Bread. Pizza. Pastry. Cake. Pasta. Soups. Sauces. The list goes on and on. Popular food that we all love to eat, right?
Why are they on this list and what do they all have in common? The answer is, flour! Flour is the staple ingredient of many dishes. It has many uses for cooking and baking and even food prep.
These tasty dishes are all flour-based creations which, for many people, is no issue at all. However, some people have to steer clear of traditional flour and all of its tasty creations. Why? Well, what if you are gluten intolerant?
There are many reasons why you might be looking for an alternate food to the mainstream option. Gluten-free products are great for people with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease.
Gluten intolerance can inflict a whole host of problems on your digestive system and general bodily functions. Normal, bog-standard flour on the shelf of every food shop and supermarket is high in gluten, with the normal range at 10-11%.
If you suffer at the hand of gluten but you still want to be able to eat all of your firm favorites, what can you do?
Thankfully, in this modern age, the wonderful people of the baking world have provided you with plenty of gluten-free flour alternatives. These gluten-free flours will enable you to look after your intolerance and nurture your digestive system in a convenient way.
Nothing complicated, nothing extreme, just a bag of flour alternative without the gluten that can be substituted into any dish.
OUR TOP PICK
King Arthur measure for measure gluten-free flour is one of the most popular on the market. It is a rice-based product made from grains of brown rice and also potato starch and tapioca.
This gluten-free alternative is a popular choice for baking owing to the ingredient xanthan gum, which helps to bind the creation together and avoid the crumble and dusty texture that can be a problem with some gluten-free alternatives.
It has a neutral taste and is, therefore, a favored substitute for all-purpose flour.
You can use this product as a straight swap in any baked goods recipe to replace regular flour, and there is no need to adjust measurements or add additional ingredients to create the desired effect.
With over ten thousand four-star and five-star reviews, this is the clear choice for a gluten-free flour alternative in baking.
Pros
- Healthy: King Arthur measure for measure gluten-free flour is teeming with vitamins and minerals, making it akin to a superfood. It has iron, it has calcium and it has the all-important Vitamin B; all essential for the healthy running of your body.
- Great for Baking: This flour is best for baking, it has a neutral taste, can be substituted like-for-like in any baked recipe, and has the added bonus of xanthan gum to bind your bake.
Cons
- Not suitable for yeast recipes: This means that you can’t use it to make pizza or bread. It’s more of a baking flour for buns and cakes
EDITORS CHOICE
This is arguably one of the most well-reviewed and highly commended gluten-free flours around. It can be used in bakes and cooking and is favorable for diabetes and coeliac disease sufferers.
It prides itself on being fine and soft and contains the ever-important xanthan gum to create a bona fide texture to any home-baked creation.
Pros
- Well-reviewed: Blue Diamond stands out in terms of positive reviews, with over 30,000 to date. Many of these reviews are four and five stars which prove that this is well-loved and a reliable product.
- Great taste: This flour tastes nutty owing to the blanched almond base. However, it has been praised repeatedly for its deliciousness, and the almond in no way overpowers the baking outcome.
Cons
- Not suitable for nut allergies: This can be frustrating for people who suffer from nut-based intolerances. Nut-based flour is the healthier option therefore, there is a gap in the market for a low-carb gluten-free flour that is not nut-based.
BEST VALUE
This gluten-free flour can be used like for like in your all-purpose flour recipes. It is another rice-based flour also containing tapioca and potato starch, which makes it a great choice for those with nut allergies.
The brown rice base means that this gluten-free flour is high in protein, fiber, and other healthy vitamins such as b12.
Pros
- Convenient: This can be swapped into any baked good recipe to create the same taste and texture as all-purpose flour would. It can also be used for pasta, soups, and sauces which make it multipurpose and versatile. This flour can be used for yeast-based recipes too.
- Well Reviewed: With over 4,000 five and four-star reviews, this product is loved by gluten-free home cooks. It is tried and tested and has become a staple for many gluten-free bakers and cooks.
Cons
- High in starch and carbohydrates: Unfortunately, this is not the healthiest gluten-free flour available on the market. Therefore, if you were being mindful of calorie intake, this gluten-free flour would take the count quite high owing to the level of carbohydrates and starch present in the mix.
