I love BBQs! Who doesn’t? The smell of sausages and burgers (or fish and veggies if you’re not a meat eater!) grilling away on a warm summer day while you sip a chilled cider or glass of vino! A barbecue with friends is a fantastic way to spend a warm afternoon. With the 4th of July coming up I know I’m planning to do some grilling. If you are too, have a read at my tips for keeping your barbecue safe and gluten free. The last thing you want is to get sick as a result of hidden gluten or cross contamination when it could have so easily been avoided. Happy gluten free grilling!
1) If you are using a barbecue which has been used, whether recently or at any point in the past, for grilling non gluten free things, make sure you scrub it clean to eliminate any chance of cross contamination.
2) If you are grilling with friends or family who are not gluten free and there are going to be gluten filled products such as hot dog buns or beer braised brats, wrap everything you are planning to eat in foil before you place it on the grill. This will keep your gluten free sausages or burgers safe.
3) Check your meats for hidden sources of gluten and ensure any meat you plan to eat is just meat. Don’t buy anything glazed or with added spices, flavourings or colourings unless you are 100% sure these come from non gluten sources.
4) Be extremely cautious of marinades, sauces and dressings. Many of these sorts of things contain sources of hidden gluten and sometimes you’ll find that a sauce or marinade is actually thickened with wheat flour!
5) If you aren’t the one in charge of the BBQ be sure to take your own gluten free food with you for grilling. Most people aren’t aware of all of the possible hidden sources of gluten and you don’t want to get sick because you politely accepted a burger that someone assumed was gluten free.
What precautions do you take to stay safe at a BBQ? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below..