Gluten Free Food Reviews

When visiting my parents, I picked up this 6.2 ounce frozen Glutino gluten free pizza to make as hot and quick lunch. Since I love feta, I was excited. However, I am not a fan of cooked spinach, so I was interested to see how this Glutino gluten free pizza would turn out.

I popped this pizza into the oven for 16 minutes, and let it cool for five minutes before slicing. I noticed it seemed more like a personal size pizza, and sure enough, the packaging indicated this pizza is meant to be a single serving. Which means you don’t have to share, unless you really want to.

This gluten free pizza boasts a thin and tender rice crust that is light, chewy and slightly crisp on the bottom. The flavor is mild and provides a neutral palate for the toppings. The flavors of the ingredients tasted well balanced. The yummy flavor of fresh spinach, feta and riccota cheeses with a touch of safflower oil, came through loud and clear. I liked it alot, which is huge, considering I am not a huge fan of spinach!

On the down side, the crust thickness was inconsistent and somewhat lumpy, resulting in crisp overcooked spots and softer, chewy spots in the pizza. Also, there was a very generous space of crust around the edges. I prefer my topping to cover most of the pizza, and this gluten free pizza seemed to skimp on the ingredients by making such a wide crust. However, that is just my personal preference. Overall, a tasty pizza I would definitely buy again.

PROS: fresh, full flavored, smells wonderful, 10 g protein

CONS: crust is inconsistent, but easy to overlook since the toppings are so tasty, high in sodium (1000mg!), 5 g. saturated fat, skimpy spinach and feta toppings

Rating: 4 stars

You can buy this gluten free pizza from organicdirect.com

Ingredients: Water, corn starch, tapioca starch, spinach, mozzarella-brick cheese blend (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, bacterial culture, salt, microbial enzyme, calcium chloride, cellulose), feta cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, bacterial culture, calcium chloride, microbial enzyme, lipase, salt, natamycin, lactic acid), ricotta cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, lactic acid, salt), safflower oil, evaporated cane juice, glucono-delta-lactone, dried egg whites, salt, guar gum, yeast, garlic, pectin, sodium-bicarbonate, spices, sodium alginate, modified cellulose.

Check out what Racheline and Dr. Gourmet thought about this gluten free pizza product!

Another home-style favorite of adults and kids alike- good ‘ole mac & cheese. I found this on my last trip to Minnesota and just had to try it out and compare it to one of my frozen food favorites- Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese. No stores in my local area carry this gluten free frozen product, and I was curious to see how the two compared. I purchased this 10.6 ounce box cost $5.29.

Fresh out of the package, this is what the gluten free mac and cheese looked like:

To be honest, it looked a pretty bad- a little freezer burn going on? I popped this product in the microwave for a total of five minutes, and this is what the mac& cheese looked like straight from the microwave:

It came out very soupy and not very appetizing. Yuck. So, I cooked it for another 40 seconds and let it cool until the sauce thickened up. The final result is the picture at the top of this review. Thank goodness it ended up looking OK.

The brown rice noodles seemed very dense and chewy, and the sauce tasted quite mild due to the fact that this product features a three cheese blend of monterey jack, cheddar and parmesan. The sauce tasted creamy and smooth, but appeared clumpy on the noodles, similar to Amy’s gluten free Rice Mac and Cheese . This Glutino Mac & Cheese tasted less homemade than Amy’s and reminded me of a gluten free version of Kraft mac and cheese flavor, minus the neon orange coloring. When I read the nutritional information on the back of the packaging, I almost fell off my chair! This product contains a whopping 20 grams of fat, 10 grams of saturated fat. WOW!

Overall, this is a good gluten free version of macaroni and cheese, but I have to say I still prefer the strong, cheesy, homemade flavor of Amy’s.

PROS: easy prep, mild flavor for those that aren’t sharp cheddar cheese fans

CONS: soupy at first, pricey, high in fat

RATING: 3 1/2 stars

Please click HERE to view the packaging, ingredients and nutritional information.

Do you have some extra time and want to whip up a batch of homemade gluten free mac & cheese? Check out Shauna’s recipe at Crazy Orange Turtle’s Gluten Free Kitchen- it looks like a winner!

Ahhh, more bagels, Since I enjoyed the plain Glutino bagels so much, I just had to try their sesame flavor. Now, my sister Kristina swears by the Kinnikinnick bagels ( a review of them will be along soon!) I have found these to be chewy and satisfying. One of my old bagel favorites was the fresh baked sesame flavor from Wegmans. If you have ever tried their fresh artisan breads, bagels and muffins before going gluten free, you know what I mean.

These bagels come five to a package and are double packaged for optimum freshness. I purchased m ine for $5.89 at my local grocery store. These bagels are quite large and filling!

