Gummy, undercooked, doughy – all words used to describe the same thing – gluten free bread that has this very unappealing look and taste. Welcome to the second topic in our series, Your Gluten Free Bread Problems, Answered.
The first post is here in case you missed it - ‘why is my gluten free bread so dry and crumbly?’
Gumminess is an issue that makes gluten free breads almost impossible to eat. It can happen to any bread - rolls, muffins, loafs, scones, even pancakes. It’s that terrible gummy texture that you don’t notice till you go to take a bite or tear into that roll.
Yuck.
So this brings us to the next topic…
Problem: Gluten Free Bread that has a gummy texture
Why does it happen?
Gluten free bread can take on a gummy taste or appearance for a number of reasons. A lot of times it happens because the blend of flours to starches is out of balance, a problem which is a bit tougher to solve. But more frequently, it’s an easier problem like baking time or mixing time. According to Udi’s Gluten Free, air bubbles play a part in your final product as well.
The solution
The solution to a wonderfully textured, non-gummy bread or gluten free baked good starts with the recipe and then ends with the final product and the cooling process. So starting with the recipe…
The starch to flour ratio the recipe calls for can lead to gummy results. If the recipe you are following is more than 50% starches, you are going to have a very gummy loaf of bread. Think of it this way, the total flour / starch combination in your recipe is 100%. There should be no more than 20% - 25% of each type of starch in a recipe. So tapioca, cornstarch, potato or arrowroot starch. So if the recipe calls for 1 cup of brown rice flour, ½ cup of sorghum flour and ½ cup of millet flour; the starch might be something like ½ cup potato starch and ½ cup tapioca starch.
Speaking of tapioca starch… sometimes tapioca starch can produce a gummy loaf. Even if it’s within the 20% range. The reason? Lighter flours. Something as light as sorghum flour or white rice flour needs a balance with a heavier flour like millet to prevent the tapioca starch from making the bread gummy.
Then when you mix the batter, mix it well to create a lighter, air-pocketed batter. Gluten free bread dough is not like normal bread dough, it benefits from being well mixed. 3 minutes is not uncommon.
The pan size also plays a part in gluten free baking. Sometimes even the slightest substitution in pan – an 8 x 4 for a 9 x 5 can make a world of difference. I swear by these pans. The bread gets a nice rise, doesn’t fall and bakes up nice every time.
The last recommendation is probably the hardest to do. Waiting.
After the bread tests done with your thermometer (between 205 - 210 F), turn off the oven, open the oven door and let it sit in there and cool for a few minutes before removing it to a wire rack. Allowing the bread to hang out in the oven for a bit, might be just the thing to help it firm up and completely avoid a gummy texture.
Then when it’s time to take it out of the pan, let it cool completely before cutting into it. Bread hot from the oven has a tendency to be gummy, so allow it to cool before slicing it.
Despite the difference in gluten free bread compared to normal bread, gluten free bread should not be gummy or have an undercooked center. It IS possible to have a wonderful tasting loaf, it just requires some troubleshooting. In the next post, we’ll look at xanthan gum and how to go without it in gluten free breads.
Also check out the Masterclass below where we dive into this topic to prevent gummy bread for good!
Lynn
I just read this post. very interesting and informative. I thought I would try it out. I have attempted English Muffins a number of times with horrible results. Totally gummy on the inside.
I found your recipe and it has double the starch to flour. 2 cups tapioca to 1 cup flour!!! That goes completely against what you have stated above. Please explain before I have another total failure.
Christine
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for asking. So the English muffin recipe is a different beast for sure. But that measurement for flour to starch ratio is correct. It will not be gummy I promise! The tapioca starch is balanced by the high amount of yeast and the heavier buckwheat flour.
Just make sure to go by the weight of the starch and flour!
-Christine
Lynn David
Christine
Thank you so much for the response I am going to try them today and I will let you know
ivonne fernandez
I got a recipe that only uses cassava flour and no other flour. It’s a hamburger bun recipe but I made hot dog buns instead. The inside did look pretty gummy so not sure if I undercooked then or too high temp, maybe should have reduced to 350 for longer time vs 400 for 25 minutes.
Christine
Hi Ivonne,
Yep, I would go for the 350 for longer time. And, you may already do this, but let them cool completely.
Hope that helps!
~Christine
Mabel Coker
What is the best brand of gluten free flour/or combination of gluten free flours for making sandwich bread?
Good Wishes, Mabel
Christine
Hi Mabel,
So it really starts with the recipe. This sandwich bread recipe uses a combination of flours that works well for this recipe. https://zestforbaking.com/easy-gluten-free-sandwich-bread-recipe But it's not always the case for every recipe.
This is the flour mix I reference quite often https://zestforbaking.com/how-to-make-gluten-free-bread-flour-mix
It's a good versatile mix that I use in a lot of my breads.
Hope that helps!
~Christine
Dom Marzano
Hi there Christine.
Could you please give me some advice on a flour mix for Gluten Free Focaccia? I’m making a sour dough flat bread at the moment that works with packet mix gf flour but want to take my game to the next level. Could you please help me with the ratio of flours to use and also water ratio as well?
