Rudi’s Gluten Free Original Bread Ingredients: What you may not know

I will soon be working on creating a recipe using Rudi’s Original gluten free bread ingredients, or as close as I can find. Rudi’s original is their white bread that is soft an fluffy, much like the white bread we are used to eating with gluten. I am not sure how long this recipe will take to perfect, but I am very intrigued by Rudi’s Gluten Free Original Bread ingredients. Not only is their list of ingredients posted on their website, but they are easy to understand; two of which I knew nothing about, and the other was extremely hard to find, but I did find it!

Inulin

One ingredient that I did not recognize was organic inulin. Inulin is used to replace sugar, fat, and flour. It is derived from plants, usually chicory root or Jerusalem artichokes. (Though Rudi’s inulin is not derived from either.) Most plants that store inulin do not store starch. Inulin contains lots of soluble fiber. Our digestive tract does not digest it at all. However, it begins to go to work in the colon where it helps the gut by creating good bacteria and preventing the growth of bad bacteria. If you are calcium deficient inulin is for you, as it helps the colon to absorb calcium. Research is being done to figure how this is accomplished. And it may also help magnesium absorption, as well.

Just as with sugar alcohols, it may cause bloating and other digestive issues if not introduced into your diet in small amounts, and slowly increasing the amount.

Rudi’s inulin is derived from organic agave plants. As gluten-free dieters, we need more fiber in our diets, especially in our white bread. Thank you Rudi’s for thinking us!

Organic Blue Agave Inuslin (which is labeled gluten-free) may be found in a 7 oz. size at http://www.vitacost.com/VivAgave-Orgnaic-Blue-Agave-Inulin (with zero net carbs) for $6.96; and I read Whole Foods also carries it. It contains zero net carbs, as the fiber content is equal to the carbohydrate content. I am not sure if baking this brand will do it justice, but I just purchased some and can’t wait to try it out in my bread recipes.

If you plan on using inulin in bread baking you will only need a small amount, say 1 tablespoon, as I see it is listed at the end of their ingredients list, meaning it is most likely used in a smaller amount compared to the previous listed ingredients.

Rice Starch

Another one of the Rudi’s Gluten Free Original Bread ingredients that I did not recognize is rice starch. It is one of the main ingredients. If you’ve been baking gluten free for awhile, you’re used to using potato starch, tapioca starch and cornstarch, but not rice starch. Right?

Well, it exists! You may find Hol Grain Gluten Free Rice Starch in 6 oz. cans at Conrad Rice Mill. Since it is listed in Rudi’s Gluten Free Original Bread ingredients as one of the first ingredients you’ll need to find it in larger quantities if you plan to use it in bread making. If I find some I will update this post. Please do the same by leaving a comment below.

Warning: Make sure you purchase a rice starch that is made for cooking, and not for art projects.

Potato Extract

The other ingredient I was not familiar with was potato extract. I discovered one brand of potato extract supplement which inhibits our appetite by making us feel more full. It is made by Slendesta® – Potato Extract 5% Powder. Vitacost.com sells it in capsule form at http://www.vitacost.com/Vitacost-Slendesta-Potato-Protein-Extract, however, being that it listed as a first ingredient, you’ll need it in much larger quantities for gluten free bread baking. I’ll continue to research suppliers, though I’m afraid it is one of those ingredients only available in large quantities to manufacturers.

While researching further about potato extract, I stumbled upon a site that sells potato extract in 50 lb. bags. (no price listed).

I finally found an answer to one of my questions about potato extract on Rudi’s FAQs page. Why didn’t I think of that before? Go straight to the source! Most manufacturers do not disclose information about their ingredients, but since they are so healthy, why not? I just had to click on the “Gluten-Free” tab to obtain my answer (see FAQ link above):

Potato extract is unrefined potato starch. It contains more of the natural minerals and non-starch plant components than purified starch. The comparison is similar to whole wheat flour vs refined white flour.

Again, thank you so much, Rudi’s, for supplying us by using natural ingredients that also provides us with fiber!

Rudi’s Gluten Free Original Bread Ingredients

Meanwhile, here are the list of Rudi’s Gluten Free Original Bread ingredients:

Water, potato extract, rice starch, rice flour, sorghum flour, organic high oleic sunflower/safflower oil, organic evaporated cane juice, organic honey, egg whites, organic inulin, yeast, sea salt, organic molasses, xanthan gum.

Organic Evaporated Cane Juice

If you are not familiar with evaporated cane juice, it is crystals, much like table sugar, but tan in color, that is less processed than white table sugar. I buy my organic evaporated cane juice from Nutsonline.com.

You may print a $1 off coupon for Rudi’s bread at http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=ykhucfa99971041&bt=vg&o=80338&c=RB&p=RLdVCybG Coupon expires in 1 month.

Other reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inulin