Last Thread Poses A New Question

[wsieving]

Ok, at the risk of sounding stupid, I am wondering as a newbie to this, what would be the things you would recommend replacing in the kitchen (pots, pans, utensils, etc.) when switching to gluten free?

I have also read that you shouldn't even store gluten-free food in the same cabinet with non gluten-free food. Is it really necessary to use separate cabinets? It isn't a problem for us to do that, I was just wondering if it is necessary.

[ShayFL]

This is discussed often. I tried to find you a good thread to read:

Open Original Shared Link

I personally opted for 100% gluten-free kitchen and home so there could at least be one place on the planet where I could feel completely safe and comfortable.

[VioletBlue]

After I was diagnosed I threw out the wooden spoons, the frying pans with non stick coatings, anything plastic I'd used for prep or storage and any baking pans I had that were metal or had a non stick coating. I had just bought a nice set of heavy metal pots, but thankfully they had no coating on them and can be scoured clean. Ironically I'd considered splurging on ones with a non stick coating and I'm so glad I was too cheap to do it. The non stick coatings invariablly scratch and can harbor gluten, or so I've been told. I did all this as a precaution so I can't tell you what would have happened had I not. I live alone, so the entire house is gluten free. I don't have to worry about other people's needs. But at this point I don't think I could handle living with gluten in the house, no matter where it's kept. I'd be afraid of accidents and what not.

Ok, at the risk of sounding stupid, I am wondering as a newbie to this, what would be the things you would recommend replacing in the kitchen (pots, pans, utensils, etc.) when switching to gluten free?

I have also read that you shouldn't even store gluten-free food in the same cabinet with non gluten-free food. Is it really necessary to use separate cabinets? It isn't a problem for us to do that, I was just wondering if it is necessary.

[darlindeb25]

I have a pan I keep for when others visit, I cook their meat in it. My daughter uses a lot of seasoned salt, which is gluten free, but still makes me sick, so we can't cook our meats in the same pan. Even if we forget and share the lid, I get sick. I too, live alone, so my home is gluten free. When my daughter visits, she is very careful. Anyone else, I follow them around and make sure no gluten is in my path.

When I was first gluten free, I still had kids living at home, so we were a mixed household. My food was marked, and they knew if they touched it, they could not touch gluten...like my jar of peanut butter, they knew they had to use a clean knife. Back then, I was not so touchy, now I don't think I could live with a household of gluten eaters. It is so much easier and safer to not have to watch every minute.

[wsieving]

Is it common for a household to go completely gluten free to avoid risk for one child? I don't know if I could trust my boys not to share a snack or something with DD (13 months). I guess this might be something I have to consider. Thanks for all the help ladies!

[GFinDC]

I checked my toaster for crumbs, and cleaned it out. Mine has a door on the bootom that opens to clean it out. There were plenty of those awful gluten crumbs in the tray and on top around the edges of the openings. I've used my toaster since cleaning it and had no problems. Just do a good job of cleaning it is my opinion. Same with pans and pots. Clean them real well and you should be ok.

[darlindeb25]

I checked my toaster for crumbs, and cleaned it out. Mine has a door on the bootom that opens to clean it out. There were plenty of those awful gluten crumbs in the tray and on top around the edges of the openings. I've used my toaster since cleaning it and had no problems. Just do a good job of cleaning it is my opinion. Same with pans and pots. Clean them real well and you should be ok.

This kind of a 50-50 answer. 6 of one, half a dozen of another, which 6 do you feel safer believing? We in this forum, will never agree on this. I do not believe it's ok to just clean out an old toaster, and toasters are not that expensive, not when you weigh the odds of getting glutened against the price. Every toaster I have ever had, had a bottom that opens, yet, there is no way to completely get all the crumbs out of a toaster, they bake right onto the sides. It's always best to get a new toaster, or use the toaster bags made especially for us. I guess it just depends on how lucky you feel.

As for pans, that also depends very much on the pans. If your pans are old, and have scratches, then you should buy new, at least a couple for your use. My sauce pans, I felt were ok, I usually only cooked veggies in them, so I kept them. I bought myself a new frying pan, they get so scratched, and gluten hides in those scratches. I didn't replace my Corelle plates...only some of the pans. I can no longer have grains, so I have no need for a toaster.

I do not want to say it depends on how much you react to CC, because that just isn't true. Even those who do not have extreme reactions to gluten, are still having damage done to their bodies.