Flours for Glutenfree Baking

Flours to be used for gluten free baking
We have talked about the different flours used in baking for the glutenfree diet.
Let’s talk now about each grain is currently being used for this purpose and relay a little about the properties of each one.

Arrowroot flour is a snow-white powder similar to cornstarch and is used basically as a substitute for cornstarch or potato starch. It is tasteless which makes it possible to use this flour when a thickening agent is required,

Bean Flour
There two kinds of bean flours (1) garbanzo or chickpea (2) garbanzo/favabean flour and they can be purchased already mixed. They are both slight yellow in color and both are great sources of protein.

Cornmeal is a good baking ingredient does especially well when combined with corn flour. Usually it is yellowish in color and coarser than corn flour.

Cornstarch is used to lighten baked goods but do not use by itself. Good to use this as a thickener for sauces. Cornstarch is white in color and has no nutritional value.

Potato starch has excellent properties for baking but does lump easily so be sure to stir before measuring. The color of potato starch is also white with a powdery in texture, which is different from potato flour which heavier and used very little in glutenfree baking.

White Rice flour is dry and gritty when used alone so is best when used NO more than 2/3 of flour mixture. Rice flour is white in color and mild tasting.

Brown Rice flour is very mild and produces a great product. The color is a little darker than white flour but is only slightly darker when finished.

Soy flour is excellent workable flour but does better in combination with the rice flours. The color is yellow with bland flavor and does combine well with fruit and nuts. Also you must remember that many people have sensitivities to soy.

Sweet Rice flour is different from white rice flour although it may be similar in appearance. It can only be used in small amounts in a recipe. The main use of this flour is that it acts as a thickeners or binder.

Tapioca is a white velvety powder with one apparent flavor but is excellent used in baked goods with 25-50% total flour. It lightens baked goods while adding chewiness and it browns quickly. All of these flours should be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark, and dry place.

There are different mixtures that I will continue to post but feel to experiment with your own blend.

Gluten Free Mix

It seems everyday there are more and more people participating in some aspect of the glutenfree phenomenon. In the early days of my gluten free experience, there were only a few sources to help. One of early leaders was Bette Hagman, the author of the Gluten Free Gourmet Series. The first book was entitled The Gluten Free Gourmet followed by the Gluten Free Gourmet Bakes Bread and several others.

I feel one of the keys to making good gluten free bread is using the best possible mix. The one I found that does the best for most of my baking chores is entitled Wheat like Flour Mix:

Mix together
5 cups brown rice flour
4 cups white rice flour
1 cup corn flour
1 cup arrowroot
1 cup tapioca flour (or tapioca starch)
1 cup potato starch
1/3 cup corn bran
5 1/3 cups milk powde (may be soy or Vance' Dairy free powder is a good product and can purchased on line or in most health food stores)
1/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute
4 tablespoons xanthan gum
4 tablespoons egg replacer-Do not need to measure generously as would in making cakes or bread.
4 teaspoons salt

Mix well and store in large container with a tight lid. This mix can usually be substituted cup for cup instead wheat flour. If you have the time or inclination, doing your own mix is the least expensive way to go. One more tip, Use a whisk and then shake the container to mix the flours well. An electric mix also does a good of blending the flours. Let me know how this works for you .Bob’s Red Mill is the originator of this mixture and their products can be purchased from their website http://www.bobsredmill.com/ or find them in many supermarkets and health food stores.