How to Effectively Use Coconut Flour?
Medella Organic Coconut Flour isn’t like any other flours out there in the market. It works a little differently and it requires a little practice and getting used to.
Though coconut flour can be used for baking and cooking like all flours, it cannot substitute other flours with a 1:1 ratio. As coconut oil is much more absorbent than other flours, you must substitute coconut flour for other flours with a 1:4 ratio. Therefore, for every one cup of all-purpose flour or almond flour, use ¼ cup of coconut flour. If you are new to coconut flour, search for recipes that have already incorporated coconut flour in the ingredients list.
When coconut flour soaks up moisture, it becomes dense when it bakes. To counter this drying effect, it is advisable to add extra liquids or eggs to provide moisture and structure in the baked goods. For every ¼ cup of coconut flour, you should use 1 egg; or add 2 extra tablespoons of liquid for every 2 tablespoons of coconut flour.
If you are going to use eggs:
- Separate the yolk and the egg white.
- Beat the yolk with coconut flour
- Whip the egg white in a separate bowl until it holds stiff peaks
- Fold the yolk and coconut flour mixture with the egg white
The coconut flour should also be sifted to prevent a gritty texture in the baked goods. Using a fork could help fluff up the flour and avoid clumping up. Coconut flour can be utilised as a thickener in soups, gravies, food coating for frying and frostings.
Unopened coconut flour needs to be kept in a dry, airtight container and away from direct sunlight. It has a shelf-life of 12-18 months. However, if the product has exceeded the “best before” date, the coconut flour is still safe to be used unless food spoilage occurs. While it is not necessary, when the coconut flour has been opened, you could keep it in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer. This would extend the shelf-life for 6 months to a year.
Now that you know it all, get yours now!
References:
Greaves, V 2016, All About Coconut Flour, Plus 10 Ways to Bake With It, allrecipes, <https://www.allrecipes.com/article/all-about-coconut-flour/>.
MarcAurele, L 2020, Ultimate Guide To Baking With Coconut Flour, LowCarbYum, <https://lowcarbyum.com/ultimate-guide-to-baking-with-coconut-flour/>.
McGruther, J 2019, Coconut Flour, Nourished Kitchen, <https://nourishedkitchen.com/baking-with-coconut-flour/>.
Tarpy, L 2020, What is Coconut Flour?, the Spruce Eats, <https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-coconut-flour-4777420>.
