Thanksgiving Feast Without Gluten
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and for many people, that means turkey! Preparing a turkey can be a bit overwhelming, especially if it needs to be gluten-free. Fortunately, there are only a few details to keep in mind to ensure that your gluten-free turkey is as delicious as it is safe to eat.
First and foremost, make sure that your turkey is gluten-free to begin with. A fresh turkey is the easiest, but unless you have access to a turkey farm, a frozen turkey from a traditional grocery store will work well if you are cautious. Many turkeys are injected with broth to make them juicy, so be sure to check the label to make sure this broth does not contain gluten in the form of flavoring (barley) or flour thickeners (wheat). If you’re unsure, contact the manufacturer for more information. While it’s rare to find a plain frozen turkey with gluten inside of it, you should still always be cautious. Do not buy any turkey that already has gluten-containing stuffing inside.
Same goes for buying a pre-made turkey or pre-made turkey breasts, make sure you read all the ingredients. The risk is the same, that it may contain gluten-containing broth, gravy, and/or gluten-containing stuffing inside. If you don’t care for turkey or don’t want to risk it, a chicken or game hen is great for smaller portion sizes. Try another meat or seafood that’s naturally gluten-free, like fish, shrimp, beef, lamb, or pork! There are so many ways to make your main dish exciting and gluten-free. When it’s time to roast your turkey, make sure that you use a clean roasting pan that has not been used for gluten-containing foods. Line the pan with aluminum foil as an easy way to prevent cross-contact and make cleaning easier. Don’t forget to grab a meat thermometer if you don’t already have one! Use the thermometer to ensure that your turkey is cooked to the appropriate temperature. The internal temperature should reach 165°F to ensure that any harmful bacteria are killed. Once in the oven, make sure any broth used to baste the turkey does not contain gluten ingredients. With these simple tips, you can enjoy a delicious and safe gluten-free turkey dinner!
GFCO-certified gravy
1. Simply Organic
2. Pioneer Brand
3. Road’s End Organics
4. Harry’s Fresh Foods
5. Mountain House
6. Kevin’s Natural Foods
7. Primal Kitchen
8. 365 Whole Foods Market
GFCO-certified stuffing
1. Aleia’s
2. Gluten Free Concepts
3. Deland Bakery
4. Katz
5. Terra Chips
6. Make it GF
7. Olivia’s
8. Sweet Ali’s
9. LiveGfree (Aldi)
10. Three Bakers
11. Thrive Market
Happy cooking!