Cooking And Baking For Allergies To Gluten Based Foods
Posted on July 28th, 2010 in Food And Beverage, General, Health And Fitness, Home And Family, Reference And Education | No Comments »
Baking is an art form when you have to cut gluten out of your diet. It will take learning new recipes, tasks, and ways of doing things that are unlike what you may have done in the past. Gluten free baking is easy enough to do, it just takes time to learn!
The first thing to get down pat is to realize which grains contain gluten. Wheat, barley, and rye are examples of grains that do have gluten in them. Other types of grains, such as corn or oats, do not contain gluten. You should take up memorizing the list by consulting reading material, magazines, and baking cookbook aids. Verify each ingredient you wish to cook with before using it.
Foods that have been processed, such as the average frozen dinner, will need to be scrutinized. Processed food that doesn’t seem like it would contain grain might actually have that ingredient. Other processed foods might be prepared in the same factory that grain-based foods are prepared, and contamination may be present.
The area in which the cook or baker is preparing the food should be cleaned thoroughly before being used. It’s possible that grains are still present, even if in miniscule form. Be proactive about the situation and clean all utensils if they have come into contact with foods not in the dish being prepared. You can never be safe enough when you are dealing with an allergy that could cause a critical condition if not handled correctly.
Be on the lookout for packages of gluten-free foods. These packages are a blessing for families that don’t always have time to create a meal from scratch, yet also want to be completely safe in feeding a child with allergies. Gluten-free packaged foods taste just as good, if not better, than their counterparts. The only difference is that they are created with substitutes if necessary, and many are often organic so they taste better as well.
Cookbooks will be of great help as well. Cookbooks today are more than just recipes, since they provide helpful facts and hints too. Find a cookbook in your local bookstore or find one on the Internet that is specifically tailored to someone with gluten allergies. It’s the fastest way to get new ideas for recipes, but also supplement the list with informational websites. In time you will build a full-featured cooking list.
In Conclusion
Allergies to food can be serious if not handled properly. Follow every instruction that physicians give, keep the cooking area clean, and have fun cooking new dishes. Read more on allergies on the Internet to get briefed on more gluten facts.
Learn more about Shabtai Florentine Lace Cookies and gluten free breads.