Substitutions / bread flour
What to use instead of bread flour
Use all-purpose flour in equal amounts. Lower protein means slightly less chew and structure, but works well in most recipes.
Every option, best first
| Use instead | How much | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 1:1 | Lower protein means slightly less chew and structure, but works well in most recipes. |
| Whole-wheat blend | 1:1 | Use half whole-wheat, half all-purpose; adds a nutty flavor and slightly denser texture. |
| 00 flour | 1:1 | High protein like bread flour but very finely milled, giving a smoother crumb — great for pasta or pizza, less ideal for sandwich loaves. |
How much is a cup of bread flour?
Substituting by volume and weighing are different problems, and the second one has an exact answer. Weigh bread flour in grams →
A word on how to read these
A substitution is a trade, not an equivalence. The ratio gets the quantity right; the third column is the part worth reading, because it tells you what you are giving up. In a stew, most of these are invisible. In a cake — where flour, liquid, fat and leavening are in a fixed relationship — the same swap can change the crumb.
Why baking notices and stew doesn't →
Where these came from
These substitutions were written by Gather's own kitchen model — the same one the app uses when you tap an ingredient and ask what else would work — then checked and saved as a fixed list in July 2026. Nothing on this page is generated while you read it. They are a good starting point and not a substitute for tasting as you go.