What Is Coconut Flour?
Once coconut meat has been dried, it is finely ground to make flour. Unlike wheat or other types of grain flours, coconut flour is finer and much softer.
Full of fibre, protein and gluten free, coconut flour is a healthy alternative to those who are gluten intolerant, or for those who are looking to cut down on the amount of wheat products they use. Coconut flour is a good choice for those on a low carb diet because it is low in sugar and has a low rating on the Glycemic Index.
Coconut flour is perfect for anyone on the Paleo diet.
How To Store Coconut Flour
Store Coconut Flour in an airtight container to keep it fresh. It has the same life span as regular flours. You can increase its lifespan to about a year by storing it in the freezer.
How To Cook With Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is perfect for grain free diets. It can be used by those who are gluten intolerant or those who are on grain free Paleo or Keto diets. You can use coconut flour to make muffins, cakes or bread or sauces.
Coconut flour has a unique flavor that you need to keep in mind, because it may not be a “flavor fit” for every recipe.
Coconut flour is harder to cook or bake with than regular flour. It is very soft and absorbent and soaks up liquids like a sponge. This can result in a very dense and often dry product. You either need to increase the liquids in your recipe OR decrease the amount of coconut flour you use.
An easy way to start working with coconut flour is to use it as the coating for chicken nuggets, fish fillets or fried shrimp. You can also substitute it in sauces and curries (cut the quantity used in half).
When you first start cooking and baking with coconut flour it is best to find recipes that have been created specifically for the flour, because the ratio of liquids to flour are drastically different than those you are used to.
Here is one of my favorite muffin recipes using coconut flour and coconut oil. Totally sugar free.
Sugar Free Banana Strawberry Muffins
Where To Buy Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is harder to come by than regular grain flours. It is NOT stocked in most of the grocery stores in my area. I have found it on occasion in larger Costco stores, but it is not available in the smaller Costco that is closest to me.
As you have probably already figured out … my go-to online grocery is Amazon.
Here are some good choices for trying out coconut flour.
Viva Naturals Organic Non-GMO and Gluten-Free Coconut Flour, 4 Pound
By the way, Viva Naturals is one of my favorite companies, with literally DOZENS of their natural food products and supplements on the Amazon best seller lists.
Though a four pound bag of Coconut Flour can go a long way, there are folks who want to buy in larger quantities. Unfortunately Viva Naturals doesn’t sell in bulk, so here is an alternative for anyone who does a lot of baking and cooking.
Nutiva Organic Coconut Flour, 25 Pound
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