If you love to bake (and eat) as much as I do, then you've probably used a lot of all-purpose flour, cake flour, and self-rising flour in a variety of treats. But have you ever heard of 00 flour, or double zero flour? Many recipes call for this specific type of flour, but what exactly is it? And how is it different than the other types of flours?
It's called 00 flour because it's the thinnest kind you can buy, and it's also considered the gold standard by Italian cooks. When you're baking things like thin-crust pizza or homemade pasta, this is the type of flour you want to use.
The difference between 00 flour and other kinds of flour lies primarily in how the gluten acts and the kind of food it's best for. While 00 flour and all-purpose flour have similar amounts of protein, 00 flour has soft wheat while all-purpose flour contains both hard and soft wheat, which forms more elastic gluten. As a result, pizza made with all-purpose flour will be chewier. Additionally, while 00 flour is best for pizza and pasta, other kinds of flour are best for bakery items. Cake flour is best for cakes and cookies, all-purpose flour is best for bread rolls, and bread flour is best for dark wheat bread.
Before baking with 00 flour, you'll need to know a few important pieces of information. First, if you use 00 flour for pizza, you'll also need an oven that gets super hot — we're talking 800 degrees and higher. Otherwise, the pizza won't brown correctly and the texture will taste off. Second, you don't want to use 00 flour for any food other than pizza or pasta. Bread with 00 flour, for example, will come out too thin and misshapen. Third, it's best to use 00 flour only when the recipe calls for it. Otherwise, you'll have to adjust the amount of water you add because the flour is so fine, which can get tricky.
You can buy 00 flour from retailers like Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Whole Foods. Just remember to freeze your flour so it won't go stale or spoil when you're not actively using it. But when you're ready to bake, may we suggest Lana Condor's delicious homemade pizza? We can't wait to make it with 00 flour on our next pizza night!
FAQs
And how is it different than the other types of flours? It's called 00 flour because it's the thinnest kind you can buy, and it's also considered the gold standard by Italian cooks. When you're baking things like thin-crust pizza or homemade pasta, this is the type of flour you want to use.
What is the difference between flour and 00 flour? ›
Why Use 00 Flour? Besides the level of the grind, the other big difference between “00” flour and all-purpose flour is how the gluten in each flour behaves. The gluten from durum wheat flour tends to be strong but not very elastic, while the gluten in red wheat flour is both strong and elastic.
What is the American equivalent of 00 flour? ›
If you can't find 00 flour but you really want to make homemade pizza crust or another recipe that calls for this ingredient, it's absolutely fine to use all-purpose flour. Use the same amount of all-purpose flour as 00 flour in the recipe.
What is a good substitute for OO flour? ›
In cake recipes it can be replaced with plain flour; in bread, pizza and pasta recipes it can be replaced with strong white bread flour. It is often lower in protein than British flours and so produces a much crisper crust in bread, and a finer texture in cakes.
Is 00 flour bad for you? ›
All that's left is starch (simple carbohydrates) and few proteins (gluten). The nutritional contribution to the body is very low, in fact, somehow 00 flour contributes to the increase in blood sugar. Flour 0: Slightly less refined than the previous one but which in any case has been deprived of most of its nutrients.
What flour do Italians use for pizza? ›
The secret to the tender yet stretchy pizza crust at your favorite pizzeria is probably 00 flour, a powdery fine Italian flour that you can find online or in specialty grocery stores.
Should I use 00 flour for pasta? ›
00 flour is a soft wheat flour that's perfect for baking, especially cakes and crumbly pastries. You can also use soft wheat flour for pasta, due to its texture and powdery consistency. Not only is it ideal for softer pasta shapes like tagliatelle, it is also the best flour for ravioli pasta.
Is 00 flour really better for pizza? ›
00 flour is the gold standard for Neapolitan pizzas, which are, in many opinions, the epitome of pizza perfection.
Why do people use 00 flour? ›
Unlike American and Canadian hard wheats used in typical pizza flours, 00 flour is derived from a variety of soft wheats. The soft wheat gluten structure gives the dough less snapback, making it easier to handle.
What flour is best for pizza? ›
The best flour for making Deep-Dish Pizza Dough is all-purpose flour. In bakeries and pizzerias, Pizza Flour is often used because it is a high-protein flour that produces a light and airy crust. However, all-purpose flour will also work well for Deep-Dish Pizza Dough.
Thus, whole wheat flour is widely considered healthier. It's a good source of protein, fiber, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. As it contains gluten, it isn't appropriate for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Does Trader Joes have 00 flour? ›
Did you notice how sticky and soft the dough was? It is made with 00 flour! So yes, Trader Joe's sells 00 flour, but it is already pre-made pizza dough. You can find it in the refrigerated section of the store and it is the perfect substitute for my 00 flour grilled pizza.
Can I make my own OO flour? ›
Replicating the texture and fine consistency of commercial Tipo 00 flour can be challenging. However, you can create a comparable (not exactly the same) version by combining equal parts of all-purpose flour and cake flour and sifting multiple times to achieve a smooth, refined texture.
What type of flour to avoid? ›
Avoid the common all-purpose white flour because it is high in calories, most often stripped of nutrients, and is linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
What is the shelf life of 00 flour? ›
Store in a cool and dry place. Shelf life: 12 months from production.
Is there another name for 00 flour? ›
What is 00 flour? 00 flour, also known as doppio zero ('double zero') is a super fine white flour from Italy, and considered the gold standard for making pasta and pizza bases.
What is the benefit of 00 flour? ›
00 flour is, indeed, the most finely milled in Italy — as evidenced by the “00” classification. The texture makes for a very soft and flavorful crust, and it also accommodates the typical thinner middle/thicker edge pizza crust structure. Plus, the low gluten content gives the crust just-right stretch and bite.
Why is 00 flour more expensive? ›
Doppio Zero (as it's called in Italian) is the whitest and finest flour. It has about 8% protein and a low extraction rate. There are no extra bits of grain and it is milled to a very fine particle size. It's more expensive because millers lose about 30% of the grain.
Is plain flour the same as 00? ›
'00' flour
A ground wheat flour that looks like plain flour, but is a special grade, which is the perfect blend for making delicate pasta or noodles. Some chefs use '00' flour to make pizza bases, too.
