How is flour made from whole grain wheat and where is it used?

Often in healthy food recipes it is suggested to use whole-milled (whole grain) flour instead of regular flour. This product has proven itself as a source of vitamins and microelements. Anyone who wants to improve their body’s health should pay attention to it. We will tell you how flour is made from whole wheat grains and offer recipes for baking based on it.

Features of whole grain flour and its difference from regular flour

Whole grain flour differs from ordinary white flour in the degree of processing: the grain is ground by single grinding, which allows all the valuable components of the cereal to remain in the product - the grain germ, flower shell, endosperm.

When making regular flour, only the endosperm, the protein tissue of the grain, is preserved. Whole-ground grains retain more useful substances, the balance of proteins and carbohydrates is equalized, which allows this product to be used as a medicinal and dietary product.

Kinds

A whole grain product is made by grinding wheat once using millstones without subsequent sifting through a sieve. Based on the degree of grinding and the size of the resulting particles, flour is distinguished:

• coarse;
• medium grind;
• fine grinding.

The finer the grind, the lighter and airier the baking dough obtained from such a product.

Depending on the grain that serves as the basis for production, flour can be:

• from soft varieties of wheat;
• from durum wheat.

What kind of flour is used for bread? The soft variety is more crumbly, weakly absorbs liquid, and is prone to rapid hardening. It is used in baking bread and confectionery. Made from durum varieties, on the contrary, it does not go stale for a long time; pasta is often made from it.

What wheat is premium flour made from?

To make premium flour, the same raw materials are used as for others, but the production technology is different. It includes several stages:

1. Preliminary cleaning of grain in the separator from contaminants and tendrils.
2. Grinding grains in a mill. At the end of the process, the raw materials are poured into the collection compartment.
3. Sifting, during which the product is cleared of all excess impurities and particles.
4. Packing.

Thanks to this processing, the flour has a snow-white color and consists of the finest particles of endosperm in the upper layers, approximately 0.1 mm in size.

The influence of wheat gluten on the quality indicators of flour

Premium flour is rich in gluten, or gluten. This is an insoluble protein, thanks to which flour has excellent baking properties. It produces a porous, airy pastry, but such products are very high in calories and are not good for health, especially for the digestive and endocrine systems.

Chemical composition

Wholemeal flour has greater nutritional value than regular wheat flour.

100 g of product contains:

• proteins – 13 g;
• fat – 3 g;
• carbohydrates – 72 g.

The calorie content of a whole grain product per 100 g is 340 kcal.

Whole grain wheat flour contains vitamins B, E, K, beta-carotene, as well as potassium, manganese, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, and amino acids.

Whole grain bread is used for weight loss and diabetes.The product has a low glycemic index - 40-45 units, does not increase blood sugar, and slow carbohydrates, which it is rich in, give a feeling of fullness for a long time.

Benefits and harms

Reasons why eating whole grains is good for your health:

• acceleration of metabolism;
• cleansing the gastrointestinal tract;
• decreased blood pressure;
• positive effect on acne and other skin diseases;
• reducing the likelihood of developing gallstones;
• strengthening bone tissue;
• production of endorphins;
• strengthening the nervous system.

However, sometimes the product can harm the body and cause:

• irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa;
• disturbance of intestinal microflora;
• contamination with heavy metal particles if the grain is grown in an area with an unfavorable environment.

Whole grain products should not be consumed by people suffering from gastritis and cholecystitis.

Application

Whole grain flour is used for the same dishes as regular white wheat, however, products made using this ingredient have a specific, more pronounced wheat taste and aroma.

The quality of the dough is also different: the structure is dense and viscous, not airy. With this ingredient, pancakes, pancakes, flatbreads, and pies are successfully made. We offer several popular recipes.

Pancakes with kefir

Ingredients:

• whole grain wheat flour – 150 g;
• kefir – 300 ml;
• eggs – 3 pcs.;
• sugar - to taste;
• salt - to taste;
• soda – 1 tsp;
• butter – 1 tsp.

How to cook:

1. Beat eggs with sugar, salt and soda with a mixer or whisk.
2. Continuing to beat, pour in kefir, gradually add flour, stir, avoiding the formation of lumps.
3. Pour the dough into a preheated, oiled frying pan with a ladle, spreading it evenly over the surface.
4. Fry the pancake on each side for 1-2 minutes until golden brown.

Gingerbread

Ingredients:

• whole grain wheat flour – 200 g;
• rye flour – 200 g;
• butter – 70 g;
• honey - 0.7 tbsp.;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• soda – 1 tsp;
• cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves - to taste.

Preparation:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add honey, heat on the stove, stirring and not allowing it to boil.
2. Mix two types of flour, add spices, egg, soda, pour in a mixture of honey and butter, knead the dough.
3. Wrap the dough in cling film and set aside for 30 minutes.
4. Roll out the dough, mold gingerbread cookies with a mold, and place on a baking sheet.
5. Bake gingerbread cookies in an oven preheated to +180°C for about 10 minutes.

Whole grain wheat bread

Ingredients:

• whole grain wheat flour – 500 g;
• yeast – 8 g;
• warm water – 300 ml;
• vegetable oil – 4 tbsp. l.;
• sugar – 1 tbsp. l.;
• salt - to taste.

How to cook:

1. Sift a third of the flour into a bowl, add yeast and sugar.
2. Pour in water, stirring.
3. Cover the dish with a cloth and place in a warm place for 30 minutes.
4. Mix the resulting dough, add salt, vegetable oil (2 tablespoons), mix again with a spatula.
5. Slowly pour the remaining flour into the dough, add 2 tbsp. l. vegetable oil, knead the dough.
6. Let the dough rise for 1 hour.
7. Take out the dough, knead it, place it in a greased loaf pan.
8. Bake the bread for 30-40 minutes in the oven at +200°C.

Use for weight loss

If you need to lose excess weight, nutritionists recommend replacing white flour products with whole grain products. After all, their key element is fiber.This is a complex carbohydrate that takes a long time to digest and dulls the feeling of hunger for a long time, making it psychologically easier to tolerate food restrictions. In addition, fiber absorbs harmful substances and promotes the natural removal of waste and toxins.

Important! The calorie content of bread made from wholemeal flour is not much different from the calorie content of white bread. Therefore, if you use it excessively, you can gain extra pounds in the same way as if you abuse any high-calorie product.

Where to buy and how much it costs

Currently, whole grain flour is not a scarce commodity. It is sold both in large chain stores and in small retail outlets. The most popular brands: “S. Pudov”, “Ryazanochka”, “French thing”. The cost varies from 50 to 100 rubles. for 1 kg.

Despite the simplified production process, whole grain flour is a more expensive product than regular wheat flour. This is due to the fashion actively promoted by marketers for everything natural, environmentally friendly and unprocessed. Previously, this ingredient was the basis of the diet of the poor and cost a penny.

This is interesting:

What are the classes of wheat and how do they differ from each other?

Description of the variety and characteristics of winter wheat Ermak.

Is it possible to make this flour yourself?

If there is no desire to spend extra money on an expensive product, buy wheat grains and prepare whole grain flour at home. Household appliances that are available are used as a processing tool:

• electric or manual mill;
• blender;
• food processor;
• coffee grinder;
• spice grinder

Thoroughly ground grains are dried on a paper towel or parchment sheet.Store the product in a fabric or paper bag for no more than a month.

Conclusion

Whole grain flour differs from regular flour in the way the grain is processed. Having mastered baking recipes made from whole grain flour, housewives supplement their diet with healthy and natural products. These pancakes and gingerbreads are suitable for those losing weight, diabetics and all supporters of a healthy lifestyle.