The Laws of Gluten-Free Flour
Question
There is a gluten-free flour whose majority is wheat starch (from the five species of grain) — 51% — and additional grains are mixed into it. The package states that its blessing is "Hamotzi" (apparently regarding bread baked from it). Is this correct?
The questions are:
1. Is wheat starch by itself considered wheat also with regard to the law of "anything that contains [an ingredient] from the five species of grain"?
2. According to the company’s explanation, in the production process they soak the dough in water; the starch settles because of its weight; afterward they remove the water from above and dry the starch. Can something that became a liquid or beverage in the middle of the process return to being considered bread with respect to the blessing of "Hamotzi," or as Mezonot?
3. Is this not similar to sugar, which has changed completely from its original form and is considered a new substance?
4. Since it is impossible to bake bread from starch alone, does it still have the status of the five species of grain, as the Tur wrote regarding the reason for the law of "anything that contains [an ingredient] from the five species of grain" — that bread can be made from them?
I would appreciate a somewhat detailed answer so that I can understand the halachah.
The questions are:
1. Is wheat starch by itself considered wheat also with regard to the law of "anything that contains [an ingredient] from the five species of grain"?
2. According to the company’s explanation, in the production process they soak the dough in water; the starch settles because of its weight; afterward they remove the water from above and dry the starch. Can something that became a liquid or beverage in the middle of the process return to being considered bread with respect to the blessing of "Hamotzi," or as Mezonot?
3. Is this not similar to sugar, which has changed completely from its original form and is considered a new substance?
4. Since it is impossible to bake bread from starch alone, does it still have the status of the five species of grain, as the Tur wrote regarding the reason for the law of "anything that contains [an ingredient] from the five species of grain" — that bread can be made from them?
I would appreciate a somewhat detailed answer so that I can understand the halachah.
Answer
Shalom u’vrachah.
1. This flour has all the laws of grain, since the main satiating component is the starch.
2. There is no problem with the fact that in the middle of the process it becomes liquid, just as the law applies to any thin batter that is baked and becomes thick.
3. Bread is always a new entity, and is not at all similar to wheat or to flour.
4. As above, in answer 1.
Comments
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