# flaxseed meal - is it possible to make it edible?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 18, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223 "2013-06-18T00:53:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@cptsquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cptsquid)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/1 "2013-06-18T00:53:52Z")
Ok, I exaggerate, but I’m seriously asking for suggestions for using up 3 bags of flaxseed meal my wife bought (she was on some health kick). She made some bread with it and it was honestly too nasty to eat. Same result when she tried cooking with it (used it to bread cutlets). The nutty flavour is too strong.
So she lost interest and the bags have been sitting there for weeks. I HATE throwing out food so I’m bound and determined to make something enjoyable with it.
Anyone have any suggestions for DESSERTS using flaxseed meal? I have no interest in restricting any ingredients (so sugars and regular flour are perfectly ok). I’m a pretty decent cook skill wise so I’m game to try anything that sounds interesting.
Help?
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/2 "2013-06-18T01:18:22Z")
I eat flax meal every day. It did take a little while to get used to it. I made bread at first, and yes, it was horrible. I usually eat it mixed with natural peanut butter. I sometimes use it in meatballs instead of bread crumbs. I’ve used it for the crust in cheesecake. Here’s a [recipe](http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/snacks/r/flaxcrackers.htm) for flax crackers that sounded really good, but I haven’t tried it because I discovered the peanut butter thing so I usually just do that. Also, I sprinkle it over salad sometimes.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/3 "2013-06-18T05:34:09Z")
**Doggy’s Dream of Wheat**
3/4 cup serving:
3 T whey protein powder
3 T flaxmeal (or 1.5 T seeds, ground)
1.5 T unprocessed wheat bran
1 T erythritol (or your choice of sweetener)
1 T Splenda or flavored syrup (coconut’s my favorite)
salt to taste
1 cup water
I make it over the stove. Much better. Put all the dry ingredients in, making sure there are no clumps. Add water slowly, stirring. Turn the stove on and stir frequently once it starts to boil. It’ll get thick fairly quickly (like Cream of Wheat). Put in a bowl, add 1 T coconut milk or cream or butter. Add other stuff, if you wish.
To make chocolate, add a T (or less, actually) of cocoa.
* * *
I also love it in Greek yogurt with Splenda and berries. Mixed with peanut butter, Splenda and sugar-free chocolate shavings. Or in a smoothie of any kind.
I’ve had flax crackers from the store. They’re fine.
Flax meal isn’t really something that should be the main ingredient. It should be a mixer that can’t really be tasted beyond the star of the recipe.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/4 "2013-06-18T05:42:09Z")
I mix it into smoothies.
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### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/5 "2013-06-18T11:17:05Z")
I throw it into most baked goods including waffles and pancakes. Cornbread, muffins, even a little bit in stuff like brownies. Put it in the freezer and just use it along.
It is good in yogurt I agree.
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### Author:  [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/6 "2013-06-18T11:46:39Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#):
>
> I throw it into most baked goods including waffles and pancakes. Cornbread, muffins, even a little bit in stuff like brownies. Put it in the freezer and just use it along.
>
> It is good in yogurt I agree.
Ditto the yogurt, especially if you throw in some dried fruit along with it.
Like others have said, it’s a supporting player, not the star of a recipe. The flavor does take some getting used to. I’ve used it in breadcrumb coating, added it to homemade quick bread, and muffins, but have not tried it in any kind of sweets like brownies, mostly because I’m a purist when it comes to chocolate 😉
And yes, store it in the freezer. It becomes rancid very easily in warmer weather.
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### Author:  [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/7 "2013-06-18T18:15:04Z")
> [@kiz](#):
>
> Ditto the yogurt, especially if you throw in some dried fruit along with it.
Plus uncooked rolled oats.
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### Author:  [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/8 "2013-06-18T18:41:51Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> I mix it into smoothies.
Same here. It’s a good thickener if you don’t want to use banana or oats.
When we were doing more low-carb eating, it was good for making this kind of egg bread pancake thing for sanwiches.
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### Author:  [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/9 "2013-06-18T18:58:41Z")
Yeah, what they said.
For instance, in many baking recipes you can sub 1.5T of ground flax for IIRC 1T of oil. Lowers calories and fat content, adds fiber.
You can also sub them for eggs instead of the oil for lower cholesterol cooking.
I put flax in a lot of things, but never more than a few tablespoons at a time.
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### Author:  [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/10 "2013-06-18T19:03:02Z")
I don’t have the recipe handy right now, but I’ve done one batch of chocolate cake with flaxseed meal standing in for the eggs and it was honestly delicious. No noticeable taste difference. It’s the recipe off the back of the Hershey’s cocoa tin, and the instructions for subbing for eggs were on the bag of flaxseed meal – something like a quarter cup of meal let sit with two tablespoons of warm water for ten minutes until it gets good and disgustingly slimy (and egg-like). OR was it a tablespoon of meal per egg? I don’t remember, but the cake was delicious. I’ll come back when have recipe.
