Vital Wheat Gluten: What Is It And When Should It Be Used?

VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN What Is It And When Should It Be Used?

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INTRODUCTION

Wheat grains or wheat flour both are an essential part of the daily nutritious diet. Wheat grains can be consumed in the form of cereals, whole wheat grains, or wheat flour. It is used for baking a large number of food items, including bread muffins, cookies, biscuits, etc. But once in a while, you could observe that the baking recipes call for vital wheat gluten. Now, what is this? Why is it being added to baked food items? Is it beneficial for the overall health of the body? So let us get started and understand everything about Vital Wheat Gluten.

WHAT IS VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN? Vital wheat gluten is basically the subpart of wheat flour and is available in powdered form. The vital wheat gluten is completely packed with proteins and gluten. It also contains starch in a negligible amount. Usually, people consider vital wheat gluten to be flour, but it is not just present in a powdered form.

HOW TO PREPARE VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN? he preparation of vital wheat gluten is an extremely simple and easy process. In large food units, they soak the wheat in water so that they become hydrated.

When the wheat grains are in the hydrated form, the gluten present in them becomes activated. Now the hydrated wheat grains are processed to eliminate everything so that only gluten will remain. Now this substance is completely dried and processed to convert into powdered form.

HOW TO MAKE USE OF VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN?

Vital wheat gluten has many applications — such as it can be used in baking various items or preparation of faux meat, which is also popularly known as Seitan. One of the most important applications or use of vital wheat gluten is in baking. Usually, the vital wheat gluten is mentioned as an optional ingredient in various baking items, such as cookies, bread, breadcrumbs, and biscuits. But if you are adding the vital wheat gluten to your baked items, it will become healthier and tastier.

THE USE OF VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN IN FAUX MEATS You might be aware that vegetarian people do not consume animal food, but that does not mean that they do not need animal protein. Therefore, they can consume faux meat to get the required amount of protein for their body. Faux meat is nothing but seitan that we prepare from vital wheat gluten.

Seitan is quite healthy and can be consumed in breakfast or brunch. If you want the seitan to be tasty, then you can add spices and different seasonings as per your preferences. It is easy to eat, digest and you get instant energy from seitan.

But be careful if you are intolerant to gluten. Many people have an allergy to gluten, so they should not consume gluten in any form — not in baked items and not even in the form of seitan.

WHERE CAN YOU FIND VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN?

Vital wheat gluten is available in almost all grocery shops or even online grocery stores. While buying vital wheat gluten, make sure you are getting a sealed pack, which has a proper expiry date printed on it (the packet should not be older than 6 months). Getting fresh vital wheat gluten will help you in making healthier and tastier food.

SUMMARY Consuming vital wheat gluten is completely safe and healthy, but you need to ensure that you are not intolerant to gluten. Usually, the vital wheat gluten has a shelf life of about 6 to 9 months but only when stored in an air-tight container and in a cool dry place. If you are opening the packet, then you should use it within the next 6 months. After that, the vital wheat gluten will lose its freshness and quality. It may also turn rancid and destroy the taste of the baked items.