Flax seed crackers - necessary to grind?

[Tguch]

Hi! I make flax seed crackers with whole flax seeds. (Soak them first, they get mucilaginous, then stir in flavors and dehydrate).

But now I am reading that our bodies cannot process whole flax seeds, that it is necessary to grind them into a meal to get any nutritional benefit from the seed.

So my questions are -- should I be grinding the flax seeds for the crackers (but then how would I soak them??), or do flax seed crackers not impart any nutritional value, just serve as roughage?

Thanks in advance!

[Revvell]

Whether you grind or not is up to you and the recipe you choose. You don't soak if you're grinding. Just be sure to have enough fluid in the mix for the stuff to soak it up and make a "dough".

~ Revvell ~

[k8sl8]

When I make them, I soak in plenty of water... then put half of my flax mixture in a fp and break up some of the flaxseed. It gets very dough-like and then is mixed with the rest; works well for me.

I've done it just soaked and just ground as well. It all turned out well, just a bit different. I don't think there is a right or a wrong way to do flax. It's just sort of a magic bullet for making crackers.

[sport]

You do not get the nutrients from whole flax seeds if you do not soak them but if you soak them then you get the nutrients so you can continue to make them the way you do if that is your preference.

[Tguch]

Thank you everyone for your responses! I think I am all set.

[Factoid]

is it generally best to soak flaxseeds before you eat them?

[Revvell]

is it generally best to soak flaxseeds before you eat them?

If you're not grinding ~ yes.

[ambiguous]

If you're making flax crackers with whole flax seeds, then all you need to do is chew really well when you eat the crackers to get the flax benefits.

[sport]

If you're making flax crackers with whole flax seeds, then all you need to do is chew really well when you eat the crackers to get the flax benefits.

It has always been said that you need to either soak or grind and that unsoaked whole seeds just go straight through you. I do not think that you could ever grind them well enough.

[laura-jane]

Most of the recipes I make use 1/2 whole and 1/2 ground. I only soak the whole ones.

[erine]

You do not get the nutrients from whole flax seeds if you do not soak them but if you soak them then you get the nutrients so you can continue to make them the way you do if that is your preference.
Check out this link:
http://www.freedomyou.com/recipes/flax%20seed.htm

I think it is definitely more nutritious to grind, but you do get some of the nutrients from whole according to this article. Also, when soaked in water the seeds expand considerably, making it easier to chew and release oils.

[OnMyJourney]

Check out this link:
http://www.freedomyou.com/recipes/flax%20seed.htm

I think it is definitely more nutritious to grind, but you do get some of the nutrients from whole according to this article. Also, when soaked in water the seeds expand considerably, making it easier to chew and release oils.

Thank you for posting this article, it was a very good read!

[changeisgood]

I use the ground in my smoothies, so I decided to use the whole flax seed for crackers. It reminds me of those seseme candies that are soaked in honey and wrapped up individually. Not so great on the teeth.