Can you use cake and pastry flour in the bread machine?

You can technically use cake or pastry flour in a bread machine, but it's not recommended for most bread recipes. Here's why:

* Gluten Content: Cake and pastry flour have a lower gluten content than bread flour. Gluten is what gives bread its structure and chewiness. Using cake or pastry flour will result in a bread that is dense, crumbly, and lacks the rise you'd expect from a typical bread loaf.

* Moisture Absorption: Cake and pastry flour absorb less moisture than bread flour. This can make the dough too wet and sticky, which can interfere with the kneading process and result in a sticky mess.

* Flavor: While not a major factor, cake and pastry flour have a slightly sweeter flavor, which can be undesirable in some bread recipes.

Alternatives:

* Bread Flour: This is the best choice for most bread recipes, as it has the highest gluten content and will give you a light and airy loaf.

* All-Purpose Flour: This is a good alternative if you don't have bread flour. Just be aware that it might not be as strong as bread flour, so you may need to adjust the recipe slightly.

Exceptions:

There are a few situations where you might be able to use cake or pastry flour in a bread machine:

* Quick Breads: These are breads that don't rely heavily on gluten development, like banana bread or zucchini bread. You might be able to use cake or pastry flour in these recipes, but adjust the liquid accordingly.

* Recipes Specifically Designed for Cake Flour: There are a few bread machine recipes that are designed to use cake flour for a specific texture or taste.

In general, it's best to use bread flour or all-purpose flour in your bread machine. However, if you want to experiment with cake or pastry flour, be sure to start with a small recipe and adjust as needed.