xanthan gum and others on GF diets

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:27 pm

Sheila wrote:Yes, all the ingredients are placed in the pan, wet ingredients first and then dry are spread on top. My machine was programmed (by my DH) for the gluten free cycle. The bread pan is snapped into the machine and you set it for the program you want. The ingredients are mixed, allowed to rise and then baked. I love it!!! I make bread about every 10 days, sometimes more often if I'm making some for someone else. A neighbor with celiac enjoys teff bread with dried blueberries. It is a darker bread and also contains oatmeal flour which I grind myself.

You can also use the machine just for mixing if you want to make a round loaf or baguette.

Sheila W

Sheila what did you mean when you said your machine was programmed (by my DH) for the gluten free cycle?

Post by **tex** » Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:53 pm

Barb,

I'm sure she meant that her late husband set up the machine for her so that it was programmed correctly for gluten free bread.

Tex

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:50 am

tex wrote:Barb,

I'm sure she meant that her late husband set up the machine for her so that it was programmed correctly for gluten free bread.

Tex

Oh ok. I wonder how it has to be programmed differently?

Post by **tex** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 10:30 am

Gluten-free doughs cannot be kneaded as much (because they don't contain gluten), and so the higher-priced machines have one or more GF options included in their programming menu, to allow for that characteristic.

Tex

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:34 pm

Tex is correct. The Zojirishi machine can make both GF and wheat based bread. It is programmable for GF ingredients. I had a lot of trouble programming it correctly and my very patient late DH programmed it for me. I use the same program for all of the GF bread recipes and it works well. Don't know what I'll do if I ever have to reprogram it.

Sheila W

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:28 pm

tex wrote:Gluten-free doughs cannot be kneaded as much (because they don't contain gluten), and so the higher-priced machines have one or more GF options included in their programming menu, to allow for that characteristic.

Tex

Wow...I'm glad you told me this Tex, as I'm looking into buying a bread machine. Now I will have to watch for that feature!

I haven't asked the question on the boards yet, but do you find that people have problems with the guar gum or xanthum gum (spelling?) who are gluten sensitive? There is a friend of mine that found that she cannot tolerate either so she cannot buy boxed GF items. She has to actually make them herself so they do not contain either gum. But I noticed that the recipes I've looked at for breads do seem to have the xanthum gum in there.

Barb

Post by **tex** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 1:50 pm

Barb,

GF flours do not rise as much as wheat flour when used to make bread. That's why they result in denser bread. If I remember correctly, too much kneading can cause them to rise even less, so the resulting bread will be even denser. Hopefully someone will correct me if I'm wrong about that.

Regular bread machines can still be used, but the bread will probably turn out to be denser than it would have been if it had been made in a bread machine properly programmed for GF flour mixes.

Tex

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Wed Mar 13, 2013 5:38 pm

HI Barb. Yes, some people react to the gums used in GF baking. I stayed away for 6 months just to be sure I was healed enough to try GF products. And I am fine with them now. It's hard to make good GF bread without xantham gum because it gives it the structure that gluten normally would. However, sweet quick breads and muffins made with almond flour come out delicious without any gums.

Leah

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:58 am

I ordered an Oster bread machine yesterday that has the gluten setting. I'm so glad you guys told me about this. Can't wait to try it out...not only for the GF breads but for others as well.

Sheila · Post by **Sheila** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:12 am

Hi Birdlover, Have fun with your new machine! I tried lots of different recipes in the beginning and it is hard to mess up with the bread machine doing the work for you. Friends who have tasted the sandwich bread that I make in the machine were surprised that it tasted so good.

Sheila W

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:19 pm

Sheila wrote:Hi Birdlover, Have fun with your new machine! I tried lots of different recipes in the beginning and it is hard to mess up with the bread machine doing the work for you. Friends who have tasted the sandwich bread that I make in the machine were surprised that it tasted so good.

Sheila W

Thanks Sheila, I'm looking forward to it.