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Types of Flour for Making Pizza

Pizza bars and restaurants are always looking for good quality flours for their pizza – but what does this mean? There isn’t a lot of information available online for finding the best flour in the UK. In this blog, we will explain the different types of flour and then compare the best ones available with the UK pizza flour suppliers.

So, what types of pizza flour are available in the UK?

Plain Flour



Plain Flour for pizza making

Plain flour contains low protein content (9 to 10 percent) which is too little than is required for making the best pizza. Many home cooks will have this in their kitchen cabinets and may be wondering if they can use it for a recipe they found. The simple answer is yes, it’ll work fine. However, if you want to make a better pizza then you should choose some flour that contains higher protein content. This type of flour can be used for cakes, pastries, and bread, but does not do any of them too well. Self-raising flour is essentially plain flour which contains a raising agent like sodium bicarbonate. It is used for making pancakes and sponges and isn’t really meant for bread and pizza.

Strong White Bread Flour



Strong Pizza Flour for Pizza Making in UK

This flour can be easily found in any supermarket thanks to its increased popularity in baking. It is a great option for baking pizza in a home oven. This flour contains relatively higher protein content (12 to 14 percent) so it’s suitable for a home oven pizza, New York style or thin crust. Also, as it’s got more gluten development, it is very elastic. You might find it hard to roll out or stretch. The key is to bring the dough to room temperature and give it some time to rest before stretching.

‘00’ Bread Flour



Pizza flour for pizza making

Italian flours are graded based on how well they are milled. The ‘00’ refers to the finest milling and the lowest grade. Also, it is made from the softest wheat and thus produces a delicate dough. This flour usually contains a medium-high protein content (12.5 percent approx.). It is manufactured for high temperatures in a wood fired oven, so it’s not really suitable for home oven pizzas. It is relatively more expensive and harder to work with, so if you are not cooking pizza in a wood fired oven, use the other bread flour.  You can buy this flour from a reputable pizza flour supplier or a quality food shop selling Italian produce. As it is a specialist, high quality flour and is usually imported, you’ll have to pay a bit more for it.

The Right Flour for The Right Pizza

The two most popular types of pizza are the New York style pizza, which is cooked in a conventional oven and the Neapolitan pizza which is made in a wood fired oven.

New York Pizza


New York Pizza

It is cooked for a longer period and has a stronger, chewy crust which allows the pizza to be picked by the slice. New York pizza is usually cooked at home and as home ovens cannot usually reach the high temperatures as the pizza oven, the ‘strong bread flour’ with high protein content works best for it.

Neapolitan Pizza


Neapolitan Pizza

It is cooked in a wood fired oven at high temperatures which leaves a slight crisp in the outer layer and a soft interior. The Italian ‘00’ flour works best for this pizza style as it is milled finely for softness and contains the ideal amount of protein. This type of pizza is usually eaten with a fork and knife as its slices don’t hold up.

Common Pizza Flour Related FAQs

Where to buy pizza flour?


If you are looking for the best pizza flour UK. Don’t worry about it; the best flour for pizza UK is commonly available at the store’s many food distributors distribute these to the marts and shops, so you can easily buy this from them. The best flour for pizza dough UK is 00 pizza flour.

Which flour is best for pizza?


There are several varieties of flour available for pizza baking. The amount of protein in them is the primary distinction between them. The most used flour for making pizza is wheat flour type “00”, with a medium-high W strength or a protein content from 11-12% up. But you can also use other flours and should know the main difference between different flours. Try different experiments. 00 is just a name of flour used mainly in Italy. The minimum amount of protein in flour required is 9 per cent for pizza baking.

What is the difference between bread flour and pizza flour?


Two types of flour that are frequently used in baking are bread flour and pizza flour. Although they are both manufactured from wheat, they have certain vital distinctions that make them more suitable for particular uses.

Wheat flour with a greater protein level than bread flour is known as pizza flour. Because of its increased ability to absorb water, pizza dough has a nice, chewy feel. Conversely, bread flour has a lower protein content than other types of flour, making it better for making bread and other light, airy baked goods.

 Is 00 pasta flour OK for pizza?


Yes, 00 pasta flour is perfect for pizza dough. No gluten is contained in the 00, which refers to the milling fineness.

Only refined grains with the nutritious but coarse-textured bran and germ removed may provide the finest-texturing 00 flour. After then, it is milled repeatedly until it has an extra-fine consistency. Several varieties are available if you wish to use 00 wheat to make pizza dough or pasta.

The main difference between these flours is gluten content, as pasta-making requires slightly lower gluten flour than a pizza. They will usually be labelled as ‘00 pasta flour’ or ‘00 pizza flour’.

Does pizza flour the same as plain flour?


It is essential to know that Italian 00 flour (pizza flour) is not the same as plain flour, but plain flour can be used to make pizzas.

It primarily concerns protein content, and the majority of the protein in wheat is directly correlated with the amount of gluten the flour creates when used to make dough.

Italian 00 flours range in protein content, but the wheat is ground to the finest or smallest setting (00).

The percentage of protein in plain or all-purpose flours ranges from 9 to 12%. Typically, bread flour has more than 12% protein, while high-protein bread flour contains 14% to 15% protein.

The kneaded dough can benefit greatly from sitting in the refrigerator for at least one night to increase its extensibility and elasticity. Additionally, a polish pre-ferment can increase the dough’s capacity to stretch.

How to substitute other flour for 00 flour in a pizza dough?


Best 00 Flour Substitutes

  • Bread Flour

When baking pizza, bread flour is the ideal 00 flour alternative. It contains a lot of gluten, which makes the dough smooth and elastic. It won’t work as well as 00 flour, but it will still produce great pizza dough.

Both bread flour and 00 flour contain a lot of gluten, which makes them ideal for creating pizza or bread dough since they produce an incredibly chewy crust.

  • Whole Wheat Flour

Whole wheat flour is used instead of 00 flour in pizza dough. However, whole wheat flour may alter the texture, making the pizza dough a bit harsher. It is not as finely ground, either.

  • All-purpose flour

All-purpose flour is an excellent substitute for 00 flour for pizza and is the most commonly available. While it is not completely useful for all purposes, its properties make it a good substitute for most other forms of flour, 00 included. Hard and soft wheat flour are combined to create all-purpose flour.

Conclusion

When you begin planning to make pizza, you may wonder if that plain flour in your kitchen cabinet will do the job. However, as you get more advanced, you’ll be buying the best flours you can find in the market. Flour isn’t too expensive, so it makes sense to get the best quality flour available, considering that it is the main ingredient in your pizza recipe.

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