Corn flour - the gluten free flour for your bakes

You have probably spotted corn flour in our whole foods store, but you may not have known what to do with it. Here, you will find everything you need to know about it and find out there are plenty of reasons to buy corn flour online and stock it in your pantry. 

What is corn flour?

In the UK cornflour is what in the US is called corn starch - the starch derived from corn grain, obtained from the endosperm of the kernel and ground into a powder.

It is fine flour used for sauces and soups and to make corn syrup. It also a great flour for cooking and baking. 

Cakes made with corn flour will be tender, spongy, and taste of corn flour, but they won't produce the same rise of the dough as cakes made with other flours such as wheat flour or spelt flour. 

Is corn flour gluten free?

Corn flour is naturally gluten-free, and it's great for gluten-free cakes.  

Is corn flour healthy?

Corn flour is relatively high in calories. It has 353 calories per 100 grams. It contains 88 grams of carbohydrates, very little protein (0.3 grams) of protein, very little fat (0.1 grams) and no fibre. It also has some antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, including iron (0.7-milligram iron which equals 4 per cent DV) and vitamin A (63 IU of vitamin A, which equals 1 per cent DV), also B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and several other nutrients.

The bad news is that a lot of the nutrients are lost during processing, and because corn contains phytic acid, it is possible that your body can't absorb the nutrients the flour incorporates.

Is corn flour good for baking?

Although it doesn't add much nutritional value to your food, corn flour is an excellent versatile ingredient that can be used for cooking, baking and frying, especially for those who follow a gluten-free diet. However you decide to process it, you will unlock its sweet earthy flavour.

You can use corn flour to make bread, doughnuts, pancakes, muffins, doughnuts, biscuits, blinis and wafers. You can replace normal flour in many baking recipes but keep in mind that the texture of cakes may be different - they will have a finer, less crumbly texture and a yellow colour. It can be used in many desserts and sauces as a thickener. 

You can also use it to prepare infant foods, breakfast cereals, breadcrumbs, or batter for many fried dishes. It is also a great filler, binder and carrier in food production. 

Is cornflour good for people with diabetes? 

Well... Not really! One portion from time to time will not harm you, but it is not recommended in large quantities. As corn flour has a high glycemic index and is full of carbohydrates, it is the wrong food choice for people with diabetes. A high glycemic index means the sugar in food is fast absorbed into our blood. 

 Buy corn flour online for your pantry and enjoy gluten free baking at home!