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### Author:  [@corvidae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corvidae)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/11 "2013-06-18T19:05:24Z")
Weird. I throw ground flax into everything I bake (and I bake at least once a week), and honestly, no one ever seemed to notice the difference.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/12 "2013-06-18T19:51:35Z")
How old is it? Ground flaxseed goes rancid very easily, in a matter of months. Unless it’s been stored vacuum sealed or frozen against oxidation, I wouldn’t feed it to a horse much less a person after 8 weeks. Rancid fats are NOT a health benefit.
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### Author:  [@cptsquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cptsquid)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/13 "2013-06-20T12:22:07Z")
Thanks guys,
So you can’t really use it as a “main player” then? I had hoped that there was some recipe which used it well and I could get it used up quickly. Maybe in one or two big uses. I am afraid the stuff will go bad soon if I don’t use it up (it’s been in the pantry for a while - though it’s all sealed so should still be good). Frankly I have no interest in it’s purported health uses as such, I just hate hate HATE throwing away food. Especially expensive food (which this stuff was).
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### Author:  [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/14 "2013-06-20T12:31:03Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#):
>
> How old is it? Ground flaxseed goes rancid very easily, in a matter of months. Unless it’s been stored vacuum sealed or frozen against oxidation, I wouldn’t feed it to a horse much less a person after 8 weeks. Rancid fats are NOT a health benefit.
This is what I was thinking. Maybe it tastes bad because it’s rancid.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/15 "2013-06-20T15:22:17Z")
> [@cptsquid](#):
>
> Frankly I have no interest in it’s purported health uses as such, I just hate hate HATE throwing away food. Especially expensive food (which this stuff was).
How much was it? In my experience, it’s like $3-4 for a pound bag of Bob’s Red Mill.
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### Author:  [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/16 "2013-06-20T16:21:03Z")
You don’t really want to use tons of flax meal at one time. And be sure to drink plenty of water with it.
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### Author:  [@cptsquid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cptsquid)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/17 "2013-06-21T13:12:03Z")
Well the “sell by date” on the package was 02/07/14 so I think they’re still good. All the packages are sealed (have 3 left - tossed the one she opened as it’s DEF gone bad since it was kept unsealed in a cupboard).
Cost wise probably around 5 bucks each bag if memory serves. Not much I know, but I still hate tossing it if it’s still good.
As for taste wise, I think it’s just a very particular strong taste. Didn’t really care for it. Reminded me slightly of overly strong/slightly old walnuts. Maybe that means it was rancid after all?
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2013, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/18 "2013-06-21T13:49:07Z")
> [@cptsquid](#):
>
> I HATE throwing out food so I’m bound and determined to make something enjoyable with it.
You could make a good argument that its not really food, so throwing it out would be just fine. Those things fall into my personal category of almost-but-not-quite-food-items, along with pine cones and bay leaves.
How about putting it in the bird feeder or adding it to your compost bin?
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/19 "2013-06-21T19:12:33Z")
> [@cptsquid](#):
>
> Well the “sell by date” on the package was 02/07/14 so I think they’re still good. All the packages are sealed (have 3 left - tossed the one she opened as it’s DEF gone bad since it was kept unsealed in a cupboard).
> Cost wise probably around 5 bucks each bag if memory serves. Not much I know, but I still hate tossing it if it’s still good.
> As for taste wise, I think it’s just a very particular strong taste. Didn’t really care for it. Reminded me slightly of overly strong/slightly old walnuts. Maybe that means it was rancid after all?
Think of it this way, though - it’d be expensive compared to flour, but you don’t use it as much as flour. Where you might add 1-2c of flour to a recipe you’d add 2-4T of flax meal. It’s way way cheaper than almond meal or coconut flour, and you tend to use that stuff more like flour.
I’ll buy a bag of flax meal and it’ll last me months, just putting some in smoothies and yogurt here and there. If I keep it in the freezer, it’s fine way past it’s sell-by date.
Keep it in a Ziploc freezer bag in the freezer, and add 2-4T of it to stuff every so often, for an extra bit of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. You can never go wrong adding those things to your diet.
If your wife decides she wants to keep buying the stuff, price it out at places like Whole Foods or even low-end grocery stores. You don’t have to keep paying $5/bag.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [June 21, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flaxseed-meal-is-it-possible-to-make-it-edible/661223/20 "2013-06-21T19:16:31Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> If your wife decides she wants to keep buying the stuff, price it out at places like Whole Foods or even low-end grocery stores. You don’t have to keep paying $5/bag.
It’s more like $2.50 a bag at Trader Joe’s.
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