What You Should Know About Gluten Free Bread

No matter what diet you follow, bread is probably one of the staples. Bread can be enjoyed at any meal, either as part of the main dish or even on its own. What makes it so delicious is the fact that it can be made with a variety of different flours which impart unique and delicious flavors – some breads even incorporate nuts, seeds, or even fruit to give the bread a little extra flavor and texture.

Followers of the gluten free diet often mourn the loss of bread. If you’re feeling that way, you’ll be glad to know you no longer have to! Schär Gluten Free offers a wide selection of gluten free breads including sliced sandwich breads, bread rolls, crisp breads, sweet breads, and more.

Keep reading to learn more about gluten free bread and to explore the options Schär has to offer.

What Goes into Gluten Free Bread?

Imagine walking down the bread aisle at your local grocery store. If you were to pick a few loaves off the shelves at random and read the list of ingredients, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to find wheat flour as a primary ingredient in most of them. Wheat flour is the main ingredient in many traditional-style bread recipes, but if you follow the gluten free diet it’s not an option.

So, what goes into gluten free bread since wheat, barley, and rye aren’t allowed?

Here are some of the top gluten free flours that can be used for bread:

• Almond Flour – This type of flour is made from finely ground almonds. It has a slightly nutty flavor to it and a slightly denser texture than wheat flour.
• Buckwheat Flour – Buckwheat is a pseudocereal rather than a grain. It has an earthy flavor and a texture that tends to crumble when used as the only flour in a recipe.
• Cassava Flour – Made from the grated, dried cassava or yuca root, this flour has a fine texture and a neutral flavor that makes it a popular ingredient in gluten free baked goods.
• Coconut Flour – This flour is made from finely ground dried coconut, so it has a mild coconut flavor to it. The thing to keep in mind is coconut flour is highly absorbent.
• Oat Flour – Made from grinding oats, this flour has a nice flavor to it but can give gluten free baked goods a chewy texture when used on its own.
• Tapioca Flour – This flour is made from the starchy liquid that comes from grinding the cassava root. Like cassava flour, it has a fine texture and neutral flavor.

In addition to these flours, some gluten free bread recipes incorporate gluten free starches like potato starch, arrowroot starch, or tapioca starch. Many gluten free breads are made with a combination of different gluten free flours and starches to achieve the desired texture and rise.

How Is Gluten Free Bread Different?

The primary difference between gluten free bread and traditional bread is, of course, the lack of gluten-containing ingredients. By swapping out wheat flour for gluten free flours, you change not only the taste but the texture of the bread. Whether you’re shopping for gluten free bread or making it yourself, you may notice some other differences between traditional and gluten free breads.

Here are five characteristics you may notice in gluten free bread:

1. It has a denser texture than wheat bread.
2. The taste can vary depending on the flours used.
3. It doesn’t last as long as wheat bread.
4. The texture lends itself best to warm preparations.
5. It doesn’t rise or brown as much as wheat bread.

All gluten free breads are different depending on the ingredients used to prepare them. Different gluten free flours have different tastes and textures, plus they react differently to other ingredients. If you’re interested in trying gluten free bread, read on to learn some helpful shopping tips.

What to Look for in Gluten Free Bread

Shopping for gluten free foods can be tricky because the selection varies depending where you shop. If you want to have options to choose from, your best bet may be to shop at a specialty food store. These stores often have a larger selection of food items for specialty diets, including the gluten free diet.

Once you choose a store, don’t forget to check both the dry goods aisle and the frozen aisle. While some gluten free breads are shelf-stable, many are sold frozen to prolong their shelf-life.

Here are some additional things to look for in gluten free bread:

• Look for a gluten free bread that includes more than one type of flour. Breads made with a single gluten-free flour may not have the texture or flavor you’re looking for.
• Check for binding ingredients like psyllium husk or xanthan gum. Gluten free flours don’t have the same sticky texture as wheat flour, so they require extra ingredients to bind things together.
• Be mindful of gluten free breads made with bean flours (like chickpea flour). These flours can have a strong flavor and an aftertaste you may not enjoy.
• Check for starches on the ingredient list. Gluten free starches like arrowroot, tapioca, or potato starch can help improve the texture of gluten free breads.
• Make sure the ingredients list doesn’t contain any other allergens. If a bread is labeled gluten free you may assume it is free from barley, wheat, and rye but you should double-check, especially if you have other food allergies.

If you’re having trouble finding a good gluten free bread, you may want to take your shopping trip online. Gluten free brands like Schär offer a wide selection of products but you can’t necessarily count on your local grocery store to carry them. Shop online for the largest selection or use the product finder to see what retailers near you carry the products you want.

Try These Schär Gluten Free Breads

Whether you’re new to the gluten free diet or a seasoned veteran, you probably already know how difficult it can be to find a good gluten free bread. Some gluten free breads are tough and flavorless while others seem to go stale the minute you open the package. If you’re looking for a gluten free bread you can count on for both flavor and texture, trust Schär, known around the world as experts in gluten free baking.

Here’s a list of some of our most popular gluten free breads:

• Artisan Baker White Bread – If you’re looking for a simple white bread, this is it. Made with sourdough, millet, quinoa, and honey, this white bread has a soft texture and subtle flavor.
• Artisan Baker 10 Grains & Seeds Bread – This high-fiber recipe is made with a sourdough base and studded with chia, pumpkin, flax, and sunflower seeds plus a hint of honey for sweetness.
• Deli Style Seeded Bread – Enjoy your favorite deli-style bread with added flax, sunflower, and chia seeds for a hint of texture and unique flavor.
• Artisan Baker Multigrain Bread – Artisinally crafted with sourdough, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, and a touch of honey, this multigrain bread is soft and tender, the perfect pick for sandwiches.

In addition to these traditional breads, Schär offers a variety of bread rolls and crisp breads. Enjoy a taste Cinnamon Raisin Bagel for breakfast or load up a Ciabatta with your favorite meats and cheeses at lunch time. Pair your favorite dips and spreads with Schär Gluten Free Crispbread or snack on some crispy Gluten Free Italian Breadsticks. For dessert, indulge in Schär Gluten Free Sweet Breads like Pain Au Chocolat.

Just because you’re following a gluten free diet doesn’t mean you need to give up your favorite breads. With Schär you can enjoy safe and tasty versions of all your favorite breads from classic sliced breads and rolls to sweet breads, crisp breads, and more.