When you learn that you can no longer consume gluten, there are many major changes that you need to make.  One of those changes is setting up your kitchen so that it’s safe from gluten.

In what follows you’ll see some steps you can follow to make your kitchen safe and gluten free for your needs:

1.   Begin by getting rid of gluten-containing foods

You’ll need to discard, or better yet, give away the food items that contain gluten or may have been contaminated by gluten in the past.

Examples of food products that likely contain gluten include flour, bread, baking mixes, and certain sauces.

Many food items that may have been cross contaminated include baking soda and baking powder, peanut butter, jam, butter, ketchup and mustard, for example.  Basically, these items become contaminated when they have come in contact with gluten-containing particles.  This can happen very easily and innocently.  For example, if you or another family member uses the same spoon in the flour and then the baking soda, cross contamination has occurred.  Another example is if your squeezable mustard container’s tip has accidentally touched a gluten-containing bun.  Therefore, you will need to replace these food items with new, uncontaminated ones.

2.   Replace some kitchen tools

You will not need to replace everything in your kitchen, but you will definitely need to replace certain items that are contaminated by gluten.

Examples of some of these items include:
* toaster
* silicone spatulas
* colander and other strainers
* non-stick pans with scratches
* plastic bowls that have scratches in them, plastic utensils
* wooden cutting boards, wooden spoons, and wooden bowls
* mustard and ketchup containers, etc.
* rolling pin
* muffin tins or other baking sheets with scratches

3.  Clean items in your kitchen thoroughly

Some of the items that cannot be cleaned thoroughly enough to be safe from gluten have been outlined above.  However, some items can be cleaned enough that you can use them again.  Here are some examples:

Stainless steel bowls and pots:
Just make sure to clean them well.  Also be sure to clean the lids fully.

Oven & Stovetop:

Clean the top, sides, and bottom of the oven, as well as the oven racks.

Cupboards and drawers:

Bread crumbs seem to make their way into all sorts of places, including the utensil drawers and the cupboards.  Sometimes, they even get into the fridge.  Take this opportunity to do some spring or fall cleaning, and vacuum up all the crumbs.

Refrigerator and freezers:

Be sure to clean up the shelves to remove any crumbs or spills.  Be sure to scrub any seals.