Saturday, April 10

Best ever GF bread baking hints & tips

Gluten-free Bread Recipe    See further bread tips below in photographs.  

3 cups g-f bread flour  (I use a mix of 8 diverse grains but good flours exist out there now.)
1 1/2 teaspoon gelatin
1 tablespoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon dough enhancer (optional)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon egg replacer (optional)
1/3 cup dry milk
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

3 eggs
1 teaspoon vinegar
4 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 to 1/12 cups water (hot as tap water--technically 110 degrees but who really has the thermometer  where they can find it?)  

The worst thing you can be when you go GF is a great bread baker. Those of us who worked for years perfecting a delectable loaf of gorgeous wheat bread will be sorely tested by the process of GF bread.
  • First hint. Mix wet and dry separately, then combine, wait a few minutes for flour to fully incorporate liquid. (It thickens more.)
  • Mix dough on high for at least four-five minutes then scoop into pans.
  • The dough texture is much looser than typical bread dough-more like a quick bread (picture a fluffy banana bread dough).
  • If the final resultant loaf turns out too dry, substitute 1/4 cup potato flour (not starch) for the flours as it holds in the moisture.  (Potato flour can be made by grinding potato flakes in a blender.)
  • Fill the pans barely above half way, and raise the dough-at most-to the top of the loaf pans. The bread will again raise even higher in the oven and you don't want it spilling over.
  • No double rise. Raise once, bake.
  • Most loaves are freezable - with the exception of those containing sorghum which crumbles at low temps.
  • Toast, grilled cheese, croutons are great uses for those imperfect first loaves.
  • Underbaked loaves sink in the middle, overbaked are dry.  I have been told 168 degrees is a good internal temperature to shoot for.  Easy to adjust your own oven.
Don't give up. There are some delicious recipes out there and most of us appreciate the fresh bakes loaves that are infinitely more delicious than anything you can buy.

Best of luck!!! GOOD BREAD RECIPE

2 comments:

Sabeys said...

OH!!!! You're supposed to LET IT RISE?!?!?!

Sabeys said...

Oh, how depressing.