How wheat is made into flour?

1. Harvesting:

* Wheat is harvested when the grains are ripe and golden brown.

* Farmers use combines, large machines that cut the wheat, separate the grain from the stalk, and store it in a holding tank.

2. Cleaning and Conditioning:

* Wheat is cleaned to remove debris like stones, dirt, and foreign materials.

* The wheat may be "conditioned" by adding moisture to make it easier to mill.

3. Milling:

* The wheat is ground into flour using a series of steel rollers.

* The rollers are designed to break down the wheat kernels, separating the bran, germ, and endosperm.

* Different types of flour are produced depending on how much bran and germ are included.

4. Separation:

* As the wheat is ground, the flour is separated by size and quality.

* The finest flour is known as "patent flour," while coarser flours are used for breadmaking or other purposes.

5. Sifting:

* The flour is sifted to remove any remaining bran or germ particles.

* This produces a smoother, finer flour.

6. Packaging:

* The finished flour is packaged in bags or other containers for sale.

Types of Flour:

* White Flour: Made from refined wheat, which has had most of the bran and germ removed.

* Whole Wheat Flour: Made from the entire wheat kernel, including the bran and germ.

* Bread Flour: High in protein, ideal for bread making.

* Cake Flour: Low in protein, best for cakes and pastries.

* All-Purpose Flour: A blend of flours, suitable for most baking purposes.

The Process in a Nutshell:

Wheat is cleaned, conditioned, and ground into flour using rollers. Different types of flour are produced based on the amount of bran and germ included. The flour is sifted and packaged for sale.