1. What You Can Do

• Label and separate your utensils –

  Tongs, sauce brushes, spatulas, grill brushes, serving knives, forks, spoons, and cutting boards. Keep gluten-free utensils, cooking, and grilling supplies separate from your other guests’ food they eat. The reason is so important – for example, if a gluten-eating person uses a pair of tongs from the meat platter and places it on a wheat-containing bun, and should the tongs touch the bun during the process, the tongs are then contaminated and could cause your gluten-free guest to become ill. The same goes for toppings, lettuce, tomato, and onion – serve these on a separate platter with tongs labeled “gluten-free” to keep guests safe.

• Squeeze bottles are best –

  Jars and bowls + knives and spoons for condiments = the possibility for disaster. Squeeze bottles make it a whole lot easier for everyone.

• Clean your grill space and grates before the party –

  The grill and area around it could have traces of gluten from the previous grilling on the same surface. Designate a section of your grill – Use the top rack as the strictly gluten-free area on your grill.
  Use aluminum foil (even in your dedicated grill space) to be extra safe!

• Avoid basting, toasting, or roasting…

  On the upper rack above foods meant to be gluten-free – Basting with marinades containing gluten, toasting buns, or directly roasting vegetables and other food items spiced with gluten-containing ingredients above foods intended to be gluten-free is a sure recipe for disaster and your guests getting “glutened” by mistake.

• Avoid mix-ups –

  Cook gluten-free meats and foods first – Use separate utensils (label them gluten-free or choose ones with different color handles) for flipping and serving, and serve foods on a separate plate for your gluten-free guest.

• Bring your grill master up to speed –

  Talk with the grilling person. Educate and emphasize the importance of being careful about how they grill for your gluten-free guests. If gluten-free meats are on the menu, double-check that the spices and sauces are safe, and be cautious about marinades; consider leaving some meat un-marinated for your gluten-free guests.

• Invest in a small travel-size grill –

  Are you still anxious about grilling for your gluten-free guest? Consider this option to ensure your food isn’t touching left-over gluten on your mainstay grill.

2. Know Your Meats

• The majority of meats for grilling are gluten-free; however, there are exceptions to every rule. Be sure to ask your butcher or read the nutrition ingredient listing to identify brands that use wheat fillers that would make an ordinary hotdog, brat, hamburger, or sausage unsafe for celiac or gluten-sensitive guests. Hotdogs, bologna, brats, and other sausages commonly contain hidden gluten. Look for the gluten-free logo included on the packaging of many brands.

3. Marinade, Sauce, Season, and Spice Knowingly

• As in grilled meats, gluten can hide in marinades, sauces, seasonings, and spices. Gluten-containing thickeners are sometimes crucial components to the manufacturer’s ingredient recipes for these items. Do your research before flavoring the meats you’re planning to grill. Be sure to purchase and use a gluten-free soy sauce for preparing your original marinade. Read the labels of barbeque sauces and look for the gluten-free logo on many brands’ packaging.

4. Banish the Bun

• An excellent substitute for traditional buns is to provide a lettuce wrap, potato wrap, or gluten-free tortilla for all of your guests as a healthier alternative to the bun. Most grocery stores offer unique lettuce varieties that will work well, adding variety and visual appeal to your meal. Gluten-free corn tortillas can also substitute for a bun, especially for south-of-the-border themed parties. Another trend is to ramp up the nutrient level of grilled foods traditionally served on a bun by serving them in sweet potato skins. Just bake the sweet potato in foil. When tender, hollow them out and use the skins to wrap your burger or hot dog in natural potato-y goodness. Or how about wrapping your burgers or dogs with bacon? You can’t beat adding bacon to increase the flavor. Make sure you read the package to make sure it is gluten-free.

If you’re still set on impressing your gluten-free guest by serving buns, look for a great-tasting gluten-free brand available at most major grocery stores. A small pack of buns for them to enjoy at your party (labeled and served on a separate plate) will usually cost under seven bucks, and isn’t your friend or family member worth it?

5. Other Foods

• You can serve many other foods that should naturally be gluten-free, but only if the proper steps are followed during preparation, plating, and serving. Again, use separate dishes, tongs, and utensils for serving gluten-free foods. Get creative when thinking about what to serve. Instead of crackers, use sliced cucumbers or other items from the veggie tray for eating with homemade spreads and dips. Hummus is delicious! Yogurt and sour cream-based dips work as a tasty option for everyone. Fruit skewers are a fun way to serve fresh fruits. Peel-N-Eat Shrimp with gluten-free cocktail sauce is always a winner! Most potato chips are gluten-free. Ice slushies, melons, and popsicles make great treats or desserts on hot summer days. And who could resist root beer floats? Just make sure the ice cream you purchase is also gluten-free. The list goes on and on.

6. Wash Your Hands and Tools

• Cooks and servers should always wash their hands after handling gluten-containing foods and before handling gluten-free foods. Note that a quick wipe across your grill apron doesn’t cut it here. Be safe. Keep wet wipes handy by the grill and at tables for quick hand cleaning. Finally, consider serving gluten-free guests first.