Is rice flour similar to plain for self raising flour?

No, rice flour is not similar to plain or self-raising flour.

Here's why:

* Gluten Content: Rice flour is gluten-free, while plain and self-raising flour contain gluten. Gluten is a protein that gives dough its elasticity and structure.

* Texture and Functionality: Rice flour has a finer texture than wheat flour and produces a denser, crumblier texture. It doesn't rise as well as wheat flour due to the lack of gluten.

* Uses: Rice flour is primarily used in gluten-free baking, Asian cuisine, and as a thickener. It can be used to make gluten-free cakes, cookies, pancakes, and even bread.

Plain and self-raising flour are both wheat flours, but they differ in their leavening properties:

* Plain flour: Contains no added leavening agents, so it requires you to add baking powder or yeast to create rise.

* Self-raising flour: Contains added baking powder, making it suitable for quick bread recipes without needing to add additional leavening agents.

To sum it up:

* Rice flour: Gluten-free, finer texture, crumblier, used in gluten-free baking and Asian cuisine.

* Plain flour: Contains gluten, requires additional leavening agents.

* Self-raising flour: Contains gluten and baking powder, suitable for quick bread recipes.