How best to use gluten free all purpose flour?
In the grocery store mixup, I got a bunch of gluten free flour. I don't have additives like xanthan gum but would like to bake bread and other recipes so I don't need to go to the store for a few weeks while all this plays out.
Should I try mixing this with regular all purpose flour that I already have? Or should I use it on it's own, or any other advice.
Thanks in advance for all thoughts!
Best Answer
You don't need xanthan gum or other thickeners; they are already in the mix you bought.
These mixes don't behave much like standard, gluten-containing flour. Don't bake bread with them on their own, the results are very disappointing. Also don't use it for standard cake recipes, or for most pastries or cookies.
After all these don'ts, here are the things you can actually do with it.
- If you want to keep using your existing recipes without change, I suggest pancakes and crepes. There, gluten free mixes seem to perform as good as flour with gluten. There is a slight noticeable difference in texture, but it's not unpleasant.
- Use it in applications where the flour is not needed for the bulk of the texture. For example, if you use stew recipes which are thickened with a spoonful of flour before adding the liquid, it will work quite well there. Or use it for flouring pizza stones, cake tins, etc.
- Find recipes intended for gluten free mixes, especially from the brand you bought. They are specifically engineered to work.
- If you want to mix it with normal flour, that's also OK. But then mix it in cases where you want to lower the gluten content. So not in bread baking, more in places like cakes or pie crusts, especially if the recipe directs you to use pastry flour, or to mix flour and starch.
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How do I use gluten free all purpose flour?
1. Swap the flour. Substitute all-purpose gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose regular flour at a ratio of 1:1.Is there a trick to baking with gluten-free flour?
To replace gluten, you'll need to use a different thickening agent like xanthan gum or guar gum in your baking. For each cup of gluten-free flour mix, add at least 1 teaspoon of gluten substitute. This comes from the dried cell coat of a microorganism called Xanthomonas campestris.Can you use gluten-free flour in place of all-purpose flour?
Can I use gluten free flour in place of regular flour? The answer is yes, you can use gluten free flour in place of regular flour. However, not all blends are equal. If you are new to gluten free, pick a blend like Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 gluten free blend or King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten free blend.Can I just replace flour with gluten-free flour?
Check the back of the bag to be certain, but a one to one swap should be just that: substitute one cup of all-purpose flour with one cup of the gluten-free flour. The key with all-in-one blends is that they have stabilizers, such as xantham gum, which provide structure that is lost without gluten.Best GLUTEN FREE FLOUR Mix Recipe
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