Farina 00 is milled from soft wheat, unlike semolina flour which comes from hard wheat.
This is a highly refined flour, stripped entirely of bran, resulting in a notably high starch content.
Thanks to its gluten content, this flour is well-suited for both leavened and unleavened recipes.
Seasonality
Farina 00 is readily available all year round.
How Farina 00 Is Made
Often called fior di farina—or "flower of the flour"—thanks to its bright white hue, this reflects its complete absence of bran, marking it as the most refined variety of flour.
Culinary Uses
Owing to its high level of refinement—which has prompted unwarranted concerns dubbing farina 00 a "white poison"—this flour has longer rising times, making it ideal for recipes that don’t require quick fermentation.
Farina 00 is perfect for creating batters and thickening sauces.
It also forms the foundation for leavened treats such as bread and pizza—used, for instance, in Messina’s famous evening rolls.
This flour is a key ingredient in Sicilian sweet traditions, featuring in delights like the torta paradiso, corna di Isnello, and cuḍḍureḍḍi chî ficu from Alcamo.
Buying Tips
As noted, we recommend farina 00 for dishes that can afford longer proving times. It suits a Mediterranean diet well, though it’s unsuitable for those with gluten intolerance.
Storing Farina 00
Store it in a dry spot, away from heat sources. Once opened, it’s best to keep it in an airtight container to prevent those pesky flour moths from taking up residence.