RUNNER UP
Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free range is a popular choice for customers. This particular gluten-free flour is made from tapioca and therefore, differs slightly from our last Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free product.
Tapioca is a starch-based product. The very nature of tapioca is starch so it stands to reason that, this product has a relatively high starch content. It is more commonly used for thickening sauces and making soups over baked goods.
Pros
- Strong reviews: There is a lower number than some of the other gluten-free flour products however, over 85% of the near 4.000 reviews give Bob’s flour five-star ratings.
- Trusted brand: this is a product from a well-known and reputable company that dedicates its craft to gluten-free produce. It is a recognized and credible brand name with a high amount of customer satisfaction.
Cons
- The packaging: Multiple reports of poorly packaged products are the reason for this con making the list. Sometimes the packaging leads to spillage and rips and results in an unusable product.
RUNNER UP
Cup4Cup gluten-free flour is another rice-based flour with xanthan gum and tapioca. It is multipurpose and another popular choice for cooking and baking. This is a tried and tested gluten-free flour and has been praised for its diversity and taste.
The neutrality allows for no taste interference therefore, Cup4Cup can be used reassuringly as a replacement in flour-based recipes.
Pros
- Great for yeast recipes: This gluten-free flour stands out as a good substitute in yeast recipes and it certainly makes fluffy bread and stretchy pizza. This is a good choice if you are wanting to cook rather than bake.
- Environmentally friendly: As a non-GMO gluten-free flour, Cup4Cup is certified as environmentally friendly. This is great if you are thinking about your carbon footprint and wanted to use products to reflect that.
Cons
- Heavy: Cup4Cup gluten-free flour has been described as ‘heavy’ by customers which because it is high in carbohydrates, it can produce a denser texture in the finished result.
RUNNER UP
Pamela’s Products are a popular gluten-free choice. The flour is made in a completely gluten-free environment which is the only real way to claim to be 100% gluten-free.
This flour is also suitable for vegans as it is completely dairy-free and people who suffer from nut allergies.
It has a blend of brown and white rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca, fairly common. It has thousands of four and five-star reviews. So, a brand you can feel confident in trying.
Pros
- Versatile: The product itself can be used in a variety of different recipes, has a neutral taste, and is great for making bread, pizza, cakes, and other authentic tasting bakes. It has high praise for its ability to create fluffy and tasty bread.
- Made in a gluten-free environment: This flour is made in a completely gluten-free factory. This is important and reassuring as you can feel certain that there has been no room for any contamination of the product and it will be completely clean and free of any accidental gluten.
Cons
- No xanthan gum: We’ve already learned that xanthan gum is a good binding agent for gluten-free flour. As this product does not contain any, you would need to add your own into any recipe to create the perfect bake.
RUNNER UP
gfJules flour is made from tapioca starch, potato starch, rice starch, and xanthan gum. This varied list of ingredients all come together to provide a neutral taste and a ‘cup-for-cup replacement for all-purpose flour.
This means you don’t have to add anything extra and you can simply use gfJules in the place of the suggested all-purpose alternative.
Pros
- Award-winning: Being able to claim multiple awards to your brand is always a sure-fire way to assure credibility in quality and popularity. gfJules has around eight awards all praising the mix of gluten-free flour and how it stands up as a contender in the industry.
- Smooth texture: Some gluten-free flour can be lumpy and gritty owing to the brown rice flour base. However, one thing that stands out about gfJules is that it is verifiably smooth and grit-free. This means that you get a smoother bake if you use this flour. A smooth texture is beneficial when making sauces and soups.
Cons
- Not as many reviews: Despite its multiple awards wins, this flour has significantly fewer reviews and customer ratings than other competitors. While that doesn’t detract from the quality, it does mean that the product has not been as publicly praised.
RUNNER UP
Almond-based flour is a healthier, less carb heavy, lower calorie choice for cooking and baking. Nature’s Eats flour certainly ticks those credentials. It is great for use in ketogenic diets and can add diversity to your meals.
The flour is made from blanched almonds and therefore completely grain-free. It is highly versatile and can be used in cooking and baking.
There are near 7,000 top-tier reviews from happy customers to show that this is an option to be seriously considered.
Pros
- Low carb: This often makes it a healthy option and easier to maintain a balanced diet. It is also a good option for a keto-based diet.
