The Best Wheat Flour in the UK: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (06/22)

Welcome to our big wheat flour test 2022. Here we present all the wheat flours we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.

We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best wheat flour for you.

You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should be aware of if you want to buy wheat flour.

Summary

• Wheat flour is very suitable for baking bread because of its high gluten content. It can also be used to make fine baked goods.
• There are different types of wheat flour. These provide information about how many milligrams of nutrients are contained.
• Wheat flour type 405 is particularly suitable as a universal flour, as you can bake almost anything with it.

The Best Wheat Flour in the United Kingdom: Our Choices

Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying wheat flour

Bake, bake a cake, the baker has called! Of course, you can't do without flour for a delicious cake. But you can also use it for other dishes, such as pasta or pizza. In this article, we will introduce you to wheat flour: What is it and what can you use it for?

In addition, you will learn about different types of wheat flour. This will make you the new kitchen star at your next baking or cooking session!

Decision: What types of wheat flour are there and which is the right one for you?

Now you have got to know wheat flour a little better. But what exactly do the individual types look like? We have looked into them and show you the following alternatives:

• Wheat flour for fine baked goods (type 405)
• Wheat flour with highest gluten properties (type 550)
• Dark wheat flour (type 1050)
• Wheat flour with full grain content (wholemeal flour)

You will learn about their advantages and disadvantages so that you know exactly which wheat flour you need and want.

What distinguishes wheat flour for fine baked goods (type 405) and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Wheat flour can be used for fine baked goods. The type designation for this is: 405, so all wheat flour packets with this imprint are best suited for baking. This flour alternative is very fine and fluffy. That is why it is very suitable for baking. You can also use this type of wheat flour to make white bread.

The disadvantage of wheat flour type 405, however, is its gluten content. Allergy sufferers should avoid this flour and use alternatives. Wheat flour type 405 is therefore not as easily tolerated as other types and varieties of flour.

Another disadvantage is the lower amount of dietary fibre and minerals. As already mentioned, the lower the type number, the less of these are contained. So if you want more nutrients, it's best to go for a type with a higher number.

What distinguishes wheat flour with the highest gluten property (type 550) and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

This wheat flour has the type designation 550. This alternative is very similar to wheat flour type 405 and is particularly suitable for fine-pored pasta. Yeast doughs or rolls can be made with it without any problems.

Due to its handle, it absorbs the liquid more slowly when the dough rises. Thus, the dough remains more stable and delicious rolls for the next breakfast are conjured up in no time! Due to the husk content, the dough not only tastes better, but also satisfies properly.

Unfortunately, this flour is not very common and not so often available in the shops. In addition, type 550 wheat flour also contains less minerals and fibre than other types of wheat flour. In addition, the dough looks darker than with type 405.

What distinguishes dark wheat flour and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

In contrast to the alternatives already mentioned, this wheat flour still has many of the original minerals and dietary fibres. The type designation here is 1050, which means that it also contains a lot of nutrients.

You can also use this wheat flour for baking bread without any problems. To increase the gluten, you just have to mix this flour with a "lower" type. However, this could also be a disadvantage, as you always have to have two types of flour at home and it takes up space.

Also make sure that you always store type 1050 wheat flour below 20 degrees, as it can quickly become rancid.

What distinguishes whole-grain wheat flour and what are its advantages and disadvantages?

Wholemeal wheat flour is also called wholemeal flour and does not have a type number. The advantage over other types of wheat flour is that it has fewer calories. So you save some here if you are trying to lose weight.

With this variety, the whole grain is used for processing. This means that wholemeal flour contains many vitamins such as B1 and B2. It also contains healthy minerals such as magnesium, iron and zinc.

Because of all the vitamins, minerals and fibre, wholemeal flour is healthier than wheat flour and also satiates you for longer. The darker the flour, the more of these substances it contains.

One disadvantage of wholemeal flour, however, is its use in baking. If you are trying to lose weight, it is not advisable to replace wheat flour completely with wholemeal flour. You can mix both types of flour in an emergency, but wheat flour is much better for baking because of its gluten properties.

Wholemeal flour needs about 15% more water to become an elastic dough and needs a longer swelling time. So don't completely replace other types of wheat flour with wholemeal flour when baking!

Buying criteria: You can use these factors to compare and evaluate wheat flour

You should also consider the following criteria:

• Weight-price ratio
• Use
• Flour type
• Nutrients

This will give you even more information so that you can be 100% sure which wheat flour you want. After all, not all wheat flour is the same. So that you don't have to do a lot of research, we have listed the most important things here.

Weight-price ratio

When buying your wheat flour, you should pay attention to how many grams you get in the package. The variety also plays an important role.

