Identifying Flour

[KitchenQueen]

I have many containers of different flours. I always cut out the front of the bag and tuck it inside the container.

Not this time. I wanted to make biscuits this morning with the White Lily flour.

And I have no idea if it's the self rising or not. Is there any way to tell, other than baking biscuits and looking at the results?

[Fat Guy]

Just taste a little of the raw flour. Let it sit on your tongue. Self-rising, on account of the baking powder, should have a carbonation-like tingle. You can also, I imagine, put a spoonful in a glass of warm water and see if it reacts.

[KitchenQueen]

Thanks !

I thought of the taste test but didn't figure I'd be able to tell.

Looks like you were right. Taste test, incredibly flat tasting. Water test, no reaction.

Look like I have regular flour.

Biscuits will be served shortly.

[tmriga]

You could also pour some lemon juice or white vinegar on it and see if it foams up.

Theresa

[nakji]

Alright, here's another stumper: I bought a bag of corn flour at a bulk foods store over the summer, hoping it would be the same as maseca. Only lime treated corn can; how can I tell if I've got the right stuff without mixing up a whole batch?

[RobertCollins]

be the same as maseca. Only lime treated corn can; how can I tell if I've got the right stuff without mixing up a whole batch?♦♦

I would follow these instructions and make like a two tablespoon batch. I supose one could make one tomali [ I Spell badly in english, no hope in spanish]. I don't know what else maseca is used for.

[chiantiglace]

In the future, I would label containers on the outside with a label maker or a piece of tape and marker, and always use the same container so there is no debate. I had a young inexperienced chef who use to do the same thing by cutting out a piece of the bag and throwing it in there, absolutely drove me nuts. The cooks would completely disregard the label and bash it apart with the scoops creating frays from the bag which would eventually end up in the food/finished product. And even if that wasn't an issue, why would you want to have to move it out of your way everytime you went to dig out some flour, seems silly.