So many choices of flour to use...

[itsblissmas]

What kind(s) of flour do you use? There are so many kinds available but I stick with the all-purpose flour?

I'm not sure what the benefit of other flours is if I can just use all-purpose for everything. What is your opinion?

[WheelerWife]

I use unbleached all purpose for baking, and bread flour in my bread machine. Yes, I am too lazy to make my own bread. Actually I'm too impatient to let it rise, punch it down, repeat, etc.

[frndlyfn]

We use AP for everything LOL.

[4kidz916]

I mostly use regular all purpose flour or cake flour. 

[DanielleK21]

 I use AP and have used bread flour in the past but not often.

[tryskymom]

I use all purpose for every day things, bread flour for bread, rolls, hotdog buns, hamburger buns, and wheat flour for bread and rolls! I make pretty much everything myself.

[ekralevich]

It all depends on what your making.  For the best bread you should use bread flour.  AP will work fine but you bread may not rise as much as it would for the bread flour.  This will also happen with whole wheat flour.  Bread flour is milled using hard winter wheat, while AP is a mix of soft and hard wheat.  There is a difference in protein.  Protein is what makes a dense, rich bread.  You can get a high gluten flour to add a little to AP or whole wheat.  I use AP in my bread maker and for us the bread is fine and cheaper.  Hope this helps.

[Nintendomommy]

I use bread flour for everything. I get it at Sam's Club, it's like $8 for a 25# bag.

[1busymomma03]

The difference between most of the flours is the gluten content. Gluten is what helps the yeast to rise, and gives baked goods their "elasticity". Bread flour has a high gluten content, and is best for yeast breads. It gives the bread a good texture. Cake flour is a low gulten flour, and works wonderfully for light fluffy cakes, cookies, etc. All purpose flour is a good combination of the two..that's why it is able to be used in most recipes.

Having said all of that..I usually use all purpose flour. I do keep bread flour and cake flour on hand though in case I think a recipe won't turn out well with all purpose flour. I do also have a box of vital wheat gluten on hand too. If I'm using all purpose flour in a bread recipe (even in the bread machine), I will add some wheat gluten to the mixture. It always helps make the texture of the bread better, and helps it rise better (especially in the bread machine).

[taniamorse85]

I use AP for everything.  However, a few months ago, I found coconut flour in our local dollar store, and I couldn't resist getting it.  I've used it for sugar cookies (half AP and half coconut flour), and they were amazing!