- The differences in flour
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- The history of flour
Flour is made by grinding common cereal grains between either steel or stone wheels, in a process known as milling. It is widely believed that the procedure was first realized around 9000 BC, although it was the Romans who were the first to use mills. The first steam mill was built in London in 1879 at the start of the Industrial Era.
- General uses of flour
Flour is used to make many foods, the most common being cakes, pasta, bread and crackers. It is also used to create a roux, the base for many sauces and gravy. Traditionally, it is the base for wallpaper paste, and can also be used to create papier-mâché.
There are many different types of flour, from plain to strong white to whole meal, each consisting of different properties and flavors. For example, the use of Tipo 00, traditionally an Italian flour, is perfect for creating fresh pasta as it allows the dough to stretch without breaking, which is ideal as it is meant to be fairly thin.
- Storing flour
All flours must be kept somewhere dry and cool to prevent it from taking in water and therefore spoiling. To get the longest shelf life on whole wheat flour, the best bet is to store it in the fridge at natural oils within it can soon make it go bad when stored at room temperature.