薄力粉
The English phrase 'cake flour' is 薄力粉 in Japanese.
薄力粉 refers to cake flour.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 薄力粉 is composed of 薄 (thin/weak), 力 (power/strength) and 粉 (flour), literally meaning 'weak-strength flour' to denote its low protein content.
Which one should you use?
While 薄力粉 is cake flour, its counterpart 強力粉 is bread flour, meaning 'strong-strength flour'.
Did you know?
- Japanese home cooks often use 薄力粉 to create 'tempura batter'. The low protein content is essential to ensure the fried coating remains crisp and light rather than chewy.
- In Japan, 薄力粉 is often used as a thickening agent for savory sauces and stews, not just for sweets. This makes it a staple in savory cooking rather than a specialty baking ingredient.
- There is a third common category called 中力粉 or 'medium-strength flour'. This is used primarily for udon noodles and fills the gap between 薄力粉 and 強力粉.
Examples in context
- ケーキ用の薄力粉はこれですか？Is this the cake flour?
- それってケーキ作るときに使う薄力粉ですか？Is that the cake flour used when making cakes?
- このケーキには薄力粉を使います。Kono kēki ni wa hakurikiko o tsukaimasu.I use cake flour for this cake.
- 薄力粉はどこにありますか？Hakurikiko wa doko ni arimasu ka?Where is the cake flour?
- 薄力粉をふるってください。Hakurikiko o furutte kudasai.Please sift the cake flour.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are baking cookies together in the kitchen.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太、薄力粉はある？Yota, hakurikiko wa aru?Yota, do we have any cake flour?
- 陽太 Yota棚にあると思うよ。tana ni aru to omou yo.I think it's on the shelf.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、あった。ありがとう。a, atta. arigatou.Oh, I found it. Thanks.
- 陽太 Yotaいいよ。準備しちゃおう。ii yo. junbi shichaou.No problem. Let's get ready.
