How Careful Are You With Pots/pans/dishes/counters?

[tinkity]

Hello, all! I have been gluten free for a whopping 2 weeks! (lol) I actually started to feel better (digestive-wise) almost immediately, but certainly nowhere near normal. I am pleased and encouraged by this though, because my blood test results were negative/sort of iffy and I have been very, very ill and underweight and getting a wee bit nervous. (I know, I know, this takes time I have months to go before I can really see what's up here)... I have still been going through my 'cycles' I seem to have where I feel a little better, then worse, then a little better. The good times *have* been getting longer, and the bad shorter and less icky. Anyhow, I got very sick starting the night before last and it seems to just be tapering off... And I am beginning to wonder- I used my good ole cookie sheet to broil fish on and a cast iron pan used for 'whatever' to make the sauce. Now, it is possible that it was the fish (I am just starting to eat it again. I'm a veg.), but I don't think so. And, it is possible it was the butter (I haven't been eating much dairy the last two weeks and am unsure where I stand with it.). I do wash and scrub the heck out of all of my dishes. It is impossible for me to have a gluten free household. I am the only wacky one here on this diet. So, how careful are you? Do you just scrub stuff really well, or have all your own dishes? (I am hesitant to do this for financial reasons... and my tests were negative and I feel a bit silly getting all militant about the whole thing. ) Sorry for the book. I'm very good at the rambling.

[Tina B]

I just use the dishwasher. If you're that worried just line your cookie sheet with Reynolds Release non stick foil.

[tarnalberry]

cast iron can never really be scrubbed well enough. you need dedicated cast iron if you're going to use it. stainless steel (or anodized aluminum) will generally be cleanable if you want to share it, but I don't. you do need your own cutting boards, and porous materials (colanders, wooden spoons, etc.), and things like toasters. ceramic plates, glasses, and silverware are generally fine going through the dishwasher.

you can do a lot taking a house mostly gluten free. my husband and I (and now 8 month old daughter) all eat mostly gluten free. there are so many, many, many naturally gluten free foods to eat and meals to cook that you don't need to add bread (or even use pasta) or use flour. well, my family and friends all think my wide variety of gluten free food which I serve for meals are great and they don't miss the gluten.

[beefree11]

Hello, all! I have been gluten free for a whopping 2 weeks! (lol) I actually started to feel better (digestive-wise) almost immediately, but certainly nowhere near normal. I am pleased and encouraged by this though, because my blood test results were negative/sort of iffy and I have been very, very ill and underweight and getting a wee bit nervous. (I know, I know, this takes time I have months to go before I can really see what's up here)... I have still been going through my 'cycles' I seem to have where I feel a little better, then worse, then a little better. The good times *have* been getting longer, and the bad shorter and less icky. Anyhow, I got very sick starting the night before last and it seems to just be tapering off... And I am beginning to wonder- I used my good ole cookie sheet to broil fish on and a cast iron pan used for 'whatever' to make the sauce. Now, it is possible that it was the fish (I am just starting to eat it again. I'm a veg.), but I don't think so. And, it is possible it was the butter (I haven't been eating much dairy the last two weeks and am unsure where I stand with it.). I do wash and scrub the heck out of all of my dishes. It is impossible for me to have a gluten free household. I am the only wacky one here on this diet. So, how careful are you? Do you just scrub stuff really well, or have all your own dishes? (I am hesitant to do this for financial reasons... and my tests were negative and I feel a bit silly getting all militant about the whole thing. ) Sorry for the book. I'm very good at the rambling.

After watching my daughter writhing in pain at 430 am on new years morning, I think I am going to go thru my cabs and remove the old cookware. She became glutened new years eve by what I believe might be our old cookie sheets that she baked gluten-free pizzas on! I believe she may have also been exposed at work for her boss was having her go get food like big cookies, breaded items, etc. I think that is where it all began...she came home and fixed the pizzas on the old cookie sheet and by 430 am calling me in pain to take her to the hospital!!

Since finding out she is intolerant, I purchased a toaster oven just for her. She has her own cabinets and shelves devoted to her gluten-free foods. I clean and scrub and wipe and sweep...my kitchen is clean! Her father insists on his gluten crackers/cookies/croutons/breads/bagels/cereals that are now kept in plastic containers.

She keeps her plates, cups, glasses and meds in a separate cabinet in the kitchen. I cook mostly gluten-free for us. Husband's work lunches are LOADED with gluten and he has some terrible issues with digestion he refuses to address.

I was truly worried my daughter was going to the ER. All because of a cookie sheet? I never dreamed she would use it!! It's gone, now!!

Oh a side note: my bishon needs to have grain free foods or he turns bright pink, scratches his face raw and pretty much throws up all over. Its alot of work...but needs to be done.

[tinkity]

So sorry to hear about your daughter! Tummy problems are the worst in my book!

And making my house entirely gluten free just is not possible. I have a roommate and a boyfriend who are very gluten friendly! And I am just not ready to try to transition my children. I want to be sure that this is actually the problem first. My antibodies were high-normal, and my iga was low-normal...

