With the rise in gluten-free diets, there has been a lot of focus on the gluten content of foods. Gluten-free flours and other products have increased in popularity, but it might leave you wondering just how much gluten is in flours that aren’t gluten-free! Some of the highest gluten flours include vital wheat gluten flour, bread flour, and “00 flour” (popular for making pizza crusts). Some of the lowest gluten flours are [...]
Which Flour is Best for Cookies?
If you ask people what type of cookie texture they prefer, most would probably agree: chewy around the edges and soft on the inside. But how do you achieve this elusive texture when baking cookies? It all comes down to food science and how the ingredients work together when they’re placed in the oven. Flour plays an important role in baking cookies. All-purpose flour is the top choice for cookies because its ideal protein [...]
Palm Oil vs Coconut Oil: The Ultimate Verdict
Palm oil and coconut oil are both tropical oils that are solid at room temperature, setting them apart from most other oils such as olive oil, canola oil, and other vegetable oils. If you’re looking to choose the better oil, it all comes down to your intended use. Palm oil is a versatile oil commonly used in processed foods and non-food products, while coconut oil is a readily-available oil used in home cooking, baking, and [...]
When Does Palm Oil Go Bad?
Palm oil is popular because it’s a high-yielding crop, which makes it more affordable for food manufacturers to use compared to other vegetable oils. You can also buy palm oil to use in your personal kitchen, which might leave you wondering how long it will last before going bad. Refined palm oil will last around two years if it’s sealed and one year for sealed unrefined palm oil. Once opened, it’s recommended to use palm [...]
When Does All-Purpose Flour Go Bad?
There are a LOT of different flours out there, but all-purpose flour is by far the most popular among kitchens across the country. All-purpose flour is versatile and most standard recipes call for it. Unless you’re an avid cook or baker, that bag of all-purpose flour might be sitting in your pantry for a while. How long until you should throw it out because it’s gone bad? All-purpose flour should last around 6-8 months [...]
Which Flours Have the Highest Fiber (and Which Have the Lowest)?
Flour is usually made from plant-based sources like grains, nuts, and seeds. These plant-based foods also are sources of fiber, so it’s no surprise that the fiber content of flour can vary depending on its source and how it's processed. Some of the highest-fiber flours (per 1/4 cup) are coconut flour (12 grams), buckwheat flour (9 grams), fava bean flour (8 grams), whole wheat flour (7 grams), chestnut flour (6 grams), and [...]
