What is GLUTEN FREE THICKENER?
The only thickener that:
An all purpose thickener for hot and cold foods, Gluten-Free Thickener is a corn based "modified food starch". Formed from waxy maize, a specific variety of corn, this thickener is a versatile alternative starch that can be used in most cooking with ease. The Gluten Free Thickener can be used as a substitute in many products for high fat and cholesterol eggs or high calorie sugar for the most health-conscious chef. Our favorite use is to make our jams and presserves using 1/2 the sugar yet they thicken nicely with 1 Tbsp. of the thickener into each cup of sugar used.
Starches such as Gluten Free Thickener are used commercially in an incredible number of applications. Modified food starches make gravies, soups and sauces smooth and attractively colored (This thickener will not add color to your food; it becomes clear when added). They allow convenience foods to be refrigerated or frozen and reheated by conventional or microwave methods. They stabilize low-fat products such as salad dressings, add body to low sugar foods (such as jams), and allow artificial sweeteners to be used in a wide variety of foods. Even bakery mixes use modified food starches for moistness. Sauces made with Gluten Free Thickener will not set up or separate like traditional cornstarch-thickened sauces. You can truly enjoy refrigerated or frozen meals made to your family's exacting standards! And because you make it fresh, you can avoid the additives and preservatives essential to commercially prepared products. This thickener is also EASY! If you like the idea of mixing a thickener into soups, gravies or sauces straight from the container without having to make a "thickening" that may or may not be smooth, Gluten Free Thickener is for you. If you like the flexibility of being able to adjust the thickness of a product at any point of preparation, Gluten Free Thickener is for you. Too thick? Add a little more liquid. Too thin? Add a little more of the thickener. Gluten Free Thickener is a real boon to those who are concerned about health. It improves the texture of many reduced-fat products and allows "jams" to be made with very small amounts of sugar. It is particularly well suited for instant fruit glazes and fresh fruit pie fillings. Glutern Free Thickener will begin to swell as soon as it is added to liquid, so the starch granules must be dispersed to prevent lumping. Be sure to add it gradually, stirring with a wire whisk. You don't need to remove vegetables or meat first. If it looks like lumps are forming, keep stirring! They will usually stir out. Next time add the Gluten Free Thickener a little slower. For better results, add it before hot liquids reach a boiling temperature. This thickener disperses easier in cooler liquids.
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Gravy: 2-3 T. thickener per cup of broth
Dessert Topping: 3 T. thickener per cup of liquid
Pie Glaze: 4-5 T. Thickener per cup of liquid
1 T. cornstarch = 1 1/2 T. Gluten Free Thickener
2 T. flour or Tapioca = 1 1/2 T. Gluten Free Thickener
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Fruit salads containing whipped cream are no longer a problem either, since Gluten Free Thickener keeps the cream from separating or going watery. And your favorite fluffy fruit salads can even be frozen, for delightful chilled summer salads.
Fruit dressings made with Gluten Free Thickener thicken instantly, eliminating cooking and cooling time. Best of all, the fruit retains its natural flavor and nutrition without large amounts of added sugar or other sweeteners. Even rich, creamy fruit dips can be made with little added sugar or fat.
.MAIN DISHES--Gluten Free Thickener is used in main dishes, particularly soups, sauces, gravies, and casseroles for two main reasons. The first, and most obvious, is an improved appearance and texture. The second is less obvious, but perhaps even more vital. Products made with flour or traditional corn starch set up very rigidly upon cooling and often separate or curdle when reheated. Most people do not consider these to be acceptable products for even short-term storage in the refrigerator or freezer. Food items made with Gluten Free Thickener can be refrigerated or frozen while maintaining the original quality . In a world of convenient "make-ahead" foods, stability during storage is imperative
The introduction of Gluten Free Thickener for home use is a breakthrough in preparing convenience foods that accommodate the preferences and dietary needs of family members. The concept of "cooking for a whole month" is now possible without sacrificing quality.
Gluten Free Thickener also accommodates family members with special dietary needs, particularly low-sugar or low-fat diets. It is easy to become frustrated with the high cost of purchasing convenience foods that meet these needs, especially when the product is often bland and flavorless. Gluten Free Thickener makes possible gravies and soups that are virtually fat-free, total control over sodium content and sugar content, and the taste and quality that only come from "homemade."
Gluten Free Thickener combines quality with convenience. A real timesaver, it gets you out of the kitchen fast with time- and pot-saving shortcuts. What are you waiting for?
BREADS---Quick breads have always been a family favorite, especially when the bananas in the cupboard get a little too ripe or the six pumpkins you planted turn out to be zucchini! In the past few years there has been a gradual change in our expectations of muffins and quick breads. We are seeing exciting new flavors and textures that more closely resemble cakes than the bland-flavored, pebbly-topped muffin of the past. And they are taking center stage as a dessert or snack, rather than a meal accompaniment.
