Pros and Cons of Making Gluten-Free Flour from Scratch

I was thrown into the gluten-free world when I began dating my now husband. I loved baking and wasn't ready to give it up completely.  I splurged on some Great Value gluten-free flour and started experimenting. Some of my gluten-free baking was a success, and a lot of it was a failure. My progress was interrupted by the Great Value GF having a shortage. This situation was when I began making gluten-free flour from scratch. 

The blend I use comes from the cookbook Irresistibly Gluten Free .There are hundreds of gluten-free flour recipes out there. I love the blend in this book and the recipes that accompany it. 

Pros of Making Gluten-Free Flour from Scratch 

1. You get to choose which ingredients. You get to decide whether to use brown rice or white. You get to decide whether to use potato starch or tapioca. In other words, you determine how healthy to make your flour. 
2. You feel more accomplished. I love presenting a successful dish made of gluten-free flour that I mixed. 
3. It allows you the ability to try more recipes.  I avoided using the precious pre-mixed gluten-free flour in new recipes. What if it didn't work?  Now that I can make it cheaper, I am more willing to branch out and try new recipes.
   
4. It can save you tons of money! Money was the main reason I made the switch! I compiled a chart of how much you save by making your own gluten free flour. 

How much money you save by making your own Gluten Free Flour

Cons of Making Gluten-Free Flour from Scratch

1. It is more time-consuming. It is easier to buy a prepackaged 1 for 1 bag of Gluten free flour at the store. Measuring out all of the ingredients takes time. 
2. Mixing the "flour" can make a mess. Clouds of white often shoot up as I combine the ingredients. I have had flour on the counters, the table, the floor, and my clothes. 
3. It can be hard to find the ingredients for the price you want. I didn't realize that my local Walmart and Smiths don't carry rice flour in the stalk. Yes, you could order it online, but it is too expensive!
4. It may not turn out how you want it. Some recipes may not turn out as well with your Gluten-Free flour blend. All blends are so different, that it can feel like a gamble when trying a new recipe.
5. You NEED to remember to add Xanthan gum if it isn't in your blend. Your baked item will crumble before your eyes if you forget.
6. You may need to purchase a Kitchen Mill. Rice is so inexpensive it is crazy how much you can overpay for rice flour. Using WinCo's prices (Far cheaper then Smith's and Walmart) you will pay 31¢ to grind a cup of rice flour. To buy pre-ground rice flour, you will pay about 63¢ per cup.  That means you save 32¢ per cup by having a kitchen mill. This is a massive saving, but a Kitchen Mill can be pricey! Based on the Kitchen Mill I own, you would need to grind 1,094 cups to make this purchase worth it.  Click here for the link to the Kitchen Mill I would recommend. Note: Kitchen Mills are often sold second-hand at thrift shops or Facebook Marketplace. Please check these before buying new.

"Our goal is to help the world make decisions with a list of Pros and Cons. We invite all to add to our lists to help others make the most educated decision possible. We are all in this world together to help each other and learn from what others have learned from their lives journey." - Pros and Cons Team Written by: Kristen