Is cheese gluten-free? No matter why you can't eat gluten, don't give up more foods than you have to. Click here to learn if cheese is safe to eat!
Around 0.75% of people have celiac disease, which seems inconsequential. But hold your horses: it’s estimated that 7% of people suffer from gluten sensitivity! This means that if you’re part of this statistic, when you ingest foods with gluten, you’ll suffer from some not-so-pleasant side effects.
Of course, you can always choose to eat your favorite foods and suffer the consequences later. Or you can be careful about the foods you eat.
One food many of us love is cheese. So you might be afraid that you’ll have to give this up.
So is cheese gluten-free? Read on to find out!
What Is Cheese?
We know this might seem like a silly question, but you’d be surprised as to how many people don’t know what cheese is! Yes, it’s a dairy product made from milk, but what do you really know about cheese besides that?
Basically, milk is taken and then some magical culture bacteria are added to give cheese that distinct taste we all know and love. Sometimes, to get real fancy, nuts, spices, and herbs are added to cheese as well.
Enzymes call rennet are then added, which causes the milk to curdle and set, and then become cheese!
What Is Gluten?
Now that you know what cheese really is, the next question to tackle is this: what is gluten?
Gluten is a type of protein and you’ll usually find it in wheat products, as well as rye and barley. This is why when gluten is practically synonymous with bread!
However, gluten isn’t just limited to bread (unfortunately). You’ll also find it in things like cereal, beer, gravy, pasta, and even seemingly innocent things, like salad dressings, imitation meats, and bouillon!
So Is Cheese Gluten-Free?
For the most part, cheese is in fact gluten-free! In fact, the majority of dairy products are.
Basically, you’ll want to stick to natural cheeses since this pretty much guarantees that no gluten is in them. They’ll be made of fairly simple ingredients: milk, salt, culture bacteria, and rennet, and none of these contain the much-dreaded gluten.
Natural cheeses you should consider include:
- Cheddar
- Parmesan
- Swiss
- Brie
- Provolone
- Goat
- Feta
- Ricotta
But don’t take this as a green light to go buy and eat all the cheese you want! Here are some things to consider if you don’t want to suffer from gluten sensitivity symptoms after gorging yourself.
Factor in Cross-Contamination
In order to mass-produce things, many manufacturers will prepare ingredients in a mixed fashion. So while a cheese you’re looking at is completely pure and free of gluten, it might not actually be as pure as you think it is!
If a cheese has been made in a factory that has cross-contamination, or if you order a cheese plate at a restaurant that makes food with gluten (very possible), then you might be inadvertently exposed to gluten. Even your local deli might betray you!
When buying cheese, read the packages carefully to ensure that it has no disclaimers about cross-contamination. You might even be so lucky to find a Certified Gluten-Free seal!
And when you’re dining out, ask your waiter to make sure that your cheese plate is prepared on a different surface and with different utensils from other ingredients.
Lastly, you should do the same at your deli. Ask the employees to use different utensils and surfaces to cut your cheese.
Cheeses You Should Try and Stay Away From
We know that it’s tough to say “no” to cheese. But if you need to be on a gluten-free diet, then it might be a good idea to stay away from some cheeses.
We’re sorry to say, but you need to avoid buying shredded cheese. Yes, it’ll make your life a lot easier, but there’s a secret to why the shredded cheese doesn’t stick together: there’s a gluten-containing starch added to the bag! So just take the extra step to shred your own cheese at home.
Also, cream cheese is generally safe to eat. But the caveat is that you have to stick to the plain stuff. Some flavored cream cheeses might have gluten ingredients, such as malt.
If you’re a fan of cottage cheese, this is on the “mostly safe” list too. However, always double-check the label because some brands will sneak in wheat starch!
As far as delicious desserts go, you’ll have to be conscious about what ingredients are in them. We’d say that cheese would be the least of your worries!
But the good news is, the world is quickly catching on and catering to those who have gluten sensitivity. There are plenty of gluten-free foods and desserts for you to try, so you won’t be too miserable!
Be Wary of Non-Dairy Cheeses
If you’re one of the (un)lucky individuals who are also lactose intolerant, then you might be eyeing non-dairy cheeses. We’re happy to report that you can usually kill 2 birds with 1 stone by buying these products, as they’re usually just made with nuts or soy.
However, you should be aware that some non-dairy cheeses might contain gluten. So again, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to read the label!
Say "Cheese" and Take a Bite
So the answer to the question “is cheese gluten-free” is mainly “yes”! If you stick to the natural cheeses, you can almost guarantee that you’ll keep your stomach safe from those not-fun symptoms.
Otherwise, if you want to be more adventurous, stay vigilant. Read all the packages and do your due diligence when buying cheese at a deli or ordering a cheese platter in a restaurant. Your stomach will thank you!
What’s cheese without some wine? If you want to buy some Pinot Noirs on a budget, then check out this article now!
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