Thursday, May 10, 2012

Gluten Free Cooking Tips #4 -- Preventing cross contamination



Cooking Tip#4 
Preventing Cross-Contamination in your Gluten Free Kitchen 


When you have a gluten free family member, one of the biggest obstacles is learning how to prevent cross-contamination in your kitchen. This is especially true if you have a “shared” kitchen or a kitchen where gluten-containing food is prepared along with gluten-free food. I recommend that people try to become a gluten free family. If all the food in your kitchen is gluten free, cross contamination isn’t a problem.

However, I realize this isn’t always feasible due to cost or simply because it’s not a decision shared by other family members. So for people who prepare both gluten-free and gluten-containing foods, here are 8 tips to help you prevent cross-contamination in your home kitchen.

● Have a gluten free cutting board and a regular cutting board, keep them in separate designated areas in your kitchen.

● Prepare gluten free foods and/or meals on a clean counter or a designated cutting board before preparing gluten-containing foods. If you prepare gluten free foods first, there is much less risk of cross-contamination.

● Use a color-coded and/or sticker system to mark gluten free items from gluten containing items. This is especially helpful for young children in the family to know the difference.

● You don’t necessarily need separate cooking pans. Simply make sure to wash all cooking pans thoroughly in hot, soapy water before cooking a gluten free meal.

● If in doubt, use foil to cover baking pans to keep foods safe.

● Store gluten free foods above gluten-containing foods in the pantry, to prevent any crumbs from coming into contact with gluten free foods.

● Have a separate color-coded area or stickers to discern gluten free condiments in the refrigerator.

● If you’re concerned that gluten free food has come in contact with gluten, stick with the old adage, “If in doubt, throw it out."

Make sure to have a dedicated gluten free toaster!

Reader’s Tip of the Day: 
“Don't be afraid to substitute ingredients. I usually just do a quick search on the net for an alternate ingredient if I find I'm out of something I thought I had. Sometimes it even makes the outcome even better!” -- Chasity A.


Please visit each topic in "10 Days of Gluten Free"
From: May 7th - May 18th


10 Days Gluten Free GIVEAWAY!
Included with this awesome series is a giveaway on each blog once the two weeks are over! I will be giving away a brand new copy of Carol Fenster's cookbook, "100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes." This is one of my FAVORITE gluten free cookbooks with an awesome collection of Carol's absolute best recipes.

The Giveaway Nitty Gritty: 
  • This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents 18 and older. 
  • You are allowed one entry per "10 Days of Gluten Free" blog post for a total of 10 entries on this blog. 
  • Enter by leaving a comment (WITH an email address to contact you) on this post (and other 10 Days of GF posts). 
  • The giveaway begins May 7, 2012 and ends at 11:59 pm eastern time on May 18, 2012. 
  • No purchase is necessary. 
  • Odds of winning are based on the number of entries. 
  • The winner will be randomly chosen and will be contacted by email. 
  • The winner will have 48 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond, a new winner will be randomly chosen
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