Frustrated With gluten-free Bread Options

[kimber]

Hi ladies

I have been throwing away bread like crazy

My ds is already dairy/soy free and I am trying him on a gluten-free diet

I've bought a few enjoy life breads/bagels and recently George bagels and they were awful

is my best bet to buy a mix?

Thanks for any feedback, Kim

[momandgirls]

Do you happen to have a bread machine? When my daughter was first diagnosed, I couldn't find any bread that she was happy with. Now, we make our own bread and it is delicious! The favorite mix around our house is Pamela's amazing wheat free bread mix. I always make it in the machine, but I've heard people say they mix the dough and bake it in the oven. We haven't come across any bagels that we like yet and I haven't attempted to make my own.

[dionnek]

I like the prairie bread and the sundried tomato bread from Whole Foods (in the freezer section), but other than that I haven't tried a regular sandwhich bread yet that I've liked. I have a couple of mixes in my pantry but have been too afraid to try them yet (I'm fairly new to this). I haven't tried any bagels - they look so gross compared to the fresh hot bagels that I'm used to

I've hear the Anna bread mix is the best for baking your own (I have one in my pantry but haven't used it yet).

[ArtGirl]

Pamela's bread mixes are pretty good. I think the frozen, premade breads are terrible and I don't blame your son one bit for rejecting them. They are like eating cardboard. (my opnion only - others like them - so it's really a matter of personal taste)

With gluten-free bread, hands-on is the best. You might want to visit the recipe forum here for many great recipes for breads and other baked goods.

[BostonCeliac]

Hi ladies

I have been throwing away bread like crazy

My ds is already dairy/soy free and I am trying him on a gluten-free diet

I've bought a few enjoy life breads/bagels and recently George bagels and they were awful

is my best bet to buy a mix?

Thanks for any feedback, Kim

Hi -- I eat the brown rice bread from Enjoy Life - but it must be toasted, and I keep it in the Fridge. I also like the Prarie Bread from Whole Foods in the freezer section... again, toasted.

Kinnikinnick bagels are really good - a little pricey, but worth it, I think.

good luck!

[TriticusToxicum]

Glutino bagels are the closest to "real" bagels as i have found. Like everythings else, they are best toasted. Kinikinik bread is pretty good also. I've actually eaten it as a sandwich without toasting it first.

I find that if you are going to make it yourself it is quicker to just use a stand mixer if you have one. The bread machine spends a lot of time kneading and knocking the dough around "developing the gluten", but with gluten-free bread this is unnecessary - Mix, rise and bake (save yourself 2 hrs ta boot). I think all of that extra kneading has an adverse effect on the final texture of the bread. (just my opinion).

Bette Hagman's "gluten-free Gourmet Bakes bread" is the best resource I have found for bread recipes.

My best advice is to experiment and explore. Everyone here will give you their honest opinions on just about anything. Bread is probably the toughest food to substitute. In my mind (and mouth most importantly) bread is all about that gluten chewy experience. Some homemade bread is awesome right out of the oven, but wait a few hours and it will be a cumbly mess. Your toaster is your best friend!

[JennFog]

I have found that trying to stick with a potato based bread is better or even tapioca isn't that bad, the rice breads are the worst.

The bread was a tough one for me too. I gave up to tell you the honest truth. The only way I could eat it was if it was toasted (by the time lunch came, it was hard). The firmer it feels the worse it is, but the soft light and fluffy kind costs $4 for 6 slices. I just don't need the bread that much.

Try the rolls in the freezer section, they were pretty good. They look like hamburger rolls but good for any kind of sandwich, even pb & j.

I have given in to the lettuce wrap. I try different lettuces each week, works for me. I think my favorite lettuce is called bibb or boston, kind of buttery tasting.

I have tried corn tortillas too, not all that bad if you cook them first.

The other thing I will do... i like the frozen already made potato pizza doughs (not the rice ones), i will buy the thin ones for one person and have an open face sandwich on it, but this is a hot sandwich option. I guess you could cut it in half and have a sandwich too.

If you like gluten free crackers, those are good with lunch meat, cheese, peanut butter and jelly.

Plain mini rice cakes do the trick too.

Hope this helps! I know the ideas aren't bread but maybe replacing it with these alternatives will help!

[luvs2eat]

Manna from Anna bread mixes fan here. Check her out at www.mannafromanna.com. They're easy to make and the best bread I've found yet!

[jnclelland]

Manna from Anna bread mixes fan here. Check her out at www.mannafromanna.com. They're easy to make and the best bread I've found yet!

