Can you buy gluten-free spring roll wrappers?

Quick Answer

Yes, you can buy gluten-free spring roll wrappers. Many brands offer rice paper wrappers that are made without wheat or other gluten-containing grains. Look for wrappers made from rice flour or tapioca starch rather than wheat flour. Some common gluten-free brands include Three Ladies, Viet Wah, and Twin Marquis. You can find these wrappers in the Asian foods section of many grocery stores. Online retailers like Amazon also carry a variety of gluten-free spring roll wrappers.

What are spring roll wrappers made of?

Traditional spring roll wrappers are made from wheat flour, which contains gluten. However, there are many gluten-free alternatives made from rice flour, tapioca starch, or arrowroot starch instead of wheat.

Here are some of the most common ingredients used to make gluten-free spring roll wrappers:

• Rice flour – Rice flour is made from ground rice. It’s a staple ingredient in many Asian gluten-free foods like rice noodles and wrappers.
• Tapioca starch – Also called tapioca flour, tapioca starch comes from the cassava root. It provides a lightweight, translucent texture similar to wheat-based wrappers.
• Arrowroot starch – This starchy flour made from the arrowroot plant can also be used to create the thin, pliable texture needed for spring roll wrappers.
• Water – Hydrates the starch-based ingredients and allows the wrappers to be rolled.
• Salt – Enhances flavor.
• Xanthan gum – Acts as a binder and helps replicate the stretchy texture of gluten.

Rice flour and tapioca starch make up the bulk of most gluten-free spring roll wrapper recipes. Arrowroot and other starches may also be used. Combining starches from different sources helps create the translucent, pliable texture that is ideal for rolling and wrapping fillings.

Where can you buy gluten-free spring roll wrappers?

There are several places to find gluten-free spring roll wrappers, including:

• Asian grocery stores – Many brick-and-mortar Asian markets carry various brands of gluten-free spring roll wrappers. They are usually found in the fridge or freezer section.
• Online stores – Gluten-free wrappers can be ordered from online retailers like Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, ThriveMarket.com, and AsianFoodGrocer.com.
• Mainstream grocery stores – Some major supermarket chains sell Asian gluten-free wrappers in the international foods aisle. Check chain stores like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, and more.
• Restaurant suppliers – Asian/Chinese restaurant suppliers may carry gluten-free spring roll wrappers for retail customers. These commercial-grade wrappers are extra thin and uniform.
• Specialty food stores – Health food stores and gluten-free specialty markets sometimes stock rice paper wrappers in the freezer case.

You can also find gluten-free spring roll wrapper recipes online and make your own at home fairly easily if you have tapioca and/or rice flour on hand.

Popular Brands of Gluten-Free Spring Roll Wrappers

Here are some of the top brands for gluten-free spring roll wrappers that you can find in stores or online:

Three Ladies Brand

Three Ladies is one of the most popular brands of rice paper wrappers. They offer thin, transparent wrappers made from rice flour and water. Their products are certified gluten-free. You can find Three Ladies wrappers at many major grocery retailers.

Twin Marquis

Twin Marquis makes rice paper wrappers from a blend of rice flour and tapioca starch. They have certification from the Gluten Intolerance Group for being gluten-free to less than 10ppm. Twin Marquis wrappers are sold in many stores across North America.

Viet Wah

Viet Wah is a Vietnamese grocery brand that produces a variety of gluten-free rice paper products. Their spring roll wrappers contain only rice flour and water. Viet Wah wrappers can be found at Asian supermarkets and online stores.

Annie Chun’s

Annie Chun’s is a popular Asian food brand. They make gluten-free Brown Rice Spring Roll Wrappers that can substitute for traditional wheat-based wrappers. Annie Chun’s wrappers are sold at many mainstream grocery retailers.

Cel-Asian

Cel-Asian specializes in gluten-free wrappers and noodles made from rice. Their Rice Paper Wrappers are extra thin and suitable for spring rolls, summer rolls, and rice paper salads. Find them online or at health food stores.

Norris

Norris is a wholesale Asian foods company that produces Spring Home rice paper wrappers that are guaranteed wheat-free. Their wrappers can be purchased online or found at restaurants and food service establishments.

What to Look for When Buying Gluten-Free Spring Roll Wrappers

When shopping for gluten-free spring roll wrappers, read labels carefully and watch out for these things:

• Ingredients – The wrappers should be made only with gluten-free flours like rice flour, tapioca starch, arrowroot starch, and/or potato starch. Avoid any wrappers listing wheat flour or wheat starch.
• Manufacturing processes – Look for wrappers processed in dedicated gluten-free facilities to avoid cross-contamination.
• Certifications – Credible gluten-free certifications like GFCO (Gluten-Free Certification Organization) confirm the product has been third-party tested.
• Texture – The wrappers should be translucent, thin, stretchy, and pliable enough to roll easily without cracking.
• Size – Standard wrappers are 8 to 10 inches across. Mini 2-inch wrappers are also available.
• Freshness – Avoid hardened, dried out, or stuck-together wrappers.

