How to determine the purity of wheat flour at home

Consuming adulterated foods leads to unnecessary health issues, and the risk increases during festive seasons when fake items are more likely to be sold. Items like paneer, ghee, and flour often suffer from quality degradation due to high levels of adulteration during these times.

This problem isn't limited to festivals; adulterated oils, flour, spices, and other food items are common throughout the year. It's crucial to identify and avoid such adulterated products to protect your health.

Wheat flour is a staple for many, often preferred over jowar flour and used daily for making chapatis. However, adulteration in wheat flour can lead to various health issues. To protect yourself, it’s important to know how to identify adulterated wheat flour.

You can test the purity of wheat flour at home using a simple method. Start by placing some wheat flour into a test tube, then add hydrochloric acid. If the flour is adulterated with lime, you will see a precipitate forming. If there’s no reaction, the flour is likely pure. Hydrochloric acid can be bought from a medical store for this test.

You can also determine if wheat flour is adulterated by its smell. Pure flour has a fresh, slightly sweet aroma, while adulterated flour may have an off or unusual smell. Always smell the flour before purchasing it.

Moreover, you can check for adulteration using water. Add half a teaspoon of flour to a glass of water and stir. If you notice any particles floating, the flour is likely adulterated. Pure flour will not leave any residue in the water. Avoid using flour that shows signs of adulteration.

You can also use wheat flour to get rid of ants. To do this, simply sprinkle a line of flour in areas where ants are commonly seen. The ants dislike the smell of the flour, so they will avoid the area and move away. Even a light dusting of flour can effectively drive ants away from your home.