all-purpose flour

The American English name for what UK cooks call plain flour — a versatile, mid-protein white wheat flour that works for everything from cookies to pie crusts to pancakes. It sits between bread flour (high gluten) and cake flour (low gluten), making it the workhorse of most home kitchens. The term all-purpose flour is almost universal in US recipes, so if you're baking across borders or following American food blogs from the UK, knowing this swap is essential. No additives, no self-raising agents — just straight-up flour ready for whatever you need.