Toaster Oven And Cross Contamination?

[eblue]

Hey everyone,

I was diagnosed with Celiac a few weeks ago and have been wondering about using the same toaster oven as people at work who eat gluten. I have replaced all of my at home kitchen supplies, but I am confused about using the break room stuff at work... 

 

I like to bring my breakfast to work with me, and would like to bring these gluten free frozen waffles I found at a health food store. Here is my question: If I put foil down and wipe down any crumbs on the door of the toaster oven to ensure that my waffles are not touching any crumbs, can I still get glutened? Would it be safe? or should I skip the waffles altogether for the risk of cc? I know that my waffles wouldnt be touching anything, but still, the thought of using it makes me nervous because I can visibly see bread crumbs everywhere in the bottom of the oven. What do you guys think?

 

What about using the break room microwave? Could I get glutened from that too?

[notme]

if you use the microwave, i would make sure it's covered - people explode things in the microwave (lolz ok *i* explode things..)  and there might be stuff that could get into your stuff.  toaster oven........  i would, i think.  just make sure you put down foil like you said.  you know everybody who uses it and they're not baking cakes or anything in it, right?  just make sure your waffle doesn't come in contact with any crumbs.  and you'll be right there while it's toasting to keep a hawk's eye on it i hope!

[Adalaide]

I would be nervous about it, and frankly... I'm not into sharing appliances with strangers... but I'm not sure it would be a problem if you made a little foil thing to put your waffle on.

 

But, as was pointed out the microwave is a whole other story. I was sharing a microwave at home with 3 gluten eaters. It was on me to keep MY food covered because the other 3 people didn't and so the inside of the microwave was always questionable at best. If a cover slipped off my food went in the trash. Finally one night I missed my cover slipping off and wasn't paying attention... got sick. (I get sick for about 6 weeks. Fun times.) We now have two microwaves in the kitchen and if anyone ever lays a hand on mine it'll start WWIII. Microwaves are viscous, dangerous creatures when shared with gluten eaters.

[cyclinglady]

For $10 you can buy a cheap toaster at Walmart and keep it in the original box and stash it at your desk.   How about becoming the microwave monitor?  Keep it clean yourself and make sure your food is covered with one of those plastic plate covers (again at Walmart).  That will insure that it won't slip off.  

 

You might score brownie points for keep the kitchen neat!  

 

 

[eblue]

For $10 you can buy a cheap toaster at Walmart and keep it in the original box and stash it at your desk.   How about becoming the microwave monitor?  Keep it clean yourself and make sure your food is covered with one of those plastic plate covers (again at Walmart).  That will insure that it won't slip off.  

 

You might score brownie points for keep the kitchen neat!  

That is a good thought. I never thought about buying a cheap toaster and keeping it at my desk. Thanks!