Bread flour vs ordinary plain flour?

AussieLass

All I ever use is Plain flour & wholemeal plain flour for making bread. Been making bread for about 15 years now. So I can tell you it's fine. I've never used bread flour tbh. HTH.

AussieLass

Well of course I can. *puts down wine* and goes and gets recipe. Ok I know it off by heart but just in case. Wow...we're having a shower of rain.

1 cup warm water , 1 tbsp milk
1 tbsp oil , 1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp honey (since honey has become pricey I've stopped with the honey),
1 tsp salt
Combine in bowl. Stir.
Add in
1 1/2 cups Plain flour, 1 1/2 cups WM Plain Flour,
2 tsp dried yeast.

Knead for about 5 mins. Cover & rest in bowl for about 40 mins. Knock back & knead for a few minutes. Place in oiled loaf tin, cover. Let it rise until it doubles in size (about 30 mins). Bake 350 degrees 30 - 35 mins. I've never had a dud yet and that's saying something for me.

Bitsy_Beans

I've not made a loaf or buns with plain flour but I always use plain for making tortillas etc.
HTH

funkymonkey849

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I've not made a loaf or buns with plain flour but I always use plain for making tortillas etc.
HTH

Do you have a recipe/instructions for tortillas? They are quite expensive so it would be great to make my own

yummyhoney

i get strong white flour in tesco,,it there own brand in a pink bag and it's .82c it's perfect for bread,,

puss14

Thanks Aussielass, Im definitely going to give that recipe a whirl on the weekend. Very much appreciated:T

geordie_joe

Probably a silly question, but what makes strong flour strong?

I was looking at flour in Morrisons this morning and all the flour, plain and strong bread flour, just list Wheat Flour as the only ingredient.

CCP

geordie_joe wrote: »

Probably a silly question, but what makes strong flour strong?

I was looking at flour in Morrisons this morning and all the flour, plain and strong bread flour, just list Wheat Flour as the only ingredient.

It's the amount of gluten in it - bread flour has more gluten than plain flour. More gluten makes the dough stickier / stiffer, which makes it rise more - the stronger the flour, the better the bread rises (my local Tesco now sells 'extra strong' bread flour, too, which I must try experimenting with).

The difference comes from the way the flour is milled, but I can't tell you any more than that (I only know this much as I visited an old windmill while I was on holiday earlier this month and there was a little display that explained all this! ). Someone more technically minded might be able to give you a better explanation.

NualaBuala

AussieLass wrote: »

Well of course I can. *puts down wine* and goes and gets recipe.

:rotfl:
Thank you so much for the recipe - I just hope it's me-proof!

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I've not made a loaf or buns with plain flour but I always use plain for making tortillas etc.
HTH

Oh great thank you :T - did you use the recipe that's here somewhere? I'll have to search it out. BTW I always smile when I see your username as I had a doll called Betsy Beans when I was little - she was my favourite!

yummyhoney wrote: »

i get strong white flour in tesco,,it there own brand in a pink bag and it's .82c it's perfect for bread,,

Thanksa mill yummyhoney - I've never seen that, will have to look out for it. My Tesco often doesn't have any bread flour, even the dear stuff but I'll look carefully next time and check out another branch.

Fluffysheep38

I thought it might be nice to make a loaf of bread for tea tonight but I've realised I don't have any proper bread flour.

I have SR flour and Plain flour, both of which are a top brand version (on a BOGOF).

Can I use this flour or will it not work?

Thanks for any help