Popcorn is a common snack traditionally served when watching TV shows or movies. At movie theatres, popcorn is the main food product. However, gluten-free diets are extremely common in the United States. Is popcorn gluten-free?
Yes, popcorn is gluten-free. Corn is not a grain that contains gluten, therefore popcorn should be gluten-free. Unfortunately, when making popcorn, it’s easy to contaminate it with gluten products. In a kitchen, you’ll often see popcorn get contaminated with gluten ingredients. To be safe, keep popcorn as far away from gluten as possible.
The rest of this article will cover why popcorn is gluten-free, where to find gluten-free popcorn, how to avoid popcorn with gluten in it, and alternatives to popcorn.
Why Popcorn Is Gluten-Free
Corn does not contain gluten, therefore popcorn is not, by itself, full of gluten. You’d have to contaminate it with a gluten product in order for it to have gluten. Unfortunately, there’s one issue with this: popcorn is often processed in machinery that also processes gluten.
That means that even though popcorn itself is gluten-free, the machinery it’s processed in is not. You should always be careful with popcorn because of this. On the bright side, most movie theatre popcorn is gluten-free. Always ask the worker before ordering, though.
There’s another problem with popcorn: people with celiac disease should not eat popcorn because there is a chance they have intolerances for the protein inside it. Although not all who have celiac disease have issues with popcorn, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If someone with celiac disease eats popcorn, there’s a chance they can suffer from intense intestinal issues. Even though popcorn is naturally gluten-free, you should stay away from it if you have celiac disease, and always make sure no gluten contaminates the product.
Where To Find Gluten-Free Popcorn
You first need to look for brands that are known for being gluten-free. For example, Act II and Orville are known for their gluten-free popcorn. You can find these products in-stores or on Amazon. Not only that, but both of those brands are budget-friendly.
If you look on Amazon, you can find a wide variety of gluten-free popcorn. On Amazon, there is a question box you can use to ask if the product is gluten-free. The seller or other customers can answer your question and give you a clear answer if you’re unsure.
In-stores, you can ask an employee about the gluten contents inside a box of popcorn. You can also check the ingredients and look for any gluten products being inside the popcorn.
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How To Avoid Popcorn With Gluten In It
There are many resources you can use, such as online blogs and websites that talk about gluten-free products. You can look for gluten-free products on these blogs and websites. The internet has countless articles referring you to gluten-free products.
Along with that, you can join an online or in-person community dedicated to finding the best gluten-free products. This can be useful for more than just popcorn, too. Now you have connections with people who want to find all the best gluten-free products, not only popcorn.
The simplest way to avoid popcorn with gluten in it is to ask. If you’re at a movie theatre, ask the employees if the popcorn is gluten-free. Inform them that you need gluten-free popcorn, and they will go out of their way to make sure no gluten ingredients touch your product.
The same applies to restaurants. If a restaurant has popcorn, then inform your server that you need gluten-free popcorn. There are a lot of restaurants that are drive-in themed, and many of these places have popcorn. If you find yourself at one of these places, look for gluten-free popcorn.
Alternatives To Popcorn
There are many alternatives to popcorn that fit a gluten-free diet. For example, you can get freeze-dried fruits. These fruits have the same texture as popcorn. They’ll have a crunchy exterior and a sweet inside that melts in your mouth, which makes it a perfect alternative.
If you aren’t in the mood for fruits, then you can try vegetables instead. Veggie chips are another perfect alternative because they have the same texture as popcorn. They’re also very healthy, and for added benefits, you can try getting low carb veggie chips.
Any food product that’s puffed can be an alternative to popcorn. You can also get a higher calorie alternative, like nuts. Plain nuts don’t have any gluten in them, meaning they work as a gluten-free alternative to popcorn.
Lastly, you can try seeds or pretzels. Seeds are gluten-free, therefore they’re a great alternative that you can buy in bulk. Although pretzels are normally filled with gluten, you can find plenty of gluten-free options. They have a bit of a different texture but still an amazing flavor.
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