Proper food storage and preparation

If you are committed to a gluten-free diet, in addition to avoiding foods that contain gluten you have to be careful about how you store and prepare the foods you eat. This is the only way to prevent gluten contamination and you have to be especially careful if you live in a family with some members who eat gluten..  Here are some useful suggestions on how to prevent gluten contamination:

• Clean your worktops, cookware, baking and cooking utensils thoroughly before you begin cooking or baking.  
• Only use spotlessly clean knives and cake knives to cut and serve your baked gluten-free foods.
• Use separate wooden cooking utensils (chopping board, spoon, rolling pin, baking brushes etc.) for gluten-free foods because they are difficult to clean and the gluten in other foods can get stuck in scratches and cracks.
• Ensure that dishcloths, tea towels and hand towels do not have any gluten-containing food residue on them – flour dust, for instance.
• Gluten-free substances such as flour and baking ingredients should always be stored in closed containers and kept away from foods that contain gluten. For example, you can store them in plastic containers, tins, and screw top jars.
• Use a separate bread basket for gluten-free bread.
• Toasters are a typical contamination source. It’s best to use a separate toaster for gluten-free toast.
• If you grind grain yourself, make sure that your grain mill or your mixer attachment is only used for gluten-free grain.
• Don’t have anything ground at organic food shops etc. because their grain mills are often gluten contaminated.