What Is Flaxseed Flour? (What It Is, What It’s For, Substitutes + More)

Normally, most flour that is readily available is made from wheat, but many manufacturers have been making unique variants of flour more accessible, such as flaxseed flour.

If you have never had flaxseed flour before, you may be wondering what flaxseed flour is. I looked up the facts, and here is what I learned!

What Is Flaxseed Flour?

Flaxseed flour is flour created from ground flaxseeds, which is why flaxseed flour may be called flaxseed meal and flaxseed powder. Generally, flaxseed flour is added as a supplement to other kinds of flour for most baking recipes. Additionally, flaxseed flour can be used as a stabilizing ingredient and thickening agent.

Do you want to learn what flaxseed flour tastes like, how flaxseed flour is made, and if flaxseed flour has gluten? Keep reading!

What Is Flaxseed Flour Made Of?

Flaxseed flour is made from ground flaxseeds, which are small and somewhat brown oilseeds.

What Does Flaxseed Flour Taste Like?

Generally, flaxseed flour tastes very similar to flaxseeds, which are earthy and nutty with a bit of sweetness.

However, some people state that flaxseed flour tastes very neutral, especially when you mix flaxseed flour with other ingredients.

Is Flaxseed Flour Bitter?

Flaxseed flour is rarely bitter even when the flour is raw, so your flaxseed flour may have gone bad if the flaxseed flour tastes bitter.

What Is Flaxseed Flour Used For?

Normally, flaxseed flour is rarely used as a complete substitute for flour because flaxseed flour cannot hold its own in most baking recipes.

However, flaxseed flour can be used in tandem with other types of flour during baking if desired.

For instance, you can add several tablespoons of flaxseed flour into most other types of flour before you bake your dish.

Moreover, flaxseed flour can make an excellent thickening agent in cooking because flaxseed flour absorbs moisture well, which will lubricate and bind your ingredients.

Additionally, you can use flaxseed flour as a stabilizing ingredient since flaxseed flour has mucilage that can stabilize protein-based and foam-based emulsions.

Is Flaxseed Flour The Same As Ground Flaxseed?

Is Flaxseed Flour The Same As Ground Flaxseed?

Flaxseed flour is the same as ground flaxseed because flaxseed flour is made from ground flaxseed.

These names are practically synonymous with each other, which is why flaxseed flour and ground flaxseed may be used interchangeably.

What Is The Difference Between Flaxseed Meal And Flaxseed Flour?

Typically, the difference between flaxseed meal and flaxseed flour is how the flaxseeds were ground.

Firstly, flaxseed meal is usually a by-product of creating flaxseed oil, which is why flaxseed meal has larger and coarser granules.

Next, flaxseed flour is created from ground whole flax seeds, which makes a much finer and more consistent powder similar to flour.

However, flaxseed meal does have a similar texture to flour, but flaxseed flour is often better to add to most baking recipes.

Generally, flaxseed flour and flaxseed meal have similar neutral flavor profiles, but some people say that flaxseed flour has a slightly stronger flavor.

Flaxseed flour having a more noticeable taste can be because flaxseed meal is a by-product of flaxseed oil, meaning most of the “flaxseed flavor” could have been removed.

What Is The Difference Between Wheat Flour And Flaxseed Flour?

Flaxseed flour and wheat flour are different because of their ingredients since flaxseed flour is made from ground flaxseeds whereas wheat flour is made from grain.

A notable difference between flaxseed flour and wheat flour is how you use them since wheat flour can stand alone in a recipe but flaxseed flour only supplements other kinds of flour.

Moreover, wheat flour contains gluten because wheat flour is made from grain while flaxseed flour does not have gluten.

Can I Use Flaxseed Meal Instead Of Whole Wheat Flour?

Generally, you cannot use flaxseed meal instead of whole wheat flour in a recipe because flaxseed meal does not have the properties needed to completely replace whole wheat flour.

However, it is possible to replace up to ¼ of the whole wheat flour that the recipe calls for with flaxseed meal if you want to use flaxseed meal.

If you want to use flaxseed meal to make a gluten-free recipe, you can mix flaxseed meal with another gluten-free flour to completely replace the whole wheat flour.

Can I Make Flaxseed Flour At Home?

You can make flaxseed flour at home by placing flaxseeds into a blender and grinding the flaxseeds until they resemble a fine powder.

Be sure to blend the flaxseeds in batches to avoid uneven textures and over blending.

Once your flaxseeds resemble a fine powder, take the flaxseed flour out of the blender and sift the flour to remove large chunks.

Blend the large chunks of flaxseed until they look like flour then repeat the blending process with the rest of the flaxseeds.

Does Flaxseed Flour Have Gluten?

Since flaxseeds are naturally gluten-free, flaxseed flour does not have gluten.

What Can I Use Instead Of Flaxseed Flour?

Generally, you can simply use whatever flour is commonly used for your specific recipe since flaxseed flour normally partially replaces wheat flour.

For instance, if the recipe states to use flaxseed flour with all-purpose flour, you may use all-purpose flour solely for your recipe.

As for thickening and stabilizing recipes, you can use tapioca starch, potato starch, etc. as excellent gluten-free alternatives.

Have a look at our other articles to learn what farina flour is, what fortified flour is, and what finger millet flour is.

Conclusion

Flaxseed flour is a type of powder created from grinding whole flaxseeds, which tastes somewhat mild yet nutty, earthy, and sweet.

Normally, flaxseed flour cannot completely replace wheat flour in recipes since flaxseed flour is supplemental flour.

Moreover, flaxseed flour can be a great ingredient to stabilize and thicken dishes if you want a gluten-free thickening agent and stabilizer.

Leave a Comment