Ditto - Anna's bread mixes are amazing!

Jeanne

[kimber]

Thanks so much

I'll have to check out the mixes rec

Yes, I have a bread machine....glad it will finally come in handy

Ditto - Anna's bread mixes are amazing!

Jeanne

[BabySnooks]

Thanks so much

I'll have to check out the mixes rec

Yes, I have a bread machine....glad it will finally come in handy

I have to agree--all the ready-made breads are disgusting! I threw them all out and then heard about Anna's bread mix. Closest to regular bread so far. Big hint: put slices in microwave for 3 to 4 seconds before you eat....makes a huge difference! I will try Pamela's bread mix, but right now Anna has the best bread! By the way, Pamela's pancake and baking mix makes wonderful pancakes....you cannot tell they are gluten free.

[Fiddle-Faddle]

There are some EXCELLENT bread recipes in GLuten-Free Baking Classis by Annalise Roberts. They all need about 30-40 minutes to rise, and then 40-50 minutes to bake, and they are all batter breads with yeast. They don't work in the bread machine, but they are worth it--they are better than any of the decent bread machine mixes I've tried. My gluten-eating kids scarf them down faster than I can!

Check out www.foodphilosopher.com--she has some recipes on that site, as well as other interesting stuff.

[Nantzie]

Another BIG vote for Pamela's Wheat Free Bread Mix. (The last pkgs I got of them didn't say "Amazing' in the title, but they're the same thing.) It works toasted or untoasted. It doesn't do so well pulling it right out of the refrigerator we discovered. It falls apart. So if you keep it in the frig, let it come to room temp, or toast it before you try and make a sandwich out of it.

I usually just keep it in a bag on the counter. We easily will go through a whole loaf in a day and a half, so refrigeration usually isn't necessary.

Nancy

[Shalia]

Hi ladies

I have been throwing away bread like crazy

My ds is already dairy/soy free and I am trying him on a gluten-free diet

I've bought a few enjoy life breads/bagels and recently George bagels and they were awful

is my best bet to buy a mix?

Thanks for any feedback, Kim

Ingredients

Sorghum Flour, Tapioca Flour, Sweet Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour, Organic Natural Evaporated Cane Sugar, Chicory Root, White Rice Flour, Millet Flour, Honey & Molasses, Rice Bran, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum.

It's a mix you have to make yourself, but you don't need a bread machine. It works perfectly well with a pan in the oven. I don't even have a heavy duty mixer, I only have a hand mixer, and it works fine for me.

I'm never buying another type of bread again.

[Lauren M]

Thanks so much

I'll have to check out the mixes rec

Yes, I have a bread machine....glad it will finally come in handy

Don't think anyone else said this yet - but if you've used the bread machine for "regular" (ie gluten) bread, you cannot make gluten-free bread in it

I've tried Breads by Anna (used to be Manna from Anna), Pamela's & Gluten Free Pantry's bread mixes, all with success in my bread machine. As far as ready-made stuff, Gillian's rolls are AMAZING!

Open Original Shared Link

Good luck

- Lauren

[Laura--G]

I know how you feel. My son hated every bread he tried. When we moved to Salt Lake we went to a gluten free store (Against the Grain) and the owner told me to try Charlotte's bread. When I picked it up it was actually soft!! I wasn't expecting that, since most gluten-free bread isn't. It has honey in it and tastes great. I don't have celiac and now even I eat this bread. Open Original Shared Link

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I've had good luck with Gluten-Free Pantry's bread mix, but I'm so disgusted with the prices of the mixes , I will only make bread from scratch (from GLuten-Free Baking Classics) unless there is a terrific sale on the bread mixes!

[skbird]

Manna from Anna is great but I had to stop eating corn so the regular mix was out and the others have potato in them (also can't eat that) so I had to find something else. So far I like the Pamela's mix but don't love the egg smell in breads so next time I want to try making it with an egg substitute.

I had frozen half the loaf for later and had some yesterday with an avocado, cheese, and bacon sandwich and it was pretty good (and filling) though a little crumbly. Also has a bit of a sweet taste to it, but I'm not complaining.

Oddly, and I know this is not the popular opinion on this board I really like the EnerG Light Tapicoa bread. The regular tapioca isn't as good for some reason but the light, aside from being kind of small pieces, reminds me a lot of a toasted wonder bread type bread. It's great when I'm not feeling so hot and I crave toast - buttered toasted light tapioca really helps me get back on track with eating.

Plus it has an unbelieveable shelf life if unopened. So buying a case isn't a bad idea (I've done it).

Stephanie