5 Unique Uses for Flour

Flour has long been an indicator of prosperity among a culture--most societies that could grow, harvest, and grind grain into powder have been pretty well off, for the most part. According to the Gallery of Flour Stacks, 320 million tons of wheat flour roll off the mills each year--and that's just for human consumption. Flour is pretty indispensible, unless you're on a gluten-free kick.

Unlike French fried onions or capers, flour is one of the few items you never have to hunt for in the grocery store. Hunt down the baking aisle and it will always be loaded up on the bottom two shelves in a variety of sizes and textures. Even the culinarily challenged majority of us have a plump bag perched in the pantry. Instead of waiting for your next batch of cookies to put that pound to good use, consider other useful ways to utilize this ancient food supply.

1. Arts and Crafts Projects
Flour is amazing glue--just mix some of it with water and let it dry on your counter to know what I mean.

• Mix a one-to-one ratio of flour and water to make a nice thick mache paste--great for piñatas or sculptures.
• Color dough with food tint, cut into shapes, and bake to make your own Christmas ornaments.
• Make playdoh or modeling clay with flour as a base.
• Create salt and flour finger paint for a stain free, easy-to-clean activity.

2. Hygiene
Sometimes you hit the snooze button one too many times. You need to wash out that hair but slept just a bit late. Grab a tiny bit of flour (baby powder works too) and lightly rub into the roots of your hair. Brush out and wipe off to soak up oil buildup at your roots. This also works great if you go camping and can't get a good shampoo.

3. Clean Up
Sprinkle on small oil spills to soak up. This also works with greasy stains on your clothing. Let sit for 30 minutes before dusting off and washing. Polish your silver or brass using equal parts of vinegar, flour, and salt. Rub on, let dry, and buff off with a clean rag.

4. Critter Containment
Keep the ants away from the plants by pouring a small line of flour around your pots. You can do the same with your perennials outside--just mix flour and black pepper and sprinkle on the soil.

5. Other Unique Uses
Flour is more that a main ingredient in sweets. If your soup is too runny, toss in a couple of tablespoon of flour to thicken it up. Make great homemade gumbo using flour as a roux. And did you know white wheat flour is the base ingredient for wallpaper paste?