I suppose I do need to be a little more careful... I think the sauce for the fish was not only made in the cast iron, but stirred with an old wooden spoon as well. I'm just wondering if maybe I have more going on. It's been almost 3 days and my belly is still sore. I just can't seem to feel right. And I'm only 97 lbs. now! I have got one foot in the poor house, but I may be able to just get myself a few dishes and cookware items to dedicate to my gluten-free self. I was just getting so excited because I felt as though I was improving and now my body hates me all over again! Ugh! How long does it usually take for y'all to recover from a 'glutening'?

[beefree11]

So sorry to hear about your daughter! Tummy problems are the worst in my book!

And making my house entirely gluten free just is not possible. I have a roommate and a boyfriend who are very gluten friendly! And I am just not ready to try to transition my children. I want to be sure that this is actually the problem first. My antibodies were high-normal, and my iga was low-normal...

I suppose I do need to be a little more careful... I think the sauce for the fish was not only made in the cast iron, but stirred with an old wooden spoon as well. I'm just wondering if maybe I have more going on. It's been almost 3 days and my belly is still sore. I just can't seem to feel right. And I'm only 97 lbs. now! I have got one foot in the poor house, but I may be able to just get myself a few dishes and cookware items to dedicate to my gluten-free self. I was just getting so excited because I felt as though I was improving and now my body hates me all over again! Ugh! How long does it usually take for y'all to recover from a 'glutening'?

Thank you for the kindness!!!

My daughter feels great today. Yesterday her stomach was still bothering her (and there were some long stretches of "fogging"). So I would say it took her a good 48 hours. She was in bed all day the day it happened - she even called off work But today, all better.

I make sure she has her feet covered if I haven't swiffered the kitchen floor, and to use a clean towel to open cabs/fridge, etc. Her father eats ALOT of gluten products and is not neat about crumbs, oils, etc.

Wear gloves while preparing items perhaps? I know it sounds extreme but bakers and cooks are used to them now. Keep the feet covered as well for any contamination on the floor. I use a vinegar/water spray and paper towels to clean all surfaces that dad may have touched. We keep his items in plastic containers in HIS cabinets! lol.

That cookie sheet was older than she is! It was brownish in spots where cookies and things have burnt. Oh my. I can't believe she trusted that pan!! But it's gone.

I read in an issue of "Living Without" A Celiac Pill "One reason is that inadvertent gluten exposure is common. Despite best efforts, many celiacs on a gluten-free diet are still exposed to a minimal amount of gluten every day, typically via cross contamination, says Fasano. Exposure often happens outside the household. While it may not be enough to trigger symptoms, it's enough to cause damage, cautions Fasano."

That last line is worrisome, to me. Be careful there!!! Good health to you.

[SaraKat]

My Dr told me that buying all new stuff was not necessary, so I didn't. I have been gluten-free since September and go back this month for my first follow up blood test. I have been feeling pretty good, except I think I ate some bad stuff during the holidays without realizing it because my side pain is back a little bit. I have never had an issue with my pots and pans.

[modiddly16]

I'd avoid wood utensils and get your own cutting board for sure but your pots and pans should be fine as long as you clean them well enough. I always use foil over a pan just to be safe. I agree that a cast iron pan is pretty hard to clean, same with a wok...so if you want one of those, have a dedicated one.

I tend to get a bit lazy when it comes to cleaning the pots and pans, its definitely best to rinse and clean them first before the dishwasher to double clean them...just be careful you're not using the same scrubby brush that you just cleaned something gluten-laden with

[SGWhiskers]

I spent the first 3 months of my recovery on a roller coster because I was too stubborn to believe that MY body was as sensitive as everyone elses here to cross contamination. It wasn't until I got very strict about all possible forms of cross contamination that I started feeling consistently better. After getting good at eliminating cross contamination and accidental glutenings, I did reintroduce a few possible, but unlikely sources of cross contamination with mixed results. The veggie steamer that had occassionally steamed pasta/oatmeal was a flop, but I started eating finger foods again after good hand washing.

I've got a friend who is going through that roller coaster, but on an extended version because she is too stubborn to come here for help and I can only push so much advice. Be wiser than either of us and just get strict now. You can always save the items and try them out in 6 months or a year if you want to risk it.

[domesticactivist]

We have very nice cast iron which is a family heirloom with great sentimental value and we can not afford to buy new. We use it all the time. We've heard that running it through a self clean cycle in the oven will burn out all the old seasoning and destroy the gluten proteins so that it can be safely reseasoned. Has anyone tried this?

We've gotten rid of our old mixers, breadmaker, toaster, nonstick, wood, cutting boards, etc but really want to keep the cast iron!

[DougE]

I too have a favorite cast iron pan. I kept using it, but it no longer touches gluten. I hope after three years it is pretty much gluten-free. Other than that, I replaced my wooden spoons and cutting boards.

[Takala]

Old cast iron can be successfully stripped out.

Might want to take the batteries out of the smoke alarm during it.

[domesticactivist]

Old cast iron can be successfully stripped out.

Might want to take the batteries out of the smoke alarm during it.

I had a feeling that might be a problem. We don't have our own self-cleaning oven so we're going to have to use my mom's. Do you think it will stink up the whole house even after we're done?