The Challenges of Gluten-Free Bread — Glutenary (2024)

FAQs

The Challenges of Gluten-Free Bread — Glutenary? ›

One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread. Gluten provides the structure and elasticity that allows bread dough to rise and hold its shape, so gluten-free doughs can be sticky and difficult to work with.

One of the challenges is that when gluten-free dough is thickened with additives like starches and gums, it becomes sticky. Some bakers dust sticky dough with flour, but that's problematic with gluten-free formulations.

A gluten challenge is when you intentionally eat gluten for several weeks after going gluten-free in order to monitor symptoms and get accurate celiac disease test results.

Gluten-free doughs are much less cohesive and elastic than wheat dough. They are extremely smooth, too sticky, less pasty, and difficult to handle. According to Houben et al. (2012) most gluten-free doughs have higher water content and have a more fluid-like structure comparable to the batter of a cake.

Numerous studies have shown that diets that are gluten free tend to be deficient in protein, folate, iron, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, B12, zinc, selenium, and fiber.

Without gluten, bread dough lacks elasticity and the "stickiness" needed to hold together. Binders like xanthan gum, psyllium husk, guar gum and to some extent flaxmeal and chia seeds are used to perform the function of gluten. Xanthan gum is probably the most popular of all the binders.

Keep in mind that some processed gluten-free foods contain high amounts of unhealthy ingredients such as sodium, sugar and fat. Consuming these foods can lead to weight gain, blood sugar swings, high blood pressure and other problems. So, a gluten-free label doesn't necessarily make a food healthy.

Many times, a gluten exposure will cause vomiting and/or diarrhea. It is important to replace any fluids lost to help the body recover and avoid dehydration. Some people find that drinking peppermint or ginger tea is helpful to soothe the GI tract and reduce nausea and cramping.

Overall, these studies show that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota seen in celiac disease patients is not fully reversed by the adoption of a gluten-free diet. In conclusion, these studies show that a gluten-free diet can cause changes in the gut microbiota, and that this could potentially be harmful.

Gluten belly, also known as wheat belly, is a common phrase that refers to stomach swelling after eating gluten as a result of bloating. Along with bloating, one may also develop symptoms such as stomach pain, flatulence, or irregular bowel movements.

What are three cons of gluten-free? ›

A gluten-free diet is based on the products which have a high glycemic index and are devoid of dietary fiber. These foods contain many simple carbohydrates and fats. These factors can give rise to nutritional deficiencies, constipation, and the development of the metabolic syndrome [82].

But when gluten free bread is proofed too long, it lets too much air into the dough, which results in it collapsing while in the oven or after coming out. In many recipes, like this white bread, if the dough has risen above the sides of the pan, it has over-proofed and will be more likely to collapse.

In most cases, you/your child will eat about 1-2 slices of bread or one serving of food that contains gluten (½ cup of pasta, 2-3 cookies, ¾-1 cup of cereal) per day for 4-8 weeks. It takes the body some time to respond to gluten. This is why the challenge lasts for a few weeks.

Eliminating gluten may not only strip your diet of valuable nutrients, but also hinder the accuracy of tests for celiac disease, a serious autoimmune condition in which gluten signals the body to attack the lining of the small intestine. Celiac disease affects about 1 in 141 people in the US.

If you feel better after a few days but then symptoms come back, it could be from hidden gluten. Unfortunately, it's normal for your reactions to gluten—even a tiny bit of it—to get worse once you've gone gluten-free.

Eggs are natural leaveners that help boost the rise and volume of bread. Eggs also add moisture, flavor, and protein to gluten-free bread recipes. If you select a gluten-free bread recipe that includes eggs, you have a better chance that the resulting bread will have good color, more volume, and softer texture.

But when gluten free bread is proofed too long, it lets too much air into the dough, which results in it collapsing while in the oven or after coming out. In many recipes, like this white bread, if the dough has risen above the sides of the pan, it has over-proofed and will be more likely to collapse.

Your bread will not rise if your yeast or baking powder has expired. A dense loaf could also be the result of not measuring your ingredients accurately. Weight measurements are best (I have to update my recipes). Otherwise scoop the flour into your measuring cup and level without shaking or packing the flour down.

These breads take longer to bake because the gums and fiber in Gluten-Free Bread Flour hold onto water more than gluten (which is typical of gluten-free flour), so they take longer to fully bake and “dry out.” If you have a digital thermometer, the internal temperature should be between 208°F to 212°F.