Gluten Free Thickener is added to quick breads and muffins to give a fine, even texture and moist crumb.
DESSERTS--Gluten Free Thickener can be used in any dessert that requires thickening: pie fillings, puddings, refrigerator desserts, ice cream, or other special treats. One advantage, however, is that it is an instant starch and requires no cooking or cooling, reducing preparation time substantially. It also makes possible the use of aspertame, since the mixture doesn't need to boil to thicken.Microwave heating of Gluten Free Thickener puddings and sauces is simple! Since the product is already thick, it doesn't need to be stirred as frequently to avoid lumping.
Baked pie fillings made with Gluten Free Thickener cut well with a fresh, clear flavor and no pasty aftertaste. They don't weep or change in consistency, either -- the crust stays crisp and flaky and the filling remains tender. Best of all, the oven stays clean!
The FDA has strongly cautioned against using raw eggs in products such as homemade ice cream. Gluten Free Thickener eliminates the need for eggs in ice cream mixtures, as well as the need for cooking them before freezing. The result is a superior quality product that doesn't form large ice crystals when stored in the freezer.
SOUPS AND STEWS-- Gluten Free Thickener really shines in soups and stews! A little of the thickener gives a broth soup more body. Cream soupsand stews maintain a good quality when refrigerated or frozen and much of the fat can be eliminated.
Another major advantage is that the amount of thickening can be adjusted easily. Soups and stews are not an exact science, for in the long cooking time more or less evaporation can take place according to the type of cookware used and the heat maintained, resulting in more or less broth to thicken. Gluten Free Thickener makes it easy to adjust to your liking -- the soup doesn't even have to be boiling. When the soup or stew is ready to be thickened, just stir in the Gluten Free Thickener according to the recipe. If it isn't thick enough a few minutes later, stir in a little more. If it's too thick, add a little broth, water, or milk according to your recipe
SAUCES AND GRAVIES--Gluten Free Thickener is great for sauces and gravies! It adds no flavor of its own, so there's no need to worry about the taste of "raw" flour or cornstarch. Gravies and sauces are easy to make and lump-free, even for the beginner. And since mixtures don't need to boil in order to thicken, the chance of scorching delicate milk dishes is eliminated. Sauces become quick and easy and the variety is endless! Eggs can also be eliminated from pumpkin and other custard pies, significantly reducing dietary cholestrol.
Whether you want a perfect ending to a perfect meal, or just a snack for your sweet tooth, it's only minutes away with Gluten Free Thickener!
Unfortunately, they have to work on averages, so your jam may or may not set up the same, and there's really no way of knowing or making changes. And there's absolutely no way to cut down on the sugar because it just won't work! And besides that, pectin is expensive!
If you want a low-sugar jam where you can taste the fruit and not just the sugar and you don't mind a soft jam, you will find Gluten Free Thickener a godsend. It doesn't depend on scientific proportions to work, so you sweeten and thicken to your own liking. There are several advantages to this besides the obvious ones: The amount of light corn syrup in a freezer jam may be reduced when less sugar is used because the sugar dissolves easier with less crystallization. There is also no need to heat freezer jams, since there is less sugar to dissolve.
Another advantage of using Gluten Free Thickener instead of pectin is the flexibility. If you want a jam thicker, stir in more. If you want it thinner, use more fruit or juice. Also, Gluten Free Thickener jams may be made from any type of fruit mixture desired. For this reason, many people like to freeze fresh crushed fruit to combine with other fruits later in the season for unique flavor combinations.
HOME-CANNED SPECIALTIES
Tomato products tend to separate during processing, even after long periods of simmering. The addition Gluten Free Thickener prevents this, resulting in a smooth, thick texture and improved appearance.
It is very important to follow processing times carefully when using starch in canned products. Since the initial product is thicker, the processing time must be longer to make sure the entire mixture reaches the temperature necessary to ensure safety.
If you have a favorite recipe for a tomato based product such as salsa, barbecue sauce, chili sauce, etc., be sure to double check it with an approved source (such as your County Extension Office) to be sure it follows recent guidelines. Then substitute Gluten Free Thickener for any other thickeners (cornstarch or flour) according to the conversion chart. Be sure the starch is added at the end of the cooking period. When the starch is added near the first, the product will scorch more easily and it is more difficult to ensure the proper cooking times and temperatures.
Gluten Free Thickener is also useful when preparing salsas and other sauces for home canning. No more "simmer for three hours until reduced by half!" It reduces the length of cooking time substantially, allowing foods to retain more color, nutrition and flavor, and is a real time-saver.