Blanched vs. Unblanched Almond Flour

Almond flour is the saving grace for many gluten free and grain people out there.

Without this, many people would not be able to enjoy as many foods as they would like.

Some of these foods include:

Cookies
Pancakes
Bread
Muffins
Biscuits
Cake
Quiche
And more.

When people are at the store though, they may find themselves choosing between different styles of almond flour. Most of the time, this includes blanched or unblanched almond flour.

Below we will talk about the differences between the two and why almond flour can be good, or bad for your diet. Let’s dive in!

Blanched Almond Flour

Blanched almond flour is the smooth and fluffy almond flour. It acquires this texture when manufacturers remove the skin from the almonds.

Once they remove the skin, the flour then resembles “regular flour” that most people buy at the store.

Many people like this because it helps keep the same appearance of the different dishes they make at home.

Does Blanched Almond Flour Have the Same Health Benefits as Unblanched?

Yes, blanched almond flour has the same health benefits as unblanched almond flour.

Unblanched Almond Flour

Unblanched almond flour keeps almond skin in the flour mix. This gives it a red-brown color while blanched has a tan, ow white color.

Since unblanched has a re-brown color, many different pastries and dishes you make will have a different appearance when you finish cooking them. This alone can deter people from buying unblanched almond flour.

Also, many people think unblanched almond flour is heavier than blanched. This is an important because if you are trying to make a dense baked good, unblanched almond flour will be your best bet.

Wait, What About Almond Meal?

Almond meal is essentially the same product as unblanched almond flour.

Health Benefits of Almond Flour

Below are a few health benefits almond flour may have:

Can help lower blood sugar
May help lower LDL Cholesterol
May Help lower blood pressure
And more.

Why Some Health Experts Prefer Blanched Almond Flour

Almond flour contains high amounts of phytic acid. This is an antinutrient that naturally occurs in all:

Beans
Seeds
Nuts
Grains
Legumes

Phytic acid helps protect a seed until it germinates. Some health experts believe this acid is not beneficial for humans and it can cause certain health issues. You can read more about these health issues here.

One of the best ways to avoid phytic acid is to buy blanched almond flour.

How Does Almond Flour Compare to Other Flours?

Almond flour has significantly less carbs than the usual wheat flours. With a lower amount of carbs though, comes a higher fat content.

Almonds are a nutrient dense food and naturally contain a lot of fat. So, this means it is possible to consume more calories when eating foods that contain almond flour.

In order to combat this, it is important to keep an eye on how many servings of foods with almond flour you eat.

What About Coconut Flour?

Coconut flour has a similar carb content to wheat flours, but less fat than almond flour. It also has fewer calories per ounce when comparing it to almond flour, but almond flour has more vitamins and minerals.

Some of these can sway people to use coconut flour instead of almond flour, especially for those who are gluten, or grain free.

One major drawback with coconut flour is how difficult it can be to bake with. Coconut flour is good at absorbing moisture and this can make your final baking product dry, or crumbly.

So, if you’re not sure how a recipe will turn out with coconut flour, it may be best to use almond flour instead.