Have a recipe that calls for self-rising flour but can’t find it at the store? No problem! Learn how to make self-rising flour with all-purpose flour and two more simple ingredients.
I love having a well-stocked pantry, fridge and baking cabinet.
But no matter how well stocked I keep my kitchen, there are simply times when I need to dig into my bag of tricks and make homemade versions of some ingredients.
I can’t tell you how many times I have needed to whip up some buttermilk substitute or a batch of pumpkin pie spice in the middle of a baking project.
Today I’m back with another helpful baking tip: How to make self-rising flour at home!
Maybe you didn’t realize you were out of self-rising flour until you were halfway through making Beer Bread. Maybe you can’t find self-rising flour at your store. Or maybe you live outside of the United States and self-rising flour isn’t readily available to you.
Whichever the case, use this method to mix up as much self-rising flour as you need!
Table of Contents
WHAT IS SELF-RISING FLOUR?
The simplest description of self-rising flour is flour that has baking powder and salt added to it.
Recipes that call for self-rising flour usually don’t list additional baking powder or salt in the ingredients. In this way, self-rising flour is a 3-in-1 ingredient.
Typically, self-rising flour is also made using a slightly lower-protein flour than all-purpose flour. This means that baked goods made with self-rising flour are usually a little more tender than recipes that use all-purpose flour.
WHAT IS SELF-RISING FLOUR USED FOR?
Due to its lower protein content, self-rising flour is often used in recipes such as biscuits that benefit from being lighter and more tender.
It is also sometimes used in cake mixes and recipes like pancakes and quick breads.
Self-rising flour should NOT be used in yeast breads. You should also be careful about using self-rising flour in place of all-purpose flour unless you are prepared to adjust the original recipe to compensate for the additional leavening and salt in the self-rising flour.
HOW TO SUBSTITUTE ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR FOR SELF-RISING FLOUR
So you have a recipe that calls for self-rising flour and all you can find is all-purpose flour. What do you do?
You can easily make a self-rising flour substitute with three simple ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
For each cup of all-purpose flour, you will need 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt together until combined, then use as directed in the recipe in place of the self-rising flour.
(Learn how to measure flour to make sure your baking recipes always turn out correctly!)
You can use this method to make the exact amount of homemade self-rising flour that you need for a specific recipe. For example, if a recipe calls for 2 cups of self-rising flour, you would mix together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt.
You can also scale the recipe up to make a larger batch of DIY self-rising flour and store it for later use.
HOW TO STORE SELF-RISING FLOUR
If you want to make a larger batch of homemade self-rising flour for later, store it in an airtight container, label and date it, and keep it with your other baking ingredients in a cool, dry place.
Because the baking powder loses some of its power after a while once exposed to the other ingredients, plan to use your self-rising flour substitute within a year of making it.
The recipe card below includes ingredients for just 1 cup of self-rising flour and for making a 4-cup batch.
Use this self-rising flour substitute in any recipe that calls for self-rising flour and save yourself an extra trip to the store!
Yield: 1 cup or 4 cups
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Have a recipe that calls for self-rising flour but can’t find it at the store? No problem! Learn how to make self-rising flour with all-purpose flour and two more simple ingredients.
Ingredients
For a small batch:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For a large batch:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Add ingredients for desired batch size to a large bowl. Whisk until combined and use as directed in the recipe in place of self-rising flour.
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As a seasoned culinary enthusiast with a deep understanding of baking and kitchen improvisation, let's delve into the elements mentioned in the article about making self-rising flour at home.
Understanding Self-Rising Flour:
Self-rising flour is a specialized type of flour containing baking powder and salt. This pre-mixed flour is primarily used in recipes where a leavening agent (baking powder) and salt are required without separately measuring and adding these ingredients. Its primary characteristics include:
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Composition: Self-rising flour contains all-purpose flour with a lower protein content than traditional all-purpose flour, contributing to softer, more tender baked goods.
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Purpose: It's commonly used in recipes like biscuits, pancakes, quick breads, and some cakes, enhancing their texture and tenderness due to the presence of baking powder.
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Limitations: Not suitable for yeast breads due to its leavening agent content. When substituting self-rising flour with all-purpose flour, adjustments in baking powder and salt amounts are crucial.
Making Self-Rising Flour Substitute:
When you need self-rising flour but have only all-purpose flour available, creating a substitute involves a simple mix of three ingredients:
- All-Purpose Flour: For each cup of self-rising flour required, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
- Baking Powder: Add 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder per cup of all-purpose flour.
- Salt: Incorporate ¼ teaspoon of salt for each cup of all-purpose flour.
Ensure thorough whisking to evenly distribute the ingredients. This homemade substitute can be used immediately or stored for later use.
Storage and Shelf Life:
When preparing a larger batch of homemade self-rising flour, store it in an airtight container. Label and date the container, and store it alongside other baking essentials in a cool, dry place.
Due to the nature of baking powder losing efficacy over time once mixed with other ingredients, it's recommended to use the self-rising flour substitute within a year of preparation.
By following these steps, you can effortlessly replicate the properties of self-rising flour using common pantry staples like all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt, ensuring the success of your baking endeavors without needing to rely on store-bought alternatives.
