Ritz Crackers are an extremely popular product that many people eat as a snack with cheese and other toppings, however, you may be wondering whether these biscuits are gluten-free if you are a coeliac.
Unfortunately, Ritz crackers do contain wheat which is one of the grains that does contain gluten and therefore is unsuitable for people following a gluten-free diet. If you are intolerant of gluten it is necessary to avoid any foods that are derived from wheat barley and rye because they are grains contain a protein called gluten which can cause issues with their ability to absorb nutrients through the lower intestine.
How Do You Know If Crackers Are Gluten-Free?
Determining whether a product is gluten free can be done by checking the ingredients list on the packaging. In most countries around the world manufacturers are required to declare the presence of allergens.
This is typically done by listing the individual allergens present within the ingredients list, however, it is also common for manufacturers to place a statement at the end of the ingredients list which lists the allergens that are present within the product.
However, there are a couple of exceptions relating to the presence of gluten there important to know about. The first is that some manufacturers will place a general statement below the ingredients list stating a product May contain gluten. They do this because while the product does not contain any gluten containing products it may be manufactured on equipment that is also used to make gluten containing products.
To avoid any risk or problems they sometimes place a may contain gluten statement at the bottom of the ingredients list. However, the reality is that in most cases the gluten level present is negligible and does not affect a coeliac.
The second exception to this is when products include sugars such as glucose and dextrose which have been derived by wheat. In these cases the products will be declared as having allergens in them however due to the high level of processing any gluten that was initially present has been removed and it is therefore safe for the coeliac to eat.
Alternatively, you can also look for products that are specifically made for coeliacs that are labeled as gluten-free. The main difference between these products and regular ones is that they have been tested for the presence of gluten by the manufacturer.
However, if you are unsure about the ingredients in a product, you can contact the manufacturer for more information.
What Is A Good Gluten-Free Substitute For Ritz Crackers?
If you are coeliac and looking for alternatives to Ritz there are several options on the market to choose from. However, the reality is that they will not be identical in flavor or texture to Ritz biscuits. Some of these alternatives include;
- Mary’s Gone Crackers which are made from alternative grains and are available in several different flavors including original herb black pepper.
- Glutino is another brand of gluten-free crackers which also has a series of different flavors including cheese and original. The crackers are made from a blend of corn, rice and potato flour and are certified as being gluten free.
- Other brands that are offered on the market which are similar to the options listed above are Schär and Late July.
Availability of different brands will vary depending upon which country you live in with most countries having some local brands. The important thing to do is to ensure that you try all the gluten-free crackers that are available and find the one that you like best as they will vary in quality significantly.
Can You Make Your Own Crackers At Home?
If you can’t find crackers that you like that are gluten-free the other alternative is to make them at home which will allow you to control and customize the recipes to suit your own preferences. A basic recipe for making homemade crackers is provided below for your reference;
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or a gluten-free flour blend)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter that has been cut up into small pieces
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients of flour, salt, and sugar.
- The next step is to add butter to the dry ingredients and the mash them up together with your fingers until it is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Add water to the mixture to create a dough and then lightly need it until the mixture becomes smooth and consistent.
- Roll dough into a flat mixture approximately a quarter of an inch thick.
- Use a cookie cutter to create the individual crackers in your desired shape and then transfer these pieces onto an oven tray lined with baking paper
- To create small holes within the crackers use either a fork or a pin which will help to stop the crackers from puffing up too much.
- Bake the crackers in an oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Once cooked, remove the crackers from the oven and allow them to cool before serving.
To make this recipe more interesting you can add a range of different herbs and spices to the dough prior to baking which will add flavor and character to your crackers. Additionally, some people also add sesame or poppy seeds to the surface of the biscuits prior to baking which is another way of adding interest.
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