hard wheat flour

See also flour.

Consumers are seldom aware of the hardness or softness of flour. These are the characteristics of the two types: hard wheat falls into separate particles if shaken in the hand while soft wheat flour clumps a bit and tends to hold its shape if pressed together. Hard wheat flour feels somewhat course and granular when rubbed between the fingers. Soft wheat flour feels smooth, more like talcum powder. Different kinds of wheat flours are selected for those qualities specific to the food product. Hard wheat flour is more suitable for commercial bread production because it has the qualities to produce a lighter, more porous texture. This is the same reason that hard wheat flour is added to whole wheat and rye flours for bread. Soft wheat flours are sold for family use for biscuit or cake flours. In commercial production it is used for crackers, cakes, cookies and pastries.