Find a person or a place to bring the gluten-containing foods you’ll be clearing out. Ask a neighbor/co-worker/post on Facebook!
Schedule a few hours to tackle the project – it will take longer than you plan! This is a great one to get kids involved, if possible.
Remove all items from the pantry and wipe down all surfaces with soap and water. Let dry.
Read labels on ALL products before allowing them back into the pantry. Products that contain gluten are either put in the give-away bag or into a “contact the manufacturer” pile.
Keep a list of products that are given/thrown away so you can be sure to purchase a gluten-free version to replace it.
Create specific “Gluten-Free Only” shelves if not everyone in the house is gluten-free.
Repeat the process with the fridge and freezer, removing all products, cleaning, and then adding back in only products that are labeled gluten-free.
Consider keeping a list on the fridge of what is gluten-free and what is not. Remove any appliances that cannot be completely cleaned from gluten crumbs, i.e. the toaster oven, and replace them with new ones.
Clean all appliances that have had gluten on them in the past, i.e. microwaves, cutting boards, outdoor grills, Panini makers, etc. and adhere a note on them reminding users to clean before and after use . Or, consider creating some that are gluten-free only.
If any silverware, utensils, pots or pans have residues, clean them thoroughly and if you are in a home where not everyone is gluten-free, designate some of these items as gluten-free only.
Now that you’ve gone through the kitchen and transformed it into a gluten-free zone, the next step is to restock!
