Different types and kinds of flours can be found on the shelves of the supermarket. Nevertheless, the two major categories which are consumed by people are bleached flour and unbleached flour. Many people are still unaware of the differences that are within these flours.
This article will serve you as a guide on the differences between bleached and unbleached flours. From taste to appearance, following are the major distinctions that can be made between these two products:
- Processing
The first prominent difference is processing of both the kinds. When pondering on unbleached flour vs bleached flour, the foremost thing is to consider the processing aspect. Bleached flour is first refined and then sold in the markets. It only contains the endosperm within it and some of the nutrients are removed. Bleached flours also contain different chemical agents which enable it to age quickly. On the contrary, unbleached flour goes through a natural process. Although it takes a bit longer to age, but it remains much healthier than the bleached flour. This is the most important difference between these two types.
- Characteristics
Bleaching is a process which comprises of many different steps. This results into different changes in the appearance, taste and texture. Provided that the aging process of bleached flour is accelerated using chemicals, it tends to have finer grain and whiter color. On the other hand, unbleached flour comes with dense grain. The texture also remains tough. However, when it comes to bleached vs unbleached flour in terms of taste, then the differences are very minimal.
- Nutrients
There are not much differences when it comes to nutritional value of these flours. Each flour has the same amount of nutrients including fats, fibers, proteins and carbohydrates. However, due to the different in the bleaching process, the content of Vitamin E may decrease in the unbleached flour. Nevertheless, it still contains the minimum amount which may be necessary. Otherwise, all other nutrients in both the types are almost identical to each other.
- Safety
This is something that many consumers may not be aware about. There are many chemical agents in the bleached flour. Therefore, the safety of the same is sometimes challenged. In fact, there are some countries where the production of the bleached flour is deemed illegal. In view thereof, you may prefer to reduce or get entirely rid of consuming bleached flour.
- Usage
Due to the differences listed above, there are many differences between bleached flour and unbleached flour when it comes to uses. Each type is used for specific recipes. For example, foods like pancakes and quick breads can be made using bleached flour due to its ability to absorb the liquid better. On the other head, unbleached flour has the ability to hold the shape better. Therefore, it can be used to make items like yeast breads. Nevertheless, each type of flour can be used in most of the baking foods without considerably changing the final product.
