Discover Gluten Free Kitchen Essentials

Adjusting to a gluten free diet is a life change, and it will be difficult. The most important thing is to have an open conversation and decide together what is practical for your needs and home, there is no one size fits all. Having some rules and boundaries is important for every home with a shared kitchen. 

Good news – it is possible for gluten-free and gluten foods to live in harmony, in the same kitchen!

Let us help make sharing a kitchen easier with these helpful Gluten Free Kitchen Essentials, tips & tricks.

The first & more obvious step to creating a gluten-free kitchen, is to clean it out! Yes, even if you are going to put some items back. A clean, organized kitchen is a happy, gluten free kitchen.

Jump to Frequently Asked Questions

Understand the Needs of Celiac Disease

CD is an autoimmune disease, with the ingestion of gluten being a trigger for attacks to the small intestine called villi. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other derivatives.

It is extremely important to make sure the people you live with understand what Celiac Disease is and what the health consequences will be for the person with celiac disease if they accidentally consume gluten.

Everyone needs to take responsibility in following the kitchen rules and being vocal if they make a mistake or think they’ve made a mistake. No risks should be taken, because it is never just a little, and it is not okay to “just try it”. 

Isolating the Gluten is Essential

A hybrid gluten-free and gluten kitchen is not as simple as buying two boxes of pasta, one gluten-free and one not. You will need to identify gluten-containing ingredients in your kitchen and isolate them away from everything gluten free. Many dry and processed goods have gluten. Look closely at your dry storage, ingredient labels and separate items.

This will ensure you can prepare gluten-free foods without worrying about ingredient mixups or cross contamination.

It is also important to separate items in pantries, cupboards and walk-ins. 

Click for help finding the hidden gluten in your kitchen!

Dedicated to Gluten Free

Dedicated cooking equipment and kitchen utensils for preparing only gluten-free foods is crucial for maintaining a gluten free diet.

Colour coded kitchen utensil kits including tongs, spatulas, grill brushes, whisks, etc. are an easy way to make sure that kitchen tools are ready for use and kept gluten free. 

In addition to kitchen utensils, one of the best investments for every Celiac is their own personal toaster oven. It is recommended to have a gluten free specific toaster. Take it one useful step further and get a toaster oven that provides you a safe space to cook all oven meals and make toast too! 

Yes, this disease is officially becoming expensive for new Celiacs. Knowing many of the things in your kitchen may need replaced is heart breaking. 

Focus on investing in items that will provide YEARS of use. Spend the extra few dollars for scratch resistant pots & pans or those non-absorbent silicon baking mats, it is honestly worth it.

You’re going through a lot, at least love the things you have for this big lifestyle change!

Where the Risks Lie

Consider everything food touches, from storage to cooking to cleaning, as possible sources of cross-contact, and make sure everyone in the house understands where the risks lie, and how.

Common gluten risk areas include:

• Cutting boards
• Colanders/strainers
• Sponges/dishrags/hand towels
• Toasters
• Condiments/spreads

Setup a system to minimize all risk. There is no one size fits all solution and it will take some trial and error before learning what works best for your home. Clearly mark gluten free items that are off limits to the gluten eaters. 

We recommend keeping all gluten-free items on the top shelves to minimize crumb exposure.

Say Goodbye to Gluten Flours

Don’t believe anyone that tells you keeping gluten flours is possible. It is not. Instate an outright ban on wheat flour, even if you have opted to have a hybrid gluten-free and gluten kitchen.

The flour particles are impossible to remove from your kitchen quickly & easily, especially with regular use. Flour particles can remain airborne for 12-24 hours and inhaling airborne gluten can cause people with celiac disease to become sick.

When necessary to use flours, stick to gluten free flours. Trust us, just say goodbye to gluten flours. Your health will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sharing Gluten Free Kitchens

Do you need a separate toaster for gluten free?

Yes, you need a separate toaster for gluten free.

Kitchens should have two completely separate prep areas, one for gluten-free and one for regular products. Have you ever tried to thoroughly clean the inside of a toaster? Not possible!

Does washing dishes remove gluten?
An explanation: Gluten cannot be sanitized away, so any gluten that remains on sponges or dishrags can be transferred to otherwise clean plates. Make sure to also use fresh dish water if you hand wash your dishes, as particles of gluten in the water can also be transferred to otherwise clean dishes when rinsing.

Do you need separate condiments and spreads?
Crumbs can easily accumulate in the butter dish or peanut butter jar. Keep separate items for condiments and spreads.

Does washing dishes in a dishwasher remove gluten?
Between the heat and the detergents, unless there is visible debris, then there is no protein present. Denatured gluten/giadin is highly unlikely.

Does spices contain gluten?
Sadly, spices can potentially contain gluten and should be checked when reviewing your kitchen. Gluten Free Spices do exist thankfully!

Popular Gluten Free Kitchen Essentials & Must Haves

Finding gluten free kitchen products just got even easier! Gluten Free Journey loves creating custom kitchen products & finding new gluten free kitchen must haves for our homes.

Shop our custom made products created for Celiacs, by a Celiac. We offer custom made gluten free merchandise on Zazzle and Printify!

Gluten Free Kitchen Essentials Collection
Customized for Celiacs by Gluten Free Journey

Gluten Free Grocery List on Dry Erase Magnet Sheet
Customized for Celiacs by Gluten Free Journey

Gluten Free Grocery List | Fillable Notepad
Customized for Celiacs by GlutenFreeJourney

Gluten Free Everything Orange and Brown Aesthetic
Customized for Celiacs by GlutenFreeJourney

Gluten Free Kitchen Products

Stylish, space-saving countertop cooking with is possible with available Countertop Toaster Ovens.

Countertop Toaster Ovens are efficient, attractive additions to your busy gluten free kitchen, thanks to their ability to maximize power, efficiency and convenience. Short on kitchen space? Minimize the original toaster with a countertop toaster oven for compact cooking versatility.

Toaster Ovens incorporate a variety of practical features and temperature options for incredible versatility. Whether you want a revolving rotisserie for juicy meat or a convection oven for quick, crispy pizza, there is a countertop toaster oven for you and are absolute gluten free kitchen essentials.

6 Slice Easy Reach® Digital Toaster Oven with Roll-Top Door from Hamilton Beach

Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven, 6 Slice Capacity for Hamilton Beach

Livenza Compact Air Fryer Toaster Oven from DeLonghi

Farberware French Door Toaster Oven

Educate yourself, learn how to find the hidden gluten, practice proper wellness and self care, and be on your way to enjoying a long, happy, and healthy Gluten Free Journey.