The overall texture and density were comparable to the plain flavor ( click HERE to read the review for more details). The only difference was the generous coating of sesame seeds on the exterior of the bagel. No kidding, I would cut, bite or slice the bagel and the sesame seeds would be EVERYWHERE. For maximum flavor and texture, this bagel should be toasted. The toasted sesame seeds add a nice flavor, and I would definately buy these Glutino sesame bagels again.Â

PROS: nice chewy texture, yummy sesame flavor

CONS: sesame seeds fall off everywhere, needs to be toasted for best results

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where can I buy these yummy bagels?

Glutino - Premium Sesame Bagels
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Corn mix (corn starch, skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, salt, glucono-delta-lactone, pectin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, modified vegetable cellulose), water, tapioca starch, sesame seeds, margarine (palm and palm kernel oils, soy lecithin), skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, liquid edd whites, safflower oil, liquid yolks, guar gum, yeast, salt, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, iron, calcium.

Before going gluten free 18 months ago, I lived on bagels. Loved them. Especially with cream cheese and sliced strawberries, peanut butter, or strawberry jam . . . yummm. And before last week, I hadn’t tried a gluten free bagel because I convinced myself a decent tasting replacement just wasn’t possible. I am not sure why I picked up this package of Glutino Sans Gluten Free Premium Plain Bagels and plopped it in my basket, but I did. And boy am I glad!

These bagels are sold in packages of five for $5.79 in the frozen foods section of my local grocery store, and are double packaged for ultimate freshness.

I first thawed my bagel in the microwave for 40 seconds before slicing it and placing it in my preheated oven on a piece of tin foil ( I don’t have a dedicated gluten free toaster in my home- yet.). I baked it until it was golden brown on the top. I removed it and immediately smothered it with cream cheese, as I used to do before my celiac diagnosis.

Yum.

I found the bagel to have the perfect thickenss and size for a satisfying breakfast or snack. The exterior was crisp and crunchy, the interior soft and chewy, but a bit of a springy texture. However, this did not take away from the product. I found the flavor to be gentle and perfect for spreads and toppings. I did not detect any dryness or graininess.

I don’t miss my “old” bagels anymore. The only thing I like better is the sesame flavor! (Look for the review tomorrow!)

However, on the down side, this bagel must be toasted for maximum flavor and texture. If thawed and sliced, it crumbles more and resembles a typical piece of rice bread- slightly dry and grainy. Therefore, if you wish to make a bagel sandwich, please toast the entire bagel. You’ll be glad you did. This gluten free product is also high in fat- 16 grams of fat per bagel. Note the nutritional information of the package is for 1/2 a bagel, but I don’t know anyone that just eats a half, after thawing and toasting . . .

PROS: Crunchy and chewy when toasted, pleasant but mild flavor, closely resembles a “regular” bagel

CONS: untoasted eating is not recommended, high in fat

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy Glutino San Gluten Free Premium Plain Bagels?

Glutino - Premium Plain Bagels
From: glutenfree.comIngredients: Corn mix (corn starch, skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, salt, glucono-delta-lactone, pectin, sodium bicarbonate, sodium alginate, modified vegetable cellulose), water, tapioca starch, margarine (palm and palm kernel oils, soy lecithin), skim milk powder, evaporated cane juice, liquid egg whites, safflower oil, liquid yolks, guar gum, yeast, salt, thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, riboflavin, iron, calcium Read what Gluten Free For Me  , Going Gluten Free, or Ellen from I am Gluten Free  say about these bagels!

I think I am on a chocolate kick. Why is it I am baking all my chocolate cake mixes first? I have a slew of chocolate cake reviews, waiting to be posted. I better get my act together so I can share them with you. And maybe, just maybe, one of them will be good enough to make for my sister’s cupcake tower wedding cake. Is that a fun idea, or what? I love it! It is creative and original, just like she is.

This Glutino chocolate cake mix makes an 8×8 square or one round 9 inch cake. After adding eggs, butter or margarine and milk, this mix combines easily with a hand held or stand mixer. Mixing by hand might be a little trickier since the butter should be fluffy before adding the mix and other ingredients. The cake batter ends up quite thin, not your traditional consistency.

After baking for 35 minutes and cooling for 10 minutes, I notice that the cake really rises in the center, despite my efforts to evenly spread the batter into the pan. It is on the spongey side, with no graininess. The texture is fairly smooth and crumbles into smaller pieces when eaten with a fork- not unlike any traditional gluten cake. The flavor is a sweeter, traditional chocolate and would pair well with a variety of frostings. The cake is dense enough to slice cleanly and support a healthy helping of frosting on the top, but not so dense that it tastes or feels heavy when consumed. This mix is also moderately moist; I think baking closer to 31 or 32 minutes would produce a better product with just the right “moist” balance. My cake baked at 35 minutes was just a touch too dry for my taste. This is a good, solid mix that is a great option for a chocolate cake attack. However, it lacked the “wow” factor that would urge me to purchase it on my own somtime soon. ( Thank you Glutino for sending me the mix!)

