OXO Good Grips 11 lb Stainless Steel Food Scale
For seeing the display past a wide bowl
OXO Good Grips 11 lb Stainless Steel Food ScaleA pull-out display helps keep the reading visible under larger containers.
11 lb (5.0 kg), reads in 1 g steps
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Bread flour vs all-purpose flour
Bread flour has more protein than all-purpose flour, about 12 to 13% against roughly 10 to 12% for US brands. More protein means more gluten, so bread flour absorbs more water and gives a chewier, taller loaf. You can swap one for the other; adjust the water by a few percent.
Use bread flour for crusty, chewy, open loaves and high hydration. Use all-purpose for softer loaves, sandwich bread and rolls. All-purpose in a bread-flour recipe? Hold back 2 to 5% of the water. Bread flour in an all-purpose recipe? It may need a little more, as it absorbs slightly more.
Side by side
Protein varies by brand: King Arthur's all-purpose is about 11.7%, close to some bread flours. Check the bag. Hydration ranges for each are in the hydration chart.
| Bread flour | All-purpose | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | About 12 to 13% | About 10 to 12%, by brand |
| Water it takes | More | Less |
| Crumb | Chewier, more open | Softer, more tender |
| Best for | Sourdough, baguettes, bagels | Sandwich bread, rolls, enriched dough |
Swapping
All-purpose in a bread-flour recipe: hold back 2 to 5% of the water and add it only if the dough feels stiff; expect a slightly softer loaf. Bread flour in an all-purpose recipe: you may need a little more water. Both swaps are fine for most home bread. Recipes in cups? Use the cups to grams converter; the two flours weigh about the same per cup.
Vital wheat gluten
Adding vital wheat gluten raises all-purpose flour's strength toward bread flour, useful for whole grain loaves: King Arthur suggests a tablespoon or two per loaf, about 9 to 18 g. Count it as flour in baker's percentage.
Questions bakers ask
Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?
Yes. Hold back a little water and expect a softer, slightly less tall loaf.
Is bread flour better for sourdough?
It makes higher hydration and an open crumb easier, but many great sourdoughs use all-purpose.
Equipment for this job
Keep what you own when it does the job. These are the other exact models we profile.
OXO Good Grips 11 lb Stainless Steel Food Scale