Different Types Of Flour

Asked by Ylenia84. Answered on 11th August 2016

Full question

Hello, I'm an Italian girl, just arrived in the UK. Can you help me to understand the different types of flour here please? In Italy we have only 0 and 00 flour. What type of flour can I use in place of 0 and 00? Thank you!

Our answer

Italian 0 and 00 flour is usually made from durum wheat. This wheat has a fairly high gluten (protein) level but the gluten in durum is not the same as that found in regular wheat in most western countries. So the gluten in durum does not strengthen as much when liquid is added or when the dough is kneaded and the resulting dough is not as tough. This makes Italian 00 flour particularly good for pastry, as well as for pasta dough.

Unfortunately there is no direct UK equivalent for the very fine grade 00 flour in the UK. But it is now sold in many major supermarkets and can also be bought in Italian delis and on-line. Italian 0 flour is less finely ground and also contains a small amount of the outer husk and the closest comparative in the UK is regular plain flour. The "integrale" flour found in Italy can be substituted with UK wholemeal flour.