How to cook for someone with Celiac Disease

I know, cooking gluten free seems very intimidating, even more so with the pressure of knowing that if you mess up someone you love could become ill. I wouldnt want that on my shoulders! In that sense Im glad Im the Celiac and not a family member! But cooking gluten free really is not a big deal at all once you get the basics down.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Cast iron and teflon coated pans are a no no unless you have never used them for gluten containing food before and never plan to. Those types of pans absorb gluten so you will cross contaminate the gluten free food if you use them after cooking gluten products in it. Ive heard two stories about teflon pans, the first is that the teflon absorbs the gluten, the other is that scratches in the teflon can keep some of the gluten in them...either way Id rather be safe than sorry. The cast iron pans can't be used because you are not supposed to wash your cast iron pans with soap and water so they will cross contaminate.
   
   Stainless Steel Pans and Glass baking dishes are good to go as long as they are very very clean, no residue (that can be hard with glass baking dishes at times!)
   
   Wooden and Plastic cooking utensils are a no go unless as with the pans they are new and will only be used for gluten free cooking, again two stories with these, one is that the materials absorb the gluten, the other is that the scratches hold the gluten in.
   
   Cutting Boards, you are going to have to buy a separate cutting board that will be dedicated to gluten free cooking.
   
   Baking sheets, I use the same baking sheets as the rest of my family but I cover them with foil just in case, I dont know the official stance on this but it makes me feel better. Eventually I will buy dedicated baking sheets. If you have stainless steel oven safe pans then that kills two birds with one stone unless you are wanting to make a ton of cookies!
   
   Toasters, I doubt you will be cooking for someone with celiac disease frequently enough to need to go out and buy a new toaster (unless you live with them!) so I say just toast the gluten free bread in the oven.
   
   All dinnerware ceramic, glass and metal are just fine for the celiac. I also use my plastic serveware and plastic storage containers that have been used with gluten product and I have no issues (I am a very sensitive celiac) which kind of sways me toward the scratches holding the gluten not the plastic absorbing the gluten.Thats just my opinion. I still wont use plastic cooking utensils that have been used with gluten products as they tend to get dinged up more often than not.

2. Before you cook make sure you clean your counters well and get your non gluten free cooking utensils out of arms reach so you dont grab them by accident.
   
   Of course buying ingredients and foods that say gluten free is a really easy way to do it but they arent always that readily available depending on where you live and not all manufacturers market things as gluten free. There is a list at Celiac.com that can help you to determine if a product is free from unsafe ingredients. Go to Celiac.com and type Unsafe Gluten-Free Food List in the search box. There are some items that are gluten free but processed on the same lines as gluten containing products, however, the lines are supposed to be cleaned in between.

3. Condiments
   
   Unless you have squeeze bottle condiments you will need to buy seperate for the Celiac in your life. The reason behind this is normally when you look into the jelly jar or butter tub you will find bread crumbs.
   
   Make sure the final meal stays separate from the gluten containing foods in your home. I would also store the pans and utensils in a special place so you dont get them mixed up with your other ones. If you plan to keep some gluten free food items around then mark them somehow, with a sticker or a permanent marker so you don't have to wonder if that product is gluten free and look it up again next time.
   
   It really isnt that hard, I promise you! The Celiac in your life with feel so pampered and loved and most likely full of gratitude (if not then don't you dare cook for them again!!). If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to email me! I know how good it feels to have someone else cook for me and I would love to help you do that for someone else.

Tips & Warnings

• Corn pasta is delicious and the closest thing I've found to wheat pasta, it makes a quick and easy meal, cook it, add some butter, salt, garlic powder and a little bit of grated parmesan or asiago cheese and you're done! If you want to get fancy, add some shrimp.
• Start simple, trust me, any attempt to make food for someone with Celiac Disease will be appreciated
• When in doubt, ask! Ask the person with Celiac Disease what you can make for them, express your eagerness to prepare a meal for them. A lot of the time we don't want to create extra work for someone so we don't speak up.
• Most grocery stores or health food stores carry at least a few ready made gluten free meals, if you are too intimidated to cook for someone with the disease an option would be to keep a small supply of these meals in your freezer for when they visit.

[CeliacChic]

on 1/15/2009 Agreed but this article was written specifically looking at Celiac Disease and gluten not with any other medical or health issue in mind.

[Vanessa22]

on 1/15/2009 Good ideas here, thank you! But I highly recommend NOT using anything coated with Teflon EVER - your body absorbs it in small amounts and over the course of a few years it increases your likelihood of getting certain types of cancer.

[CeliacChic]

on 1/14/2009 Im so glad you found it helpful!

[amandaavey]

on 1/14/2009 EXCELLENT!!! This is an awesome article and one that I'm keeping as a favorite for sure!