As mentioned earlier, the type number of wheat flour indicates the milligrams of nutrients. The more nutrients it contains, the more expensive the wheat flour can be. Wholemeal flour contains more nutrients, which is why it costs a little more.

Wheat flour type 405 is very cheap and also available everywhere, but it only has 405 milligrams of nutrients. The disadvantage of wholemeal flour is that it is not very sticky. Therefore, you would have to add some wheat flour type 405 anyway.

The difference in price of a single package is not very big, but it could have an effect if you buy larger quantities. So you have to decide for yourself which type of wheat flour you need!

Use

Each type of wheat flour can be used for different cooking and baking processes. Wheat flour types 405 and 550 are particularly suitable for yeast doughs and rolls because of their gluten properties. These offer strong baking properties and quickly produce an elastic dough.

Wheat flour with a higher type number, such as 1050, is in turn somewhat darker. Biscuits and cakes cannot be baked very well with it, as it is no longer as fine-pored. However, it is a good option for making mixed breads. The taste is also somewhat more prominent with higher types.

Wholemeal flour contains the whole grain and therefore a lot of nutrients, but therefore also less gluten. It is therefore not very sticky and needs a little longer, as well as more water, to produce an elastic dough. However, you can easily mix it with other wheat flour to achieve the desired elasticity.

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Type of flour

We have already told you about different wheat flour alternatives and their advantages and disadvantages. Here is a clear list of the most important ones:

Each type can be used for different baking and cooking processes. You can also mix the wheat flours to get the best of everything.

Nutrients

Nutrients are also an important component. The degree of milling determines the type number. The higher the number, the more nutrients it contains. This is because it tells you how many milligrams of the substances are contained.

In general, wheat flour contains a lot of protein. Other substances, such as calcium or zinc, are also contained in wholemeal flour. Many different vitamins, such as B2, B3, E etc. are also part of it.

The carbohydrates in wheat flour are also very satiating and fight cravings. In addition, dietary fibres like cellulose help you not to reach for a bar of chocolate right after a meal and feel nicely satiated.

Facts worth knowing about wheat flour

Wheat flour is already something great, don't you think? But it can be even better! You can perform life hacks with the help of wheat flour.

Plus, we'll tell you how wheat flour fares when you're on a diet and how it compares to other flours.

Can I use wheat flour during my diet?

Basically yes! It does have more calories and slightly less nutrients than wholemeal flour, but that doesn't make it unhealthy.

In addition, you would always have to buy wholemeal flour and wheat flour, as wholemeal flour has less gluten properties, making it harder to bake with. In addition, all flours are very filling because of the fibre, so you don't have to worry about cravings any more!

Nothing is really unhealthy as long as it is enjoyed in moderation. A Coke or a burger between meals is not unhealthy either. It's only when you start eating these things every day.

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What else can I use wheat flour for?

Baking and cooking is all well and good. But did you know that you can use wheat flour as dry shampoo? It's very easy:

Just put two teaspoons of wheat flour in your hands and slowly massage it into your hair. Once you have worked the wheat flour into your hair, simply brush it out as normal! The hair will no longer have an unpleasant smell, but rather a neutral one. So if you forget your dry shampoo, wheat flour is a good alternative!

By the way, you can also use flour to clean chrome-plated parts (like your tap)! Just put some flour on a wet sponge and clean the area. It will shine again!

We have already told you about the party game "Flour cutting". Basically, you have to place a pile of wheat flour on a plate. On top of it you put a sweet. Now everyone has to cut off a piece of the flour mountain with a knife. When the mountain collapses, the person has to try to eat the sweet from the pile of flour.

So flour is not only a baking and cooking helper, but also a cleaning helper and a party cannon!

Where is wheat flour found everywhere?

Wheat flours are found in a great many products. Pizza, pasta, cakes, rolls, pancakes and many more. Especially type 405 is very universally applicable and is therefore contained in various dishes.

When buying or in a restaurant, look for the designation "A", which usually indicates that gluten is contained in the dish. So if you have an allergy or want to cut down on calories, use alternatives!

Rye, spelt, corn or oat flour contain very little to no gluten. So when you go out to eat again, you can ask for these varieties.

Wheat flour vs. other types of flour

Wheat flour is not the only type of flour out there though! There are also rye and spelt flours. So if you have an allergy to gluten, you can use these as an alternative. In addition, these flours are also good for baking fine pastries.

If you want to be on the safe side, you can also use maize flour, as it does not contain any gluten. However, you can't bake bread with it because the dough is not sticky.

Oat flour behaves similarly to corn flour. It has no gluten and is therefore not very suitable for baking. It also has a rather bitter taste. Nevertheless, this variety contains a lot of oil and protein.

Image source: pixabay.com / Alexas_Fotos