plain flour
Definition
- Noun:
- Flour without a raising agent: "Plain flour" is a type of wheat flour that does not contain any added baking powder or other leavening agents. It is used for making pastries, sauces, and other baked goods where a rise is not desired or will be provided by another ingredient like yeast.
Usage
- Plain flour is a specific ingredient term used in recipes, especially in British and Commonwealth English. In American English, the closest equivalent is typically "all-purpose flour," though there can be slight protein content differences.
- It is used as a countable noun when referring to types ("two plain flours from different brands") but is most commonly used as an uncountable noun for the substance itself.
Examples
- Noun:
- For this pastry, you will need 200 grams of plain flour.
- Thicken the sauce with a mixture of plain flour and cold water.
- This recipe calls for plain flour, not self-raising flour.
Advanced Usage
- "To use plain flour": This phrase specifies the required ingredient type in cooking instructions.
- If you only have self-raising flour, you can substitute it with plain flour and baking powder.
Variants and Related Words
- Self-raising flour (n): Flour that has a raising agent (usually baking powder) already mixed into it.
- Self-raising flour is convenient for making quick cakes and scones.
- All-purpose flour (n): The common American English term for a general-use wheat flour, functionally similar to plain flour.
- Bread flour (n): A high-protein flour for yeast bread.
- Cake flour (n): A low-protein, finely milled flour for delicate cakes.
Synonyms
- All-purpose flour (primarily US English): A general-use wheat flour.
- Non-leavened flour: A technical description (less common in everyday use).
Antonyms
- Self-raising flour: Flour containing a raising agent.
- Leavened flour: Flour that causes dough to rise (a more general term).
Noun
-
flour that does not contain a raising agent
