So, you’ve just started baking at home, and you’ve discovered there are quite a few different types of flour. If you’re thinking about baking bread at home, you should find out more about strong flour. Let’s talk about what it is and how you can use it.
What is strong flour?
Similar to other types of flour, strong flour is obtained by grinding grains with a technique called milling. Still, it differs from all-purpose flour as it is made exclusively from hard wheat grains. And those hard grains are what provide the high protein content in strong flour.
Hence, strong flour is recommended to make the dough, especially when it comes to baking bread. It needs a lot of kneading due to the protein content, but the resulting product is highly nutritious. Strong flour tastes like other flours, but it has an off-white color, being coarser and denser.
Can those with gluten allergies or sensitivities use strong flour?
Although this type of flour is excellent for homemade bread, you should know it is not recommended for those having celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy. Alternatives to strong flour for these people include coconut flour or almond flour.
What can be baked with strong flour?
As mentioned above, the main purpose of flour is in breadmaking. Of course, several other strong flour recipes can help you bake items such as bagels, bannocks, pizza dough, panettone, or even cakes.
Can you switch other types of flour with strong flour?
Mainly, it is always recommended to follow the recipe and use the suggested ingredients for it. But, of course, if you prefer using strong flour, you can switch it with all-purpose flour in several bread recipes or pizza doughs. The only thing you should know is that it isn’t recommended to use strong flour for cakes or pastries, as these require a specific flour to achieve a fluffy texture.
Is strong flour suitable for bread machines?
If it were to check the bread maker recipe books, you would discover that they suggest you always use bread machine flour. This is regular bread flour, so it has nothing special in it. Still, no one talks about the strength a flour needs to have to be suitable for bread machines. So, the main thing that matters when it comes to baking bread with a bread machine is the quality of the flour used.
This means that if you are using high-quality strong flour, you can bake your bread in a bread machine. This high protein flour will definitely offer you an impressive loaf of bread. So, this being said, you are ready to bake with strong flour. Make sure you follow your recipe’s indications, and, of course, you use the best bread making machine. Keep in mind that if you have a gluten allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance, you should avoid baking with strong flour. Instead, you can use gluten-free flour for the best baking results.