- Suitable for baking and cooking: Multipurpose gluten-free flour is not always the case, but be assured that this almond flour can be used in a variety of dishes savory and sweet.
Cons
- Doesn’t cater to everyone: Gluten-free diets can benefit from this good flour option however if your diet requires you to avoid certain allergens, ie no nuts, this is not the product for you.
- Nut taste: If you are hoping to make or bake something that tastes and feels authentic, avoiding gluten-free flour with a nut base is the best option. That way you can steer clear of them.
RUNNER UP
Cassava is a vegetable with a nutty taste and a starchy texture. Otto’s Naturals Cassava Flour uses the cassava vegetable as the base grind to create their gluten-free flour product. It is a less popular choice but doesn't contain any nuts.
So, if you have a nut allergy and still require a nutty taste and gluten-free flour then this is an ideal choice
Pros
- Soft and Light: Always a bonus when choosing flour, especially when it comes to baking bread and cakes.
- No surprises: This flour boasts 100% cassava as its ingredients list. Therefore, there are no hidden surprises in the mix and no reason for cross-contamination.
Cons
- Lacking neutrality: Owing to the main ingredient, cassava, the taste of this flour is mildly nutty, therefore, that dictates what you can do with it.
RUNNER UP
This is an oat grain flour, completely vegan. It is a great flour for cake bakes, which is its main purpose. It is made from only oats and therefore the taste is not as neutral as rice-based flours.
Pros
- Organic: Organic produce is sought after owing to its healthier qualities and environmentally friendly pledges.
- Simple yet effective: Ground down oats are the whole deal. This creates a fine and soft-textured flour that translates even after being cooked and baked.
Cons
- No Binding agent: Xanthan gum would need to be added separately to create the same sticking effect that gluten has on the recipe.
Buyer’s Guide
Check The Ingredients
How often do you buy something without checking over the long list of ingredients? A regular occurrence for most shoppers.
All gluten-free flour may be gluten-free however, not all gluten-free flours cater to all food-based allergies. Many gluten-free flour products are not suitable for people with nut allergies.
For example, some types of gluten-free flour are made with almonds or pistachios. This is always clearly displayed in the ingredient list, and often in the brand name of the flour itself.
Often, gluten-free flour tends to contain a lot of ingredients that come together to create the consistency and texture, and taste of standard all-purpose flour. Always check the ingredient list and then check it again.
Several gluten-free flour products are not suitable for yeast-based dishes, for example, bread and pizza. Tapioca-based gluten-free flour is best used in sauces and soups as a thickening agent, but not so great in cakes.
Where & How Is The Chosen Gluten-free Flour Produced?
Ideally, you want to source a gluten-free flour product that has been produced in a gluten-free factory. This is the only way to ensure absolutely no cross-contamination with non-gluten-free produce.
More often than not, gluten-free flour that has been made in the same factory as all-purpose flour can come into contact with gluten. If this is the case, the gluten content of the gluten-free flour may be compromised and there is no real way for you to verify the levels it contains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does gluten-free taste the same as regular flour?
Certain gluten-free flours can replicate the taste of all-purpose flour however, many do not. Some have their own unique and often strong flavors that can change the taste of the intended recipe.
For example, cornflour is a popular gluten-free flour and it has a creamy taste to it. This can be an advantage in cakes and sauces. Almond flour is a nut-based flour so it stands to reason that it has a nutty taste and that taste will come through in whatever you chose to use it for.
The most common gluten-free flour to replace all-purpose flour’s taste is rice flour. There is lots of product information readily available to empower your decision in terms of how the flour tastes.
If you are wanting a like-for-like gluten-free to rival the traditional all-purpose, then neutrality is the keyword to look for.
Is gluten-free flour healthier than regular flour?
There are health benefits to following a gluten-free diet. In general, gluten-free products are healthier for our digestive systems and contain added vitamins and iron which is never a bad thing.
Certain brands of gluten-free flour can be high in carbohydrates which brings up the calorie count. You can avoid this by selecting a nut-based gluten-free flour, which often has a low-carb concentration and is lower in starch as well.
While it is now easier to find gluten-free alternatives online, there is still a limited amount of sites dedicated to this. This is why I decided to set up New Day Gluten Free, to provide others with a complete guide to gluten free foods.
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