Reputable brands and proper gluten-free manufacturing processes help ensure the wrappers do not contain traces of gluten from cross-contamination. Carefully inspecting texture and freshness is also key for ease of use.

Tips for Working With Gluten-Free Rice Paper

Gluten-free spring roll wrappers made of rice or tapioca starch are more delicate than wheat-based wrappers. Here are some tips for handling them:

• Store wrappers sealed at room temperature or refrigerated. Don’t freeze them.
• Don’t over soak rice paper or it may fall apart. Dip briefly in warm water until just pliable.
• Work with one wrapper at a time, keeping the rest covered with a damp towel.
• Avoid tearing the rice paper; it won’t seal back together well.
• Use a nonstick surface and handle gently when filling and rolling to prevent cracking.
• Make sure filling ingredients are thinly sliced into narrow pieces to easily roll.
• Dip your fingers in water to smooth cracks or seal edges.
• Serve spring rolls soon after assembling so wrappers don’t dry out.

Going slowly and handling the fragile rice paper wrappers with care makes the process much easier. Taking a few simple precautions will help the gluten-free wrappers hold up well for rolling.

Gluten-Free Spring Roll Filling Ideas

Rice paper spring rolls are highly adaptable to all kinds of delicious gluten-free fillings. Here are some tasty filling ideas:

Vegetable Spring Rolls

• Shredded lettuce or cabbage
• Julianne cut carrots
• Sliced bell peppers
• Bean sprouts
• Thinly sliced cucumbers
• Avocado
• Pickled daikon radish
• Basil, cilantro, mint
• Rice vermicelli noodles

Shrimp Spring Rolls

• Cooked shrimp, halved lengthwise
• Vermicelli noodles
• Shredded lettuce
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Cilantro
• Chopped peanuts

Chicken Spring Rolls

• Shredded cooked chicken
• Bean sprouts
• Carrots
• Cucumbers
• Cilantro or basil
• Rice noodles
• Hoisin or peanut sauce

Tofu Veggie Spring Rolls

• Baked marinated tofu, sliced
• Red or green cabbage
• Bell pepper strips
• Carrot strips
• Green onion
• Cilantro
• Rice vinegar dipping sauce

You can mix and match endless combinations of fresh vegetables, herbs, proteins, rice noodles and gluten-free sauces to fill your rice paper spring rolls. The wrappers are quite versatile.

Gluten-Free Dipping Sauces

Every gluten-free spring roll needs a dipping sauce! Having a sauce on hand will prevent the rice paper wrappers from drying out. Here are some easy dipping sauce ideas:

Peanut Sauce

• Peanut butter
• Low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• Lime juice
• Brown sugar or honey
• Thai chili sauce
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Water to thin

Sweet Chili Sauce

• Asian chili sauce
• Rice vinegar
• A splash of olive oil
• Honey or sugar
• Sesame oil
• Minced ginger
• Fresh lime juice
• Chopped cilantro

Hoisin Sauce

• Hoisin sauce
• Natural peanut butter
• Fresh ginger, grated
• Rice vinegar
• Honey
• Red chili flakes
• Chopped scallions

You can also serve your rolls with gluten-free soy sauce, hot chili sauce, nuoc cham, or a homemade tangy ponzu sauce. Whip up a simple dip, and your spring rolls will taste fresh and flavorful.

Are Spring Roll Wrappers the Same as Egg Roll Wrappers?

Spring roll wrappers and egg roll wrappers are quite different. Here’s how to distinguish them:

Ingredients

• Spring roll wrappers are made from rice paper and contain only rice flour and water.
• Egg roll wrappers contain wheat flour and eggs.

Texture

• Spring roll wrappers are thin, translucent, and stretchy.
• Egg roll wrappers are thicker, chewier, and less flexible.

Shape

• Spring roll wrappers are round.
• Egg roll wrappers are square-shaped.

Cooking Method

• Spring rolls don’t require cooking. The wrappers are softened in water.
• Egg rolls must be fried or baked to cook the wrapper.

Cuisine

• Spring rolls are more common in Vietnamese and Thai cuisine.
• Egg rolls have Chinese-American origins.

So in summary, spring roll and egg roll wrappers differ quite a bit in terms of ingredients, texture, shape, cooking methods, and the cuisine they are associated with. Be sure to buy the correct one for your desired recipe.

Can You Freeze Leftover Spring Roll Wrappers?

Fresh spring roll wrappers are highly perishable, so proper storage is important. Here is what you need to know about freezing leftover wrappers:

• It’s best