What Is 00 Flour?

When you’re browsing the baking section at the supermarket, you’ll notice there are so many types of flour out there. Between traditional and gluten-free flour brands, there’s a lot to consider. And you may find yourself looking at one bag in particular and ask yourself what is 00 flour, anyway?

We have the scoop on this flour along with delicious reasons to stock up.

So, what is 00 flour?

00 flour is simply flour that’s been very finely milled. You’ll also see 00 flour labeled as doppio zero flour or pizza flour.

In Italy, where this type of flour is most common, flours are categorized by how coarse or fine the wheat is ground. The higher the number, the coarser the grind. In the case of 00, the wheat is milled down into the finest flour. You’ll find that 00 flour has a texture similar to corn starch or baby powder.

When you use 00 flour, you’ll find that doughs have nice elasticity and a very smooth texture.

When to Use 00 Flour

Now, you won’t reach for 00 flour all the time, but it makes all the difference in this top recipe: pizza dough! 00 flour is the go-to for true Neapolitan pizza because it creates a nice, crispy crust with lots of big, airy pockets and just the right amount of chew (especially when made in a special pizza oven). Taste of Home Food Stylist Josh Rink uses it in our best pizza dough.

Combine dough made with this flour along with a piping hot pizza stone, and you’ve got a pie that rivals your favorite pizzeria.

You can also use 00 flour to make homemade pasta. The fine grind on the flour will make the pasta very smooth and easy to work with.

The Difference Between 00 Flour and All-Purpose Flour

The difference between 00 and all-purpose flour is how finely the wheat is ground. 00 flour is ground extremely finely, while all-purpose flour isn’t ground as fine.

If you can’t find 00 flour but you really want to make homemade pizza crust or another recipe that calls for this ingredient, it’s absolutely fine to use all-purpose flour. Use the same amount of all-purpose flour as 00 flour in the recipe. You will notice that the finished product will have a slightly chewier texture, but nothing that will ruin your bake.

Where to Buy 00 Flour

Years ago, 00 flour was only to be found in Italian markets and specialty shops. Today, though, you can find 00 flour (sometimes labeled as pizza flour) stocked on the shelves of many big box stores and supermarkets. Look for it in the baking aisle or the Italian foods section.

If all else fails, you can always add a package of 00 flour to your online cart.

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