Bread Machine Flour vs All Purpose Flour: What’s the Difference?
There are two main types of flour that you can find in the grocery store. These are bread flour and all purpose flour. For many of us, it is hard to know the difference between the two types of flour, since they can both be used for baking. A baker, on the other hand, can easily tell you the difference between the two types of flour.
The main difference between bread flour and all purpose flour is the protein content in the flour. Bread flour tends to have a higher protein content compared to all purpose flour. This high protein content is the result of bread flour being made using spring wheat, while all purpose flour tends to be made using winter wheat. The protein content adds strength to the dough and allows for the bread to rise high.
Continue reading to learn more about the difference between bread flour and all purpose flour. Also, continue reading to learn if you can substitute bread flour for all purpose flour and vice versa.
Is a Bread Machine Flour the Same as a Bread Flour?
Bread Machine Flour and Bread Flour are interchangeable terms for the same flour. Both have a high protein content and are used to make bread. The label for bread machine flour makes it seem as though this bread flour is to primarily be used in a bread machine, but either flour can be used.
There is no real difference between the two as they serve the same purpose. The primary difference between the two is the flour that is labeled for a bread machine may include an ingredient, such as citric acid, which helps the dough retain its structure as it faces the high heat of the bread machine.
When making your own bread, you can use either bread machine flour or bread flour. They both serve the same purpose of making bread, and the high protein content ensures that the dough is strong and the bread rises high.
Bread Flour and All-Purpose Flour Overview
Bread flour and all purpose flour are the two main types of flour that you can purchase from most grocery stores. Each type of flour tends to be made in order to bake certain recipes. Cake flour is meant to be used to make cakes, while bread flour is meant to be used to make bread.
Each flour has a slight difference that allows for it to be better when it comes to baking specific recipes. When it comes to bread flour and all purpose flour, for example, the primary difference is in the protein content, but it is best to understand what each type of flour is before dealing with the differences between the two.
What is a Bread Flour?
Bread flour is a hard wheat flour that tends to have a high protein content. Bread flour is most often used when baking bread as the high protein content allows for the dough to stay strong. The protein content also causes the bread to rise high.
With a protein content of 12% to 14%, bread flour tends to be a favorite among bakers in order to bake recipes that require more sturdiness and body. These recipes include bread, rolls, English muffins, and sourdoughs.
This type of flour can also be used to make noodles. The protein content can also help to make the dishes chewy, and this is perfect for noodles. Some other recipes that can be made using bread flour include:
All purpose flour is a versatile white flour that can be used to bake many different recipes as well as aid in other purposes for other recipes. There is no specific recipe in which all purpose flour is designed for.
All purpose flour has a lower protein content compared to bread flour. While bread flour has a protein content of 12% to 14%, all purpose flour only has a protein content of 9% to 12%. All purpose flour works just fine when used in different recipes when you do not have the specific flour, such as cake flour for cakes. It does not necessarily harm the quality of the recipe.
All purpose flour tends to be the most common flour bought by individuals. This is because the flour can be used for many different purposes, so you do not necessarily need to get specific flour to bake whatever recipe you are wishing to bake.
What’s the Difference Between a Bread Flour and an All Purpose Flour?
Despite all flour having a similar look and purpose, there is one big difference when it comes to bread flour and all purpose flour. This big difference is, of course, the protein content in the flour.
Bread flour is known to have a high protein content, while all purpose flour has a protein content that is much lower. Bread flour has a protein content of around 12% to 14%. All purpose flour has a protein content of 9% to 12%. For this reason, bread flour tends to be better to use when baking foods that need to be sturdier and have more volume.
Another big difference is in the purposes they are used for. When it comes to bread flour, it is best to be used when you are baking something that needs body and sturdiness. This is why it is known as bread flour as it is most commonly used to make bread. It can also be used to make rolls and English muffins.
All purpose flour, on the other hand, can serve a variety of purposes. It is the most common type of flour bought because it is versatile. This means that it can be used when baking a variety of different food items rather than having to go out and get the specific flour for the dish.
Can You Substitute Bread Flour for All Purpose Flour and Vice Versa?
While the protein content for bread flour is higher than the protein content for all purpose flour, it is perfectly acceptable to substitute bread flour for all purpose flour and all purpose flour for bread flour. While this may make some recipes, such as cakes, be somewhat chewier and a little more dense, using bread flour in place of all purpose flour is perfectly acceptable.
It is still better under this circumstance to seek out the flour that is better suited for these recipes, but it works out well. All purpose flour, on the other hand, can absolutely be substituted for bread flour in any recipe in which you would need bread flour. All purpose flour is designed to work in various recipes, so you do not need to have various quantities of flour in your home that each serve a different purpose.
Bread that is made using all purpose flour may not be as structured or high as bread made with bread flour, but it is still acceptable to use this bread to make sandwiches or to just eat on its own with a topping of your choice. This bread may also not be as chewy as the protein content in the bread flour is what gives the bread this chewy texture.
Bread flour and all purpose flour are both used for baking. Despite both being flour, bread flour is known for having a higher protein content compared to all purpose flour. All purpose flour can be used as a substitute for many different types of flour including bread flour. Bread flour can also be used as a substitute for all purpose flour.
