So with blends ranging from a handful of ingredients to a dozen, how do you choose? There are several things to consider when shopping for the right gluten-free blend. What type of baked goods are you making? Is cost the deciding factor? Do you have other dietary restrictions that need to be taken into account? Because of its ease of use, King Arthur’s Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour is our choice to add to a gluten-free pantry. As overwhelming as the options might seem, with a little guidance, it’s easy to narrow down to your favorites. Here we’ve selected the best gluten-free flour blends to suit all of your baking needs. Fortified with iron, calcium, and vitamin B, this blend is kosher and verified by the Non-GMO Project. Because of its versatility, accessibility, and great price, this blend is an essential gluten-free pantry staple for bakers. The 3 pounds (48 ounces) of flour comes in a resealable bag so you don’t have to worry about storage. If you’re looking for a quick fix rather than (re)creating one of your own recipes, King Arthur has tons of gluten-free baking mixes to bring you that much closer to homemade doughnuts, scones, bread, pizza, brownies, cookies, cake, muffins, cornbread, and pie crust. Price at Time of Publish: $10 Ingredients: Rice flour, whole grain brown rice flour, whole sorghum flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, cellulose, xanthan gum, vitamin and mineral blend Since 1932, Krusteaz has been a family-owned brand focused on home-baked goodness. Its gluten-free flour is certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization and is also free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Krusteaz also offers baking mixes for easy-to-make gluten-free cinnamon crumb cake, chocolate chip cookies, yellow cake, double chocolate brownies, blueberry muffins, honey cornbread, and buttermilk pancakes. Note that this flour is sometimes offered as a bulk order of eight 32-ounce resealable bags of flour, which translates to a lower cost per ounce. Price at Time of Publish: $25 Ingredients: Whole grain sorghum flour, brown rice flour (rice flour, stabilized rice bran with germ), whole grain millet flour, rice flour. Contains 2% or less of the following: food starch-modified, whole grain quinoa flour, xanthan gum. Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour is certified gluten-free, made with non-GMO ingredients, and certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. It is important to note that this blend includes milk, so it would not be suitable for those avoiding dairy. If you’re looking to jump-start your baking with prepared mixes, Cup4Cup has options for multigrain bread, chocolate brownies, muffins, pie crust, cornbread, yellow cake, pancakes, and more. Price at Time of Publish: $16 Ingredients: Cornstarch, white rice flour, brown rice flour, rBST-free milk powder, tapioca flour, potato starch, xanthan gum It’s important to note that King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour is not meant to be a 1-to-1 replacement. Instead, it’s ideal for all gluten-free recipes—i.e., recipes that are designed for gluten-free flour, not conventional recipes. Kosher and Non-GMO Project verified, this blend is also fortified with iron, calcium, and vitamin B. Price at Time of Publish: $13 Ingredients: Specialty flour blend (rice flour, tapioca starch), potato starch, whole grain brown rice flour, mineral blend Carolyn Truett, a former pastry chef and current recipe developer at Caramel and Cashews, has celiac disease and knows her way around gluten-free flours. “Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 All-Purpose Flour is hands-down my favorite gluten-free flour, and I’ve tried plenty,” she says. “It’s easy to find with a superb taste and texture, plus it’s affordable…It tastes amazing in cookies, crisps, crumbles, muffins, cakes, and quick breads. I’m thrilled to have a flour blend that tastes like the real deal that I can pick up at multiple stores. It’s my go-to in almost everything.” Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour is made in the company’s dedicated gluten-free manufacturing facility—and is also kosher and verified by the Non-GMO Project. As far as baking mixes go, Bob’s Red Mill offers many options, like chocolate chip cookies, whole grain bread, pancakes, brownies, pie crust, pizza crust, and muffins. Price at Time of Publish: $7 Ingredients: Sweet white rice flour, whole grain brown rice flour, potato starch, whole grain sorghum flour, tapioca flour, xanthan gum Pamela’s Products’ Gluten-Free 1:1 All-Purpose Flour will work in most recipes as a replacement for wheat flour but may require subtle tweaking, like adding more liquid. And with Pamela’s baking mixes, you can get a head start on making biscuits, pancakes, scones, and chocolate chip cookies. Price at Time of Publish: $22 Ingredients: Brown rice flour, tapioca starch, white rice flour, potato starch, sorghum flour, arrowroot starch, guar gum, sweet rice flour, rice bran In addition to having 12 grams of whole grains and 1,200 milligrams of omega-3s per serving, this blend is 100 percent natural, kosher, non-GMO, and free of gluten, allergens, preservatives, and additives. To use it, simply replace the flour 1-to-1 in your favorite baking recipes. Premium Gold also offers pancake and waffle mixes for a leg up on those breakfast favorites. Price at Time of Publish: $14 Ingredients: Rice flour, ground flaxseed, quinoa flour, buckwheat flour, amaranth flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, xanthan gum This blend is certified gluten-free, kosher, vegan, and Non-GMO Project verified. For help to mix up some grain-free baked goods, Bob’s Red Mill also has grain-free mixes for brownies, cakes, flatbreads, muffins, and pancakes. Price at Time of Publish: $15 Ingredients: Almond flour, arrowroot starch, organic coconut flour, tapioca flour

What to Look for When Buying Gluten-Free Flour

Ingredients

One of the most important things to consider, if not the most important, when choosing gluten-free flour is the ingredients. “When searching for an all-purpose gluten-free flour, remember that they are actually a blend of starches, flours, and sometimes xanthan gum,” says Truett. “This means that every brand will taste and react differently. Some are perfect for baked goods, while others are best in yeast-raised breads, depending on the ingredients.” The ingredients can vary drastically from flour to flour. Since no single ingredient can replicate wheat, gluten-free flours are usually made from a variety of ingredients. Xanthan gum is a common ingredient in gluten-free flours since it replicates the tackiness of dough and bread. However, some people, including those with certain digestive health conditions, avoid xanthan gum. If this is what you prefer, there are gluten-free flours available, like Pamela’s Products. Be sure to read the ingredient lists carefully when choosing your flour.

Storage

To keep gluten-free flour the freshest, store it in an airtight container in your pantry. It should keep for one to two months. You can also store it in your refrigerator to extend its life by a few extra months. Some gluten-free flours come in resealable bags to preserve freshness.

Are there grain-free flours that are naturally gluten-free?

Grains like rice and amaranth are commonly used in gluten-free flours. For those looking for a grain-free option, consider almond or tapioca flours. They are both grain-free and gluten-free.

What exactly is gluten?

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, gluten is a general term for proteins in wheat (and all its varieties) as well as rye, barley, and triticale. In the kitchen, it acts as the glue that helps foods maintain their shape. Anyone diagnosed with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten ataxia will need to avoid gluten at all costs. Those with the more common wheat allergy are not allergic to all grains or gluten itself but may find it easier to stick to gluten-free foods to be safe.

Can you use gluten-free flour for a roux or gravy?

You can use gluten-free flour for a roux or gravy, but results may vary depending on the brand or the blend of ingredients. You might need to experiment, as some gluten-free flours can cause a gummy consistency when making a roux or gravy. A gluten-free flour blend made with cornstarch can help thicken your recipes successfully.

Why Trust Simply Recipes?

Kalisa Marie Martin is a classically trained chef and recipe developer who has been gluten-free for more than 15 years. She’s mixed her own blends but enjoys the convenience that these products offer. While King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour is her go-to, she also loves the results of using Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour in classic recipes that don’t need to be dairy-free. With so many blends out there, she’s happy to do the research and testing so you don’t have to.  Read Next: The Best Mixing Bowls