Simple Wheat Free Cooking

When you are wheat free cooking there are some things you need to make sure to keep in mind. Both cooking and baking with flours that are non-traditional will be a bit trickier than just your basic white or wheat flour. If not done correctly your dishes will be flat and heavy.

First of all, don’t stress the advice that most people give that you need to buy and keep every kind of wheat flour substitute on earth. That will only confuse you more and will make cooking a nightmare.

Most alternative flours expire quickly and have short shelf lives. Trying to bake with rancid flour doesn’t turn out so well. What you may want to try is buy a few wheat free baking mixes and see which brands you enjoy.

There are plenty of different brands on the market you could check out including Namaste, Bob’s Red Mill, Arrowhead Mills, Authentic Foods, Pamela’s, and that is just to name a few. They usually have a few different recipes listed right on the boxes that you can try and experiment with.

When you have discovered your favorite brands make sure to always have their mixes on hand for whenever you want to bake something. You may want to consider getting some airtight containers to keep your mixes in to extend their shelf life. Other people keep their mixes in the freezer.

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.

Secondly, wheat free cooking requires a lot of practice to get right. I mean, a lot of practice. You will probably throw away a lot of messed up cookies, cakes and bread your first week, but that’s OK.

Keep at it and keep in mind that each failure teaches you something new. Keep a record in your journal or in a binder of what you did wrong each time so you can perfect your recipes.

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 wheat less people will keep you on the right track.