The main difference between All Purpose and Self Rising flour is the presence of leavening agents, like baking powder. Self Rising flour already has these agents mixed in, whereas All Purpose flour does not. This means that if you're using Self Rising flour, you don't need to add extra baking powder to your recipe.
A good way to think about it is like buying a pre-made mix versus making your own mix from scratch. Self Rising flour is like the pre-made mix, it's got all the ingredients you need already included, whereas All Purpose flour is like the individual ingredients, you need to add the extra ingredients yourself. For example, if you're making a simple pancake recipe, Self Rising flour would be a great choice, as it already has the leavening agents needed to make the pancakes light and fluffy.
Self Rising Flour Vs Plain Flour - napsahaland
On the other hand, if you're making a yeast-based recipe, like bread, you'll want to use All Purpose flour. This is because yeast-based recipes rely on the yeast to rise, rather than baking powder, so you don't want the extra leavening agents in the Self Rising flour. It's like the difference between a quick fix and a slow-cooked meal, both have their own benefits, but you need to choose the right one for the job.