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[[File:Flours.jpg|thumb|Three different kinds of [[Wheat flour|wheat]] and [[rye flour]].]]

[[File:Flours.jpg|thumb|Three different kinds of [[Wheat flour|wheat]] and [[rye flour]].]]

'''Flour''' is [[grain]]s that have been dried and ground into [[powder]]. It is usually made of [[wheat]]. Flour is used to make many [[food]]s.

'''Flour''' is [[grain]]s that have been dried and ground into [[powder]]. It is usually made of [[wheat]], but can also be made from many other [[grains]], [[nuts]] and other substances. Flour is used to make many [[food]]s.

Flour is an important part of [[bread]], [[pasta]], [[cookie]]s, [[cake]]s, [[tortilla]]s. Flour is made in a [[flour mill]] where the grain is put between two [[stone]]s or [[steel]] [[wheel]]s which are rubbed together to make the grains into powder.

Flour is an important part of [[bread]], [[pasta]], [[cookie]]s, [[cake]]s, [[tortilla]]s. Flour is made in a [[mill (grinding)|flour mill]] where the grain is put between two [[stone]]s or [[steel]] [[wheel]]s which are rubbed together to make the grains into powder.

The main kinds of flour used in [[cooking]] are all-purpose flour, self-raising flour and cake flour. Self-raising flour contains a [[leavening agent]]. This makes the food rise (expand) during [[baking]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bakingbites.com/2007/08/what-is-self-rising-flour/|title=What is self-rising flour?|date=2 August 2007|work=Baking Bites}}</ref> It produces lighter and softer baked foods by creating small bubbles. Flour that does not have a leavening agent is called all-purpose flour, or plain flour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzle.com/articles/self-rising-flour-vs-all-purpose-flour.html|title=Self-rising Flour Vs. All-purpose Flour|date=29 August 2012|author=Priya Johnson|work=Buzzle}}</ref>

Flour can also be made at home. Some people like to make flour at home because when flour comes from the factory, the outer shells of the grains have usually been removed. The outer shells have fiber which is needed for metabolism. Flour has many nutrients. You can even make flour out of things such as pumpkins, pumpkin seeds, brown and white rice, wheat, etc.

 

[[File:Wheat P1210892.jpg|thumb|A field of wheat prior to harvesting]]

It was discovered around 6000 BC that [[wheat]] seeds could be crushed between simple millstones to make flour.<ref>[http://www.stonepages.com/news/archives/003061.html/ Archaeo News] -Source: Eurasianet.org (2008-12-9); Published 2008-12-14</ref> The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] were the first to grind seeds on cone mills. Most mills were driven by wind ([[windmill]]s) or water. Later, they were driven by steam.<ref>[http://www.flour-art-museum.de/english/background-and-culture/history-of-flour.html] -History of flour</ref> In the 1930s, some flour began to be enriched with [[iron]], [[niacin]], [[thiamine]] and [[riboflavin]]. In the 1940s, mills started to enrich flour and [[folic acid]] was added to the list in the 1990s.

== Related pages ==

== Related pages ==

[[Category:Flour| ]]

[[Category:Flour| ]]