Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – What are the Differences?

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – What are the Differences? I get this question a lot, and so, I am sharing this post to explain the differences between Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flour, the common brands available, how they are used in cooking, and when they can be substituted in recipes. Also, to help you get familiar with these flours, I am sharing some of my favorite recipes using Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flour. You can make some yummy dishes and explore these unique ingredients for yourself.

Rice Flour vs Glutinous Rice Flour - Different Brands | runawayrice.com

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – Subtle Name Difference

Rice Flour is ground from long-grain or medium-grain white rice. This rice is the type we commonly eat and make in our rice cookers. The rice grains are typically opaque.

Glutinous Rice Flour is ground from long-grain or short-grain sweet white rice and is also called Sweet Rice Flour. Sweet rice grains are typically solid white.

Rice Flour vs Glutinous Rice Flour - One is milled from Long-grain Rice and the other from Long-grain Sweet Rice | runawayrice.com

Both flours are gluten-free which make them wonderful alternatives to wheat flour. “Glutinous” refers to the sticky and gluey consistency of the cooked flour rather than containing glutens. The name can be misleading because Glutinous Rice Flour is actually gluten-free.

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – Texture, Taste and Weight

Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flour are made from white rice, and so, are white in color. Both are finely milled flours with a powdery texture.

Both Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flours are neutral tasting before and after cooking. Even though Glutinous Rice Flour is often called Sweet Rice Flour, it is not sweet at all.

1 cup Rice Flour and 1 cup Glutinous Rice Flour weigh about the same, approximately 4.6 ounces (130 grams).

Rice Flour vs Glutinous Rice Flour - Erawan (Elephant) Brand | runawayrice.com

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – Types and Brands

The common Asian grocery store brand for Rice Flour is the Erawan (Elephant) brand. This Rice Flour is milled from long-grain rice and packaged in a 1 pound (454 grams) plastic bag. Note the “Rice Flour” is in red lettering.

The common Asian grocery store brand for Glutinous Rice flour is also the Erawan (Elephant) brand. It’s milled from long-grain sweet rice and packaged in a 1 pound (454 grams) plastic bag. Note the “Glutinous Rice Flour” is in green lettering.

Because the packages are so similar, it’s really easy to mix them up. Here’s a little trick: “R” for red lettering = regular Rice Flour. “G” for green lettering = Glutinous Rice Flour. 🙂

Rice Flour vs Glutinous Rice Flour - Erawan (Elephant) Brand | runawayrice.com

Bob’s Red Mill also makes Rice Flour and Glutinous / Sweet Rice Flour. They can be substituted for the Asian brand flours in most recipes.

Koda Farms makes Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour. This Glutinous Rice Flour is milled from short-grain rice, has a grittier texture and a bit heavier than the Erawan brand when compared cup per cup. 1 cup Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour is approximately 5.3 ounces (150 grams) versus 1 cup Erawan brand which is 4.6 ounces (130 grams).

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – Culinary Uses

Both Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flour are staple ingredients in Asian cuisine. Additionally, these flours have become more popular with the rise of gluten-free diets.

Rice Flour is typically used in making sweet and savory cakes, pastries and noodles.

All of our efforts have paid off, look at this tray of Rolled Cakes--ready to be devoured!

Rice Flour can be substituted for wheat flour in most bread and cake recipes. However, because of the lack of glutens, additional ingredients such as Tapioca Starch or Potato Starch are usually added to give foods a softer, doughy consistency.

Glutinous Rice Flour becomes very sticky when heated and has a uniquely chewy texture. As such, it’s a common ingredient in dumplings and many Asian desserts. Glutinous Rice Flour also makes an excellent thickener for sauces and gravies.

Sesame Balls (Banh Cam) | recipe from runawayrice.com

Both flours have a tendency to separate when combined with water. When using in batters, be sure to stir well to remove any settling before cooking.

Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flour are raw flours. They must be cooked completely before eating. Never eat these flours raw.

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – Substituting in Recipes

In most recipes, unless specifically stated, Rice Flour and Glutinous Rice Flour should not be used interchangeably. The flours have very different textures, cook very differently and yield very different results. Rice flour is closer to wheat flour and yields a cake-like consistency whereas Glutinous Rice Flour yields a sticky and chewy texture suitable for dumplings or foods that don’t require much structure.

If the Rice Flour or Glutinous Rice Flour is a minor ingredient, you can make the following substitutions:

If the major ingredient in the recipe is Rice Flour or Glutinous Rice Flour and you purchased the wrong product, don’t proceed with the recipe. It will not work out and you’ll waste your time and ingredients.

Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – Recipes to Try

Rice Flour is a staple ingredient in Asian cuisine and used in both savory and sweet dishes. Depending on the cooking method, foods with rice flour can be both light and delicate and solid and hearty. Below are some of my favorite recipes:

Steamed Rice Cakes / Cow Cakes / Steamed Honeycomb Cakes (Banh Bo Hap) - They're bite-sized so you can have more than one! | recipe from runawayrice.com

Steamed Rice Cakes / Cow Cakes / Steamed Honeycomb Cakes (Banh Bo Hap)

Honeycomb Cake - Eggless/Vegetarian Recipe (Banh Bo Nuong Chay) - Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Easy Oven Recipe | recipe from runwayrice.com

Honeycomb Cake – Eggless / Vegetarian Recipe (Banh Bo Nuong Chay)

Savory Coconut Rice Cake with Toasted Shrimp Flakes (Banh Duc Tom Chay) - an amazing small bite or snack! | recipe from runawayrice.com

Steamed Coconut Rice Cake with Toasted Shrimp Flakes (Banh Duc Tom Chay)

Savory Steamed Rice Cakes (Banh Beo) | recipe from runawayrice.com

Savory Steamed Rice Cakes (Banh Beo)

Freshly made, these savory cakes are perfect as a snack or meal!

Savory Rolled Cakes (Banh Cuon)

Because of its soft, chewy and sticky texture, Glutinous Rice Flour is a favorite ingredient in desserts and dumplings. The delicious chewy texture is really addicting! Check out the links below for some amazing recipes.

Sticky Rice Balls (Che Troi Nuoc) - Deliciously Gooey Dessert | recipe from runawayrice.com

Sticky Rice Balls in Ginger Syrup (Che Troi Nuoc)

Snowball Cakes / Mochi Cake / Nut-Filled Glutinous Rice Balls / Banh Bao Chi - easy recipe for this popular Vietnamese treat | recipe from runawayrice.com

Snowball Cakes (Banh Bao Chi)

Sticky Rice Dumplings (Banh It Tran) - delicious bites of savory goodness! | recipe from runawayrice.com

Sticky Rice Dumplings (Banh It Tran)

Steamed Rice Cakes and Pork Roll (Banh Day) | recipe from runawayrice.comSteamed Rice Cakes and Pork Roll (Banh Day)

If you have additional questions, regarding the differences between Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour, share your comments with me below. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

Tools I Love and Use in My Kitchen

, , ,

95 Responses to Rice Flour vs. Glutinous Rice Flour – What are the Differences?

  1. loveena July 11, 2020 at 2:43 pm #

    I mistakenly bought rice flour when I needed glutinous rice flour is there a way to make it work with what I have? I’m trying to make sesame balls

  2. Chewy May 28, 2020 at 3:19 pm #

    Hi,

    Thank you for the informative information. I have been playing around with the Banh Cuon recipe. I noticed all Banh Cuon recipes on the internet uses either Tapioca or Potato starches. I notice the Tapioca or Potato starches, especially the Tapioca starch gives the crepe the translucent look which I don’t care for. So, I’m thinking of using either All Purpose flour or Glutinous Rice flour instead. What do you think? If you agree with this idea, what would you recommend the amount of either All Purpose flour or Glutinous Rice flour (in cups measurement) for a typical 1 bag of rice flour (400 – 500 gram)? And the amount of water (in cups measurement). Thank you so much for your advice.

  3. harry May 25, 2020 at 1:33 pm #

    I bought the Mochinko brand which was right next to some other glutenous rice flour – then when I get it home it says on the box “Gluten-Free”, then luckily I come here and find out it is glutenous rice flour. What a wild ride.

  4. Susan-soonie Yap May 23, 2020 at 12:26 am #

    Can you use blended rice flour for radish cake?

  5. Felix May 18, 2020 at 5:09 am #

    This is a grat post that I learned a lot from! Thank you! However, I have a problem that I wasn’t able to solve with the given information: I have two glasses of rice flour – unfortunately they are not labeld (my fault :() – is there any trick or test to find out which one is the glutinous one? Or alternatively, is there a recipe where it doesn’t matter which one to use (I doubt it …)?

  6. Maria Gabriel May 15, 2020 at 10:28 am #

    Can I use rice flour if the recipe states glutinous rice flour, for example for the Chinese dessert – sweet dumpling covered in sesame seeds and contains sweet paste of red azuki or mung beans. Thank you.

  7. Kalai May 1, 2020 at 8:51 pm #

    Do you think Bob’s mill glutinous flour can be used well for mochi I read a few people say no.

  8. Elizabeth April 24, 2020 at 7:25 am #

    Hello!
    I have rice flour in a jar container with a handwritten label that just says ‘rice flour’. Is there a quick test i can do to find out if this is ‘regular rice flour’ or ‘glutinous rice flour’? It is from a previous catering job and my partner can’t remember the specifics for this item.
    Thank you in advance!

  9. Chris April 17, 2020 at 1:20 pm #

    I’m having trouble finding glutinous rice flour. Can I buy glutinous rice and use a mortar and pestle?

  10. Kelly April 7, 2020 at 9:15 am #

    I’m having a hard time getting my pandan waffles to have a chewy texture. Do you recommend using the glutinous rice flour in lieu of the regularly rice flour?

    Or should I increase the tapioca starch and decrease the all purpose flour?

    Thanks for the recipe!

    • Trang June 28, 2021 at 3:39 pm #

      First try adding more tapioca starch. I don’t think glutinous rice flour is right for this recipe. Good Luck!

Leave a Reply

Affiliate Disclaimer - This website contains advertisements for
products and services. When you click on a link I recommend,
I may receive a commission. For more information go here.