Blue Bird Flour vs. All Purpose Flour – What’s the Difference?

Are you wondering what the difference between bluebird flour vs. all-purpose flour is? We understand this question concerns almost every person as both types of flour are well known for baking, but which one to choose? 

To understand the answer, you need to know about the differences well. Otherwise, you won’t be able to select the right flour for the specific dough. For your help, we’ll share a detailed overview of the differences and characteristics between a bluebird and all-purpose flour. 

So, let’s dive into the topic! 

Quick Answer! 

We are OK with Bluebird flour and all-purpose flour regarding health and benefits. However, both flours make different dough textures due to varying protein content: Bluebird has 8% protein, and all-purpose flour has about 11.7% protein. 

Bluebird is best when you want to make a dough that requires a soft texture, like pastry or cake dough. All-purpose flour is suitable for regular bread dough because it needs a hard texture. 

What’s All Purpose Flour? – An Overview 

All-purpose flour, also known as plain flour or AP flour, is one of the most common varieties of wheat flour used in cooking and baking. It’s simply milled from standard wheat and contains 9 to 12 percent protein. 

It’s great for making dishes like pizza and bread dough, even for several other baking needs. The reason behind it is that it contains protein in a medium range, which means the right amount of gluten. 

Gluten ensures that the dough of the baking dish rises in the oven and bakes in the right structure. Apart from this feature, it’s easily available and comes at an affordable price, making it one of the top go-to ingredients for any baking recipe.

What’s Bluebird Flour? An Overview 

Bluebird Flour is a unique brand of flour that produces a light and fluffy texture for your baking dishes. It’s also light compared to all-purpose flour because it contains around 8% protein. 

Another notable difference is Bluebird is made from whole grain flour while the all-purpose is made with wheat grains. These differences make a huge difference, giving your dough a fluffier texture and the ideal rise. 

So, if you want to do some baking experiments or need flour that doesn’t make your cake or bread dense and tough too much, you need Bluebird flour. 

Key-Differences Between Bluebird Flour Vs. All Purpose Flour

Here are the key differences between Bluebird flour and All-purpose flour. After checking the differences, you’ll be able to make the right decision for baking. 

Ingredients of Flour

The main key difference between Bluebird flour and all-purpose flour is how they’re made and their ingredients. Since the ingredients are a bit different, the flour’s result will be different, too. 

The main difference is that Bluebird uses whole grains of red winter wheat from all three parts of the grain kernel — the bran, endosperm, and germ. Yet, the all-purpose flour is made of mi o hard and soft wheat grains to create a balance in dough texture. Their nutrients are quite similar: Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (B Vitamin), Iron, and so on. 

In terms of health, both flours are good because they are made of the entire kernel (Bren, Germ, and Endosperm). However, their taste is different because of their protein content. 

Protein Range 

The protein range of the flour is one of the most important points you need to understand as it creates the difference. All types of flour contain protein content, but the percentage would be different. 

For example, the Bluebird contains around 8% of protein, and the all purpose flour has around 9% – 12% of protein. But why does it matter? – That’s a good question! 

Knowing the percentage of protein content is important because if you have high protein, the flour will have high gluten. Gluten is a crucial supplement for the bread floor because it makes the dough ready for baking. 

The more gluten the flour will have, the more dough of your bread will be strong and dense. While low or no gluten means the dough won’t be suitable for any baking dish that requires strong dough. 

In short, you need the right amount of protein content according to the baking dish requirement because it will affect the dough’s texture. 

So What’s the Best Choice?

Now, coming to the question, what’s the best choice, Bluebird flour or all-purpose flour? The short answer is that it depends on what you’re making and the dough’s requirements. 

Bluebird flour is the right choice if the dough is soft. Otherwise, the All-purpose flour is better for a hard, chewy texture. 

So what are you waiting for? You’ve got the answer: it’s time to go into the kitchen to bake your favorite item. 

FAQs

Is Blue Bird flour bread flour? 

Yes, Bluebird flour is bread flour–you can use it to make bread. However, since it contains up to 8% of protein content, it’s recommended to use it when making a soft and light-textured dough like fry dough. If you want hard bread dough, go with all-purpose flour, which has up to 12% protein content and can make the best regular bread. 

Is Bluebird flour all-purpose flour?

No, Bluebird flour and All-purpose flour are different. Bluebird is made of whole-grain red wheat flour, and all-purpose flour is made of wheat grains. Their protein content is also different. Bluebird contains 8% and All-purpose around 12%

Is Bluebird flour gluten-free?

No, Bluebird flour isn’t gluten-free. It’s made of whole grain, which naturally contains protein (gluten), so if you’re making something that needs gluten-free flour, then Bluebird isn’t for you. 

Is Bluebird flour expensive?

No, Bluebird flour isn’t expensive. Instead, it’s easily affordable; the price of a 5 lb flour bag comes under $20. 

Can you use Bluebird flour for baking? 

Yes, you can use Bluebird flour for baking items like pizza, bread, pastry, etc. Just make sure it meets the requirements of the dish. 

For example, if you’re making a hard or thick crust for pizza, it might not be suitable. The reason behind it is the medium protein content, around 8%, that’s perfect for the soft texture of dough. 

Can you use Bluebird flour for making bread dough in the machine?

Yes, you can use Bluebird flour for making bread in the machine. 

Can you use Bluebird flour for making tortillas?

Yes, you can use Bluebird flour for making tortillas. To make this, you need Bluebird flour for about three cups and a tablespoon of baking powder and salt. Mix both things and add water, then knead the dough. 

Can you use Bluebird flour for fry bread?

Yes, Bluebird flour can be used for making fry bread. 

The recipe is simple: 

Add about four cups of Bluebird flour, two tablespoons of baking powder, 1 tablespoon of salt, and warm water as needed.

Final Thoughts

Bluebird is a light and soft flour that best suits soft bread, cakes, and fry-breads. In comparison, the all-purpose flour goes with the hard dough that requires more gluten. Both are versatile, but you must consider the protein percentage needed for your recipe flour to use them interchangeably.