Bisquick vs Flour: Differences, Substitution and Uses

Bisquick vs Flour is a popular pre-mixed baking mix used in baking a variety of items such as fluffy biscuits, pancakes, and pizza dough. It is made of bleached wheat flour, leavening, unsaturated oil such as canola, and salt.

Can You Use Bisquick Instead Of Flour?

Essentially, it is a self-rising flour mixed with hydrogenated oil. Bisquick can substitute flour for baking, but you must consider the active ingredients such as salt and leavening. While making dishes that do not require baking agents, Bisquick is not a good substitute. 

Origin Of Bisquick

According to general mills, the manufacturers of Bisquick, it was invented in 1930 by an innovative train chef. He premixed biscuit batter in his kitchen to enable him to bake fresh biscuits every day quickly while on the journey. He added hydrogenated oil to eliminate the need for refrigeration.  

Bisquick was initially used in baking biscuits only, but soon the chef started using it to make other items such as pizza dough, dumplings, pancakes, and snickerdoodle cookies. The manufacturers have continually improved from the original ingredients adding more buttermilk and more shortening for fluffier biscuits and pancakes.

Active Ingredients Of Bisquick

The original Bisquick was made of bleached wheat flour (enriched with; (niacin, iron, riboflavin, folic acid, and thiamin mononitrate). It also contained Bisquick vs Flour vegetable oil(canola, palm, and sunflower), corn starch, dextrose, salt, sugar, leavening, and monoglycerides.

Nutrition Facts Of Bisquick

One serving of Bisquick(0.33 cup) contains;

Fat-6gm

Sodium-0.49gm

Potassium-0.035g

Cholesterol-0

carbohydrates-26g

Protein-3g

Calcium-4% Recommended daily average(RDA)

Iron-6 % RDA

Thiamin-10% RDA

Riboflavin-6% RDA

Niacin-8 RDA

Vitamin A-0%

Vitamin c-0%

How Is Bisquick Different From Flour

Bisquick is not the same as flour. It is close to self-raising flour but they are not the same. Bisquick contains hydrogenated vegetable shortening. Self-raising flour is a mixture of flour, baking soda, and some salt.

The oil added in Bisquick highly affects the outcome of the recipes. Bisquick has limited uses compared to flour, which can be easily modified to get different recipes with varying ingredients. Whereas flour can be used to thicken gravy without altering the flavor, Bisquick slightly alters it due to the baking agents. 

How To Use Bisquick Instead Of Flour 

You can substitute flour with Bisquick if the recipe requires the same ingredients as Bisquick. A cup of Bisquick consists of three teaspoons of shortening and 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder. You need to determine whether the leavening agent and fat are enough for your recipe.

If it’s lower than required you may add the baking agent and fats. If lower, then you will not get the desired results. The Bisquick mix has traces of salt and sugar, put that into consideration as you make your mix to replace flour.

Gluten-Free Bisquick 

Gluten-free Bisquick is an alternative for persons who don’t like wheat or those who are allergic to gluten. It is a versatile baking mix that consists of rice flour, leavening, sugar, salt, modified potato starch, and xanthan gum. It can be used for the baking of muffins, biscuits, pancakes, and your favorite biscuits. Bisquick gluten-free is a significant source of sodium, carbohydrates, and calcium with no cholesterol. It is not a significant source of Vitamin A, iron, and potassium.

Uses Of Bisquick

There are limitless baking possibilities for using Bisquick. You could bake; biscuits, waffles, cookies, pizza crust, pie crust, and cinnamon rolls, among other limitless possibilities. You can creatively create delicious snacks and desserts for your whole family.

Bisquick can be used to thicken gravy, though sparingly to avoid altering the flavor of your dish. You can use Bisquick for chicken dumplings, sausage, and deep-fried fair foods such as fried Oreos. The list is endless with creativity and Bisquick, you can turn your wild baking imaginations into a reality.

Bisquick Allergens

Bisquick contains 11 allergens; dairy products, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, egg, wheat, crustaceans, mollusks, sesame, sunflower, and fish. If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients, you should avoid Bisquick. They may cause allergic reactions. Signs of allergies include swelling of lips and mouth, skin redness, hives, irritation, confusion, and convulsions. Always check the ingredients of the product you intend to buy.

Bisquick Variety Of Products 

There are a variety of Bisquick products to fit your needs. They include; Bisquick pancakes and baking mix, Bisquick complete cheese garlic biscuit mix, buttermilk biscuit mix, gluten-free pancakes, and baking mix, and pancake mixed flavor burstin’ (chocolate chip, cinnamon, and maple brown). 

Is Bisquick Good For Your Health?

Bisquick, when consumed in excess, can be harmful to your health. The reason is that it contains hydrogenated ingredients known as trans fat. These trans fats can significantly raise cholesterol levels, increasing the risks of heart attack and stroke. Trans Fats are also linked to heart problems that can lead to heart damage after prolonged use. Moderation and a balanced diet are the keys to a healthy lifestyle.

How To Store Bisquick 

Bisquick, like any other food item, must be handled with care to avoid contamination and be stored properly to lengthen its shelf life. Bisquick should be stored in a cool, dry place with room temperatures. You should keep it away from contaminants and food with a strong odor that can alter its flavor. If properly stored, Bisquick can last up to 3 months and one year if not opened. Confirm the sell-by date on the packet before purchasing.

If it is too close, you have to consume the Bisquick in a shorter period. Where possible get a pack that has a further expiry date. To confirm if your Bisquick is still okay to use, put a little amount on the hand and observe. If it smells differently, has an unusual texture, has molded, or tastes differently, the product has probably gone bad. Avoid using contaminated or expired products.

Bisquick vs Flour cannot fully substitute flour, but you can use it depending on your recipe. Carefully consider the ingredients before using them as a substitute.