Is almond meal the same as almond flour?

Almond meal and almond flour are both made from ground almonds and many people use the terms interchangeably. However, commercial varieties can differ significantly in how finely ground they are and this may affect the outcome of baking and cooking. Typically, "almond meal" refers to a coarser grind with larger particles, whereas "almond flour" refers to a more finely ground substance. Which to choose depends greatly on how you want to use it.

Both types of ground almonds have their advantages and disadvantages. Almond meal is often less expensive, and it's great for recipes that don't require a fine texture. It works well for breading chicken or fish and in some coarser textured baked goods like muffins. You don't even have to buy almond meal; you can make it yourself as long as you have a good food processor. But the larger particles mean that the final product is less cohesive, so if you are attempting to make cakes and cookies, you may want to purchase some finely-ground almond flour.

Both almond meal and almond flour come in blanched and un-blanched varieties, depending on the manufacturer. Removing the almond skins before grinding makes the blanched varieties lighter in color, so that baked goods resemble those made with regular flour. Recipes made with un-blanched almond flour will have darker flecks throughout.

Almond flour and almond meal are increasingly popular ingredients. They are low in carbohydrates and they add protein, moisture and healthy fats to any recipe. Almonds are also naturally gluten-free, but you may need to check that the flour or meal is ground in a gluten-free facility. Consider the recipe you want to make to choose what grind of almonds is right for you.