The difference between Almond Flour & Almond Meal.
Almond flour and meal have rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years and for good reason. Low carb, keto and gluten-free recipes often call for almond flour and meal as a replacement for wheat flour.
Yep, it's not only almond milk, you can also get almond flour and almond meal. Don’t we all love a versatile natural ingredient?
We’ve answered some of the most common questions we get asked about when it comes to this nutritious ingredient. Keep reading to find out more!
What is almond flour?
Almond flour is made by grinding down blanched peeled almonds (this means the skins have been removed) into a fine flour-like product. It has a beautiful light cream colour and a delicious buttery taste, which is perfect for low carb, keto and sugar-free baking.
It has a finer grind than almond meal. Because of the high-fat content, sometimes almond flour can “re-clump” once it’s been packed. To ensure it is as fine and even as you want it to be, a good idea is to run it through a regular kitchen flour sieve before using.
What is almond meal?
Almond meal is made by grinding down natural unblanched almonds (that still have the skins on). The benefit of using natural almond meal over almond flour is that you get the extra nutrients and fibre that are in the skins.
In the past, blanched almonds were used instead since the almond skin collects a lot of pesticides. There were high health concerns of salmonella associated with propylene oxide (PPO) on almonds. All almonds are to be pasteurised by law by oil roasting, dry roasting, blanching, steam processing and PPO.
PPO is approved in Australia but is not acceptable for the national organic certification standards. For organic almonds, they are usually steamed during the pasteurisation.
For our almond meal, Australian almonds (organic or inorganic) of appropriate standard are being used to ensure safety for consumption.
Because the skins are still on, you will notice a nice brown speckle through your almond meal. Almond meal is great in muffins, quick breads and cookies, especially if you like that wholesome natural look and taste.
Where do you source your Premium Almond Flour and Almond Meal?
Our Almond Flour and Almond Meal are 100% Australian, made from almonds grown in South Australia. We pack small batches weekly in our gluten-free facility in Sydney, sealed with maximum freshness for you. It is important for the almond meal to be fresh because of the high-fat content as it can go rancid with prolonged exposure to heat, light or oxygen. Rancid almonds have a bitter, sour or paint-like smell and bitter taste that can affect your baking.
Is almond meal and almond flour interchangeable in recipes?
Almond flour is similar to almond meal, but not identical. In many recipes, almond flour and almond meal can be used interchangeably, however not always. There are two main differences between these two almond products.
- The almond skin. Almond Flour is made from blanched almonds, without the skin and the finished product is a beautiful, light, creamy colour, similar to that of flour. Almond Meal is made from natural almonds, with the skin still on, giving it a natural, wholesome, speckled finished product.
- The “fineness” of the grind - Almond flour is ground down to a finer grind, closer (but not identical to) wheat or coconut flour. Almond meal is slightly courser. To make extra superfine almond flour, simply run it through a standard kitchen sieve.
Get creative and put your baking hats on
Not sure what you can use almond flour and almond meal for? Don’t worry we’ve got it all sorted out for you. Remember that you don’t have to stick to these baking recipes, get inspired and creative! Whether it’s a savoury or a sweet dish, almond flour and almond meal are very versatile for use.
- Keto Choc Chip Cookies
- Spinach and Feta Cheese Muffins
- Low Carb Raspberry Jam Coconut Slice
- Gluten Free Almond Biscuits
To change it up, you can also make Keto Choc Chip Muffins too and the kids (and us big kids) will LOVE!
Don’t forget the sugar-free choc chips and you can add raw almond flakes as garnish too! With almond flour and almond meal, you can make the perfect baking recipe.
Nutritional information:
Almond flour and meal, both have approximately 90% less carbs than traditional wheat or gluten-free flours and half the carbs of coconut flour, making them perfect for low carb, keto and gluten-free baking.
Top 5 benefits:
- It’s low carb, keto-friendly and gluten-free!
- Can be used to make diabetic friendly cakes and desserts.
- Almond flour adds a delicious buttery taste and texture to baked goods.
- Highly nutritious, packed with healthy fats and fibre, meaning products baked with almond flour can keep you full for longer and reduce snacking.
- PBCo. Premium Almond flour is 100% Australian, meaning you’re supporting Aussie farmers and businesses.
Top 5 frequently asked questions
How to use almond flour?
It's delicious in muffins, cookies and cakes. Some recipes call for just almond flour, others call for a blend of almond flour and coconut flour. Even before my low carb journey, I used to add half a cup of almond flour to all my traditional cakes because it dramatically improves the texture and taste of baked goods!
How to use almond meal?
Almond meal can be used in low carb, keto and gluten-free recipes such as cookies, muffins and cakes. Goodies baked with almond meal will have a lovely wholesome brown speckle through them.
Almond flour substitutes?
When you’re following a recipe that calls for almond flour, most of the time you can use almond meal. When baking, whether I use almond flour or almond meal, I usually run it through a sieve to make it as fine as possible. If you run the almond meal through a sieve, you will be left with small specks of almond skin in the sieve. You can choose to tip them back in your mix or leave them out!
Whilst coconut flour is another lower-carb flour, it’s not usually a direct substitute, as it requires a LOT more (like nearly double) the amount of liquid.
Because of the extra liquid needed, it wouldn’t be advisable to simply swap to coconut flour.
Where can I find almond meal and almond flour?
Almond flour and almond meal can be found in the supermarket in the baking or gluten-free aisle and, of course, online at PBCo! We offer products made from premium ingredients for your health needs, and they’re so good because you can customise your baking treats any way you like. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring!
Who knew finely ground almonds were this great?
Can I make almond flour and almond meal at home?
Absolutely! All you need is a food processor or a blender and almonds and it'll take roughly 5 minutes to make.
We hope this detailed information has provided the answers to your questions around Almond Flour and Almond Meal, and hopefully given you a few extra reasons to love these ingredients!
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