What is Flour?
[[File:Flours.jpg|thumb|Three different kinds of [[Wheat flour|wheat]] and [[rye flour]].]] [[File:Soy_powder.jpg|thumb|[[Kinako]]]] '''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 [[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|access-date=24 January 2014|archive-date=19 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119001316/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/self-rising-flour-vs-all-purpose-flour.html|url-status=dead}}</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 people need to eat for good health. Flour has many [[nutrients]] that are good to eat. People can also make flour with things such as pumpkins, pumpkin seeds, brown and white rice, wheat, etc. == History == [[File:Wheat P1210892.jpg|thumb|A field of wheat prior to harvesting]] {{Main|Wheat}