Thanks e
Christine
Hi Dom,
So that sounds delicious! The gluten free mix I use is this one https://zestforbaking.com/how-to-make-gluten-free-bread-flour-mix It's a great, versatile mix that works well - maybe try that. And the flours to water ratio would just depend on the recipe. Maybe start with the recipe you're using and replace the flour first. The water content would be the same as the existing recipe.
Hope that helps!
~Christine
Nikos
If I like the gummy way it comes out, is that dangerous/unhealthy? Back in my wheat-eating days I always liked bread that was really soft and chewy and to be honest, the gummy result of tapioca flour is like a dream come true for me. I just want to make sure that doesn't mean it's toxically undercooked or something.
Christine
Hi Nikos,
As long as it's cooked for the time specified in the recipe, you should be in good shape!
~Christine
Menachem
Your flour mix is almost one to one flour to starch while you write here to go for 2 to one flour to starch. What is the right combination as most of my breads that I used your mix came out gummy
Christine
Hi Menachem,
Thanks for asking - so are you measuring the flours and starches by weight? The reason I ask is because if you're making a recipe from my blog, with the flour mix specified in the recipe, it should not come out gummy. And I definitely want to know which one it is! I work with this mix for things like these muffins https://zestforbaking.com/irresistible-gluten-free-banana-muffins and these biscuits https://zestforbaking.com/flaky-buttery-gluten-free-biscuits-recipe and it works very well.
But if you are having trouble with other recipes coming out gummy, the flour and starch could be the culprits.
Please let me know which recipe you are having trouble with!
~Christine
Cecile
I bought a bulk amount of Namaste Gluten free flour from Costco. Unfortunately my gluten free breads have been turning out gummy. The recipe calls for 2.5 cups gf flour, 1 tbsp instant yeast, 2tsp xanthum gum, 1.5 tsp salt, 1/4 c butter, 3 eggs, 2 tsp apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp honey, 1.5 c milk. W other brand GF flour the recipe turns out fine. But using the Namaste brand flour it turns out gummy. ??? What could be wrong? Any help is appreciated.
Christine
Hi Cecile,
Thanks for asking - it could be many things, but are you measuring the flour by weight? Measuring by weight is very important in gluten free baking. And I bet the structure is just a little off - try increasing the flour by a couple tablespoons - it might take some experimentation to get that flour blend to work in the recipe.
Hope that helps!
Christine
Lauren
Hi! Pans link broken. Which type? Thanks!
Christine
Hi Lauren,
Sorry about that. It's these pans https://amzn.to/32c8H1I with the ridged sides!
~Christine
Amber Knighton
Hello,
I also have issues with my bread but I have to have bread also be vegan due to allergies. Do you have a recipe that works? I’ve tried the chia seed replacement in the Amy’s gluten free mix and it was so gummy. I have done a recipe that’s homemade with aquafaba, but I have a fifty percent success so far.
Christine
Hi Amber!
I do - this vegan bread sounds like it might wok for you https://zestforbaking.com/soft-gluten-free-nut-free-gum-free-vegan-sandwich-bread Hope you enjoy!
~Christine
Connie
Is there anything I can do to dry it out if it’s gummy on the inside but delicious with a crispy crust otherwise? Company coming GF!
Christine
Hi Connie,
Bake it about 10 - 15 minutes longer! Cover it with tin foil to prevent it from getting too dark.
Hope that helps!
Christine
Debbie
Hi Christine! I bake with cassava flour, and the flour separates. It gets gummy on the bottom/sides, and very dry on top/center. Will mixing longer prevent this? I am allergic to eggs and leavening, so if this is the problem I guess I'm out of luck.
Christine
Hi Debbie,
So it depends on the recipe - if you're baking bread, I'd suggest adding in another type of flour too, like oat flour or something with a little higher fiber and protein count. Cassava is a great flour but it is starchy and therefore won't rise and as with other starches, can tend to get gummy. Try mixing with another flour and maybe adding flaxseeds in too.
Let me know how that goes.
Christine
charles
I just made 2 baguette using the french pans. The recipe calls for 2 cups white rice flour & 1 cup tapioca flour. After reading your post, I substituted 1/2 cup of corn starch for the 1 cup tapioca.I also put about 10 ice cubes in a pan on the bottom of the oven for moisture. While the bread is always good, it still has some gumminess. Should I use a different substitute or go with the tapioca flour.
Christine
Hi Charles,
So go with the tapioca flour - and measure by weight. Cups may give you a lot more or a lot less flour than the recipe is actually using, which can contribute to the bread being gummy.
Hope that helps!
~Christine
Liz
Thank you for writing this article, it is very informative and helpful.
I often have the terrible gummy problem with my gluten free quick breads: zucchini bread, pumpkin bread, applesauce cake or banana bread. I confess I use Pamela's Blend all purpose mix as my go-to cup for cup replacement. I have tried to make sure I am baking it fully and even a little extra, so I suspect it is a flour/starch ratio issue.
Any tips specific to quick breads, not only flour/starch ratio but also with leavening agents or how to account for the moisture in the vegetables?
Christine
Hi Liz,
Thank for asking - so it's tough to pinpoint exactly what it may be - are you measuring the flour by weight and letting the batter rest for 30 minutes before baking? Those 2 things may solve the problem. But it could also be just a mismatch in flour/starch, as you said. Are you using gluten free recipes or converting them from non-gluten free?
~Christine