Wheat Free Cooking

There are some things you need to keep in mind when you are doing wheat free cooking. Cooking and baking with non-traditional flours requires some knowledge beyond your basic baking skills in order to get results that are not heavy and flat.

First, ignore the advice of those who say to stockpile every available kind of wheat flour substitute. This will only confuse matters.

In addition, some alternative flours expire. Bags of rancid cooking ingredients will not make for a happy baker. Experiment with a few different wheat free baking mixes.

There are dozens of options available from Pamela’s, Arrowhead Mills, Namaste, Authentic Foods, Bob’s Red Mill, and more. Try the recipes on the boxes or bags, and substitute them in your favorite recipes.

When you’ve found two or three that really taste good to you, begin keeping those on hand for all your baking needs. Keep them sealed in airtight containers to prolong their tastefulness and usefulness, and remember to read labels carefully.

Often, people are allergic to more than one ingredient, and if soy, nuts, or dairy is a problem for you, you will need to be extra vigilant.

Second, you will have to experiment with your wheat free cooking. A lot. You will likely end up with several (or many more than several) batches of bread, cookies, and even meals that will go straight to the trash or garbage disposal.

Keep going, and remember that every “failure” is a step in the learning process. Take notes. Dedicate a journal or a binder to the process, so you have records of successes as well as failures.

Third, network with other people in your boat. Whether through a local support group, or online, being able to trade recipes and tips with other people who are dealing with the same issues will save you a lot of time and perhaps more than one headache.

Yes, it will take a lot of practice to perfect wheat free cooking. However, having the right tools in hand, keeping your successes and failure in mind while you experiment, and talking with other wheatless people will keep you on the right track.