Flour Products

• Breadcrumbs and crackers are two simple flour products that work well to coat meat instead of flour. Use dry breadcrumbs for a plain background taste or seasoned breadcrumbs for a powerful flavor accent. Breadcrumbs add a little crunch to your meat, so you may want to pulverize them into powder first if you’re looking for a crunch-free coating. If you want to use crackers, you need to crush them first and then use them as you would flour to coat meat. The big advantage of using crackers is that they come in many flavors. Use saltine crackers for a mellow flavor, buttery crackers for a creamy taste or baked pecan crackers for a nutty twist.

Corn Products

• Cornflakes and cornmeal not only work as a flour substitute when coating meat, they do it without gluten. Place cornflakes in a bag to crush into a rough powder for a crunchy coating or into a smooth powder for a light coating. Use cornmeal as is for a crisp coating or pulverize it to create a less chewy coating. As long as the meat and any seasonings work with the flavor of corn, you’re looking at a tasty meal.

Oat Products

• Rolled oats and quick-cooking rolled oats are relatively light oat products that make a suitable replacement for flour. Rolled oats, which are flattened oats with the husk removed, add a chewier texture to meat than flour, but they’re still a suitable replacement. Grind the oats into a rough powder if you prefer a smoother texture. You can also use quick-cooking rolled oats, which are rolled oats cut into smaller pieces, instead of plain rolled oats. Whole oats, also known as whole oat groats, are unsuitable due to their size and weight. Instant oats are also unsuitable, since they tend to turn to sticky mush when cooked with meat.

Nut Products

• Ground nuts, also known as nut flour, add an earthy taste when used to coat meat instead of grain flour. Unlike most flour substitutes, nuts are not a grain, which means they work for “paleo,” or non-grain, diets. They also add a crunchy texture to the meat. Almonds are a typical choice due to their light and versatile flavor. However, you can also use other mellow flavored nuts, such as walnuts.