7 Ways to Keep Your Kitchen Celiac Safe
Written by: CDHF
Updated: November 14th, 2022
When someone is diagnosed with celiac disease, it’s an adjustment for the whole family, not just the person diagnosed. If someone has celiac disease, even a small trace of gluten can make them sick, so it’s super important that you make your home celiac safe for your loved one in which they have been diagnosed. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of tips for making your kitchen celiac safe.
1. Label everything
If you have a celiac in your home co-existing with a gluten-eater, it’s very important that they have their own condiments, cutting boards, cutlery, frying pans, etc. Anything that could potentially be cross-contaminated with gluten should be kept in a separate place in the fridge and or kitchen, and labeled accordingly to avoid any confusion. Even putting a pan in a dishwasher may not completely get away all of the gluten, and could seriously make your loved one sick. So make sure everyone knows what’s what with clearly labeled items.
2. Replace anything wood with plastic
Wood is a very porous material and absorbs gluten and other microbes into the grain. Replacing wooden cooking tools and bowls with plastic will eliminate this risk.
3. Keep a separate sponge for washing dishes
Much like wood, sponges absorb gluten. Washing a pan that is labeled gluten free with a sponge that is full of gluten kind of defeats the purpose of having gluten-free pans.
4. Buy a separate toaster for gluten-free products
Much like wood, sponges absorb gluten. Washing a pan that is labeled gluten free with a sponge that is full of gluten defeats the purpose of having gluten-free pans.
5. Clean the counter… a lot
Even if you’re just placing a cutting board on the counter to cut a sandwich in half, wipe the counter immediately after to avoid cross-contamination. We recommend using disposable wipes for cleaning, to avoid further cross contamination with sponges.
6. Replace the non-stick pans and utensils
Purchase pans and cutlery that are specifically designated for gluten-free foods. If you have people in your home that plan on continuing to eat gluten, you can keep your old pans and cutlery for them, just make sure that they are stored separately and labeled appropriately.
7. Make gluten-free zones
Even air-born gluten can affect someone with celiac disease. Make sure all gluten-free products and kitchen supplies are stored separately from everything else. Make a ‘safe space’ in your kitchen for gluten-free condiments. Even squeeze ketchup bottles can become contaminated if you’re not careful. So make sure your loved one has a safe place to go for all the fixings, with their own gluten-free condiments! These practices need to be upheld at all times if someone in your life has celiac disease. Even when traveling! If you would like some tips on how to travel gluten-free, check out this article!
Though all of these tips will certainly help, the best way to have a celiac-safe kitchen is to not bring any gluten into the house at all. Thankfully, we live in a time where gluten-free products are much more readily available, and many of them are so well made that you can barely tell the difference. Support your family and go gluten-free with them! At least while you’re at home. Next time you go out to eat with friends you can get your gluten fix… Just make sure to wash your hands after!
