substitute in quick breads and cakes, but it typically won't be noticeable in fried foods.)

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

Do not use self rising flour with yeast-raised breads or sourdough. As a general rule, you probably do not want to use self rising flour if there is another leavening agent called for in the recipe, such as yeast or baking soda. The leavening in the self rising flour should be enough.

Bread recipes usually ask for plain flour, and that's because the raising agent comes from the yeast working with the water, flour and salt. If you use self-raising flour, your bread won't rise evenly and you could end up with a stodgy crumb.

All-purpose flour is a versatile and general-use wheat flour. It is milled from hard red wheat or a blend of hard and soft wheats, typically at a 80:20 ratio. As the name suggests, all-purpose flour is suitable for all types of baked goods, such as bread, biscuits, pizza, cookies, muffins, etc.

Substituting Plain Flour in Your Recipes

For each cup of all-purpose flour, simply use one cup of plain flour. Keep in mind that plain flour in the UK has a slightly lower protein content, which may affect the texture of your final baked goods.

Rice flour and cornstarch work particularly well because they fry up crispier than wheat flour. They also absorb less moisture and fat during the frying process, making the products less greasy. This is why rice flour is often used when making tempura because it produces a very thin and crispy, dry crust.

Self-rising flour is a staple in many recipes — particularly Southern recipes like biscuits, cobblers and more. It simplifies the baking process by including the leavener and salt right in with the flour, making it handy to have around when you're running low on baking supplies (or time to assemble it all).

What flour makes bread rise the best? ›

This is because the higher protein content of bread flour will help you create the high rise and rustic crust of an artisan style loaf. If, however, you're looking to bake a super soft brioche, you'll need to use a bread flour in the lower protein range.

While bread flour is more than adequate for everyday breads, some professional bakers use high-gluten flour with a 14% protein content to provide extra strength to dense, chewy doughs like bagels and pizza dough. High-gluten bread flour gives milk bread it's taut structure and compact (but tender) crumb.

While it's similar to all-purpose flour, self-raising flour isn't as rich in protein as all-purpose flour. Also like all-purpose flour, self-rising flour is enriched with added nutrition. It also contains salt and baking powder that has been distributed evenly throughout the flour and acts as a leavening agent.

Self-rising flour is a staple in many recipes — particularly Southern recipes like biscuits, cobblers and more. It simplifies the baking process by including the leavener and salt right in with the flour, making it handy to have around when you're running low on baking supplies (or time to assemble it all).

When making cakes or bread, it is essential you use plain or self-raising flour as stated in the recipe for successful results. You can also buy self-raising flour, which has the raising agent already added.

Self-raising flour includes a raising agent such as baking powder. Use this storecupboard staple to create beautiful fluffy cakes, scones, pancakes, biscuits and other bakes.