PROS: balanced, sweet flavor; cuts cleanly, not gritty or grainy

CONS: mix only makes one 9 inch cake

Rating: 4 stars

Where Can I Buy This Cake Mix?

Glutino - Chocolate Cake Mix
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients:Sugar, White Rice Flour, Potato Starch, Cocoa Powder, Tapioca Starch, Sodium Bicarbonate, Salt, Guar Gum, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate

Hmmm, after by disappointing experience with the vanilla KinniToos sandwich cookies, I was hoping these cookies would make up for it. There has to be at least one good GF sandwich cookie out there, right? I just remember having these types of cookies when I was growing up- there’ s just something comforting about a childhood memory of dunking sandwich cookies in a cold glass of milk.

A package of these cookies costs $4.69 in my area, but Glutino was generous enough to send me a sample to review for this site. Thanks Glutino! My favorite feature of these cookies is the packaging- the cookies are twin wrapped to preserve freshness. Smart call Glutino, because these cookies go stale in the bat of an eye if left unsealed. I love the little twin wrapped packs- they are the perfect size for snacking. Each box contains 5 wrapped twin sets for a total of 10 cookies.

These “cookie” part of these cookies have a nice crunch to them but are not hard, and have a pleasant texture that isn’t too gritty or crumbly. The vanilla flavor is mild and has a slightly processed taste that left a residue in my mouth. The filling is like a thick slab of gritty sweetness. It is not fluffy or smooth, but manages to blend well with the cookies surrounding it.

If you want a decent cookie that will fulfill your sweet tooth craving in a hurry, this cookie is your ticket. Just be sure to have a glass of cold milk nearby.

Pros: twin wrapped for freshness, perfectly sweet

Cons: filling is somewhat gritty and thick

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Find these cookies at these sites:

Glutino - Dreams - Vanilla
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Ingredients: Corn starch, vegetable fats (palm and palm kernal oils), evaporated cane juice, maltodextrin (corn), fructose, soy flour, xylitol, sea salt, vanilla, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, beta carotene. May contain traces of tree nuts and milk.

Oh my goodness, are these Glutino crunchy chocolate covered wafer cookies addictive!

This product was sent to me from Glutino to review, and I am so glad they did! These cookies sell for about $3.99 for a box of 16 wafers, or four servings. Looking at the packaging makes you want something chocolate just by looking at it! I was surprised to find that the center of the of the inside packaging tray has a false bottom, so you aren’t getting as many wafers as you’d expect- the edges are stacked two high, and the center is a single layer of wafers- just something to keep in mind.

These wafers are a perfect balance of crispiness and sweetness. The chocolate is rich without tasting too sugary, and the wafers are light and crunchy and hold their own between the creamy layers of chocolate. These definately do not taste gluten free, and if you choose to purchase them, I’d suggest adding two boxes to your virtual shopping cart.They really are that good!

Pros: Wonderful flavor, texture and sweetness- doesn’t taste gluten free!!

Cons: Be careful of melting if shipped in the summer heat

Rating: 5 stars

Where Can I Buy These Tasty Wafer Cookies?

Ingredients: WAFER: evaporated cane juice, palm oil, potato flour, cocoa powder, soy oil, soy lecithin, salt, vanilla extract, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate. COATING: evaporated cane juice, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, soy lecithin, salt

Now this is an original cookie idea from Glutino. I selected these cookies for a samples package, and was curious what they would be like. I’ve never had a gluten-free cookie quite like this, have you?

These mini cookies can be eaten in about two bites, or one bite of you have a really big mouth. The exterior vanilla cookie part is corn starch based, and you can tell by the texture. It is crisp and somewhat grainy, as with many gluten free cookies, and is mildly sweet with a slightly processed taste. You know, that “packaged cookie” taste? The flavor is also most like shortbread. I wanted to know where the “vanilla” flavor was, so I checked the package. Sure enough, vanilla isn’t even an ingredient in these cookies! One would think vanilla would be an ingredient since the name is Vanilla Dream Bites. Hmm. Interesting.

The chocolate filling inside this cookie is what saves it. Yum! It is a moderately thick frosting-like chocolate with a touch of hazelnut. It is creamy and sweet, and keeps you going back for more. The filling really makes the cookie good. Overall, these cookies are a decent product. Thanks Glutino!

Pros: yummy filling, convenient snacking size

Cons: no vanilla flavor, so-so exterior flavor

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

Where Can I Buy These Coookies?

Glutino - Vanilla Dream Bites
From: glutenfree.com

Ingredients: Corn Starch, sugar, palm oil, whole egg powder, leaving agents (ammonium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium pyrophosphate), cocoa powder, soy flour, hazelnuts, cellulose gum (vegetable), salt, soy lecithin, natural flavors