[WHAT IS GLUTEN? ] I am sure you have all seen the very funny video asking people what gluten is. Gluten is a very real thing — and, its actually pretty simple to define. The word itself, which means glue in Latin, refers to two different proteins in cereal grains like wheat. Called glutenin and gliadin, the proteins are found in the endosperm, or seed, of the plant, which is ground into the flour we use every day. Proteins like these are vital for nourishing most flowering plants. Its worth noting that even supposedly gluten-free grains, like rice and corn, contain similar compounds, although theyre not considered true gluten proteins. The gluten proteins are activated during the kneading process, when glutenin binds to gliadin and forms a network; this is what gives dough its structure and elasticity. This process (and gluten itself) plays a key role in giving bread and other gluten-containing products their texture — which, as anyone whos tried to give up gluten knows all too well, is notoriously difficult to replicate without it.
Posted on: Fri, 09 May 2014 19:09:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015