The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Back from self-imposed hiatus

bimfi's picture
bimfi

Back from self-imposed hiatus

A little about me. I am a former US Navy submarine cook/baker. My passion was, and still is, baking breads, pastries and cakes. After I retired from the Navy, I worked in a few bakeries around town, then left the profession to do mechanical maintenance work. In 2011 I rebuilt an old 1985 Hobart A200 dough mixer and began making Filipino breads and pastries to sell to friends and family. In 2015, I hung up my baker's cap and "mothballed" my mixer. It was a sad day for my clients who loved my breads.

Now that this self-quarantine has been going on, I decided to practice baking my breads and pastries again. My yeast, that I always kept in a glass jar in my refrigerator seemed okay but, for some reason, it was slow acting. I thought that I should buy some fresher yeast and looked online at Amazon. I could not believe that in the last 5 or more years, the cost of yeast would rise that high. Amazon was selling a 16 oz. bag for around $15. I went to the local Sam's Club and found that they were selling a two-pack of 16 oz. bags for the low price of $5.

Here is where my question comes in. Bread flour. I used to purchase 5 pounds of Gold Medal "Better for Bread" bread flour at the local AFB commissary for about 3 to 4 USD each. This had to be about 5 years ago. Now, I can't seem to find it in most of the super markets around here. So, I went online to Amazon. Most of the bread flour is being sold for about $2 per pound, or $99 for a 50 lb bag. I found at Sam's Club a 25 lb. bag of bread flour they are selling for just under $8 for the bag. This comes out to about 32 cents per pound. Granted, it's not King Arthur of Gold Medal, but it's a lot less than $2 per pound.

Does anyone know when the cost of bread flour actually began escalating? Was it due to this pandemic? Is it because more people are baking at home now? Just curious.

WatertownNewbie's picture
WatertownNewbie

Not sure where you live, but I am in Connecticut, and King Arthur flour is available (or at least was until recently when everyone and his brother apparently suddenly decided to become bread bakers) in the local supermarkets.  You asked about recent prices of flour.  The five pound bags of King Arthur (AP, bread, and whole wheat) were typically about $4.99-$5.99 with occasional sales at $2.50.  Those prices apply since the fall of 2016 when I got the bread bug and began baking, and the prices have been pretty steady.

As for current availability, I find AP and bread flour most of the time, but curiously the regular whole wheat has not been on the shelves since mid-March and only the organic whole wheat is available (and then only in the two pound bags).  I keep an eye out for AP, bread (especially), and whole wheat and get a bag when available (but not hoard -- I want others in a similar position to be able to find flour that they will use currently).

Glad to hear that you are back in the baking business, which others will appreciate.  I have made a few loaves for friends during this pandemic, and people always like fresh bread.

Happy baking -- and stay safe.

Ted

bimfi's picture
bimfi

I live in South Carolina. Most of the flour in the grocery stores here are either Gold Medal or Pillsbury. I can find King Arthur occasionally in some of the up scale stores. To me, I don't see a difference except with the prices. When I bake my filipino rolls (called Pan de Sal) I also add a small quantity of Vital Wheat Gluten to the dough. 

Not that I am going to hoard, but I have a small chest freezer in the garage. I plan to take my 25 lb bags and break them down into 5 lb bags, then place them in the freezer. I find that this helps prevent weevils and other vermin from enjoying the grain before I have a chance to use it up. Supposedly, if a bag of flour develops weevils, it has been said that placing it in the freezer will draw the bugs toward the middle of the bag. Then, supposedly, you can scoop them out of the bag. I, personally, think this is just bunk. But, who knows.

Colin2's picture
Colin2

The Grain Craft "Morbread" that is my staple is still $18 for a 50 pound sack.  I have long paid more for WW, rye, and durum, but that's because I buy small quantities as I need them from people with good quality bulk sections. Prices seem stable there too but bulk sections have generally switched to prepackaged.

Amazon has long been hit-or-miss for grocery items.  Sometimes you find specialty items at good prices; more often prices are crazy.  I notice the same for hardware items.  

bimfi's picture
bimfi

Honestly, I have never heard of this brand. I did look it up and it may be something I can use in the future, once I use up what I have in storage. Thanks for the information! Cool!

Colin2's picture
Colin2

The Grain Craft "Morbread" that is my staple is still $18 for a 50 pound sack.  I have long paid more for WW, rye, and durum, but that's because I buy small quantities as I need them from people with good quality bulk sections. Prices seem stable there too but bulk sections have generally switched to prepackaged.

Amazon has long been hit-or-miss for grocery items.  Sometimes you find specialty items at good prices; more often prices are crazy.  I notice the same for hardware items.