The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

bread flour

metropical's picture
metropical

bread flour

has been hard to come by in these parts of late.

is there anything one should do to use AP for loaf brads instead of bread?
Add some tofu or ...?
Or doesn't the 1% make a big difference?

ciabatta's picture
ciabatta

Sure is.  where abouts do you live?  i'm in southern california and i have not seen bread flour on a shelf at all.  Fortunately the restaurant wholesaler nearby (Restaurant Depot) is now open to the public.  50 lbs of Harvest King bread flour cost me $13.75.  i'm sharing with a few friends.  

depending on brand of AP and protein content, you might be alright. AP will take less water than bread flour generally and you will need to work it more to develop the gluten. Loaf bread (in a bread pan) should be more forgiving.

if you can find it, some suggest adding a small amount of Vital Wheat Gluten to your AP to strengthen it. i have not had good success with that. probably due to my own lack of understanding.

metropical's picture
metropical

Long Island.  I got one 5lb KAF a few weeks ago.  That was a lucky find.

I've though about RD, but I don't know others nearby that bake bread.

I use KAF AP which is 11.7% as compared to their bread 12.7%.

This is for load bread in a pan.  Just set a pan for rise a few minutes ago.

I use VWG with vit C this time, even with the bread flour.  Time will tell.

ciabatta's picture
ciabatta

KAF AP is like a bread flour. you'll be fine. i think more of your friends are baking than you'll realize. i gave away 20 lbs already to people that i never thought would be interested in baking bread.  why do you think all the shelves are emptied.  lol.

jB's picture
jB

When the grocery stores had no flour, I found KA white whole wheat in Target.  Every once in a while it turns up at the Hannaford's grocery store, they are also stocking bigger bags of KA all purpose and big bags of something called Hotel and Restaurant flour.  Last week there was KA bread flour at Walmart.  Our local food coop always had flour. I'm in upstate NY where the stores were stripped for weeks.  Now it's still harder to find cleaning supplies and dish detergent, easy if you don't care about the brand.  You can get almost anything if you are willing to wander through a few stores.

idaveindy's picture
idaveindy

now in Indianapolis Walmart stores as well as Kroger stores.  Hence, I suppose most Walmarts, and chains similar to Kroger have it too.

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

can help AP flour.  According to wiki, egg whites contain 148 different proteins and with that, something should be useful.  About half the proteins in an egg can be found in the yolk as well so if your bread askes for fats, add the yolk into your total fats.  Weigh the egg whites like water, with the water and whip it together before adding to flour. 

Downside is shelf life tends to shorten.  Try one egg white per 500g flour.  Tofu also sounds interesting but i bet it needs to be added before it is set into tofu to bond on a molecular level.  Soy flour? Might be interesting. 

KathyF's picture
KathyF

We've been able to pick up a bag of King Arthur bread flour on occasion. If you see vital wheat gluten on the shelf (Bob's Red Mill sells it), pick it up. You can add some of it to your all purpose flour to make it more like bread flour if necessary.

metropical's picture
metropical

I have and use VWG on occasion.  Used to find Hodgsons with vit C added.  But judging from the new owners dropping rye flour, I suspect VWG w/C will go by the wayside as well.
The tofu does sound interesting ...

Mini Oven's picture
Mini Oven

Soyaflour roux?   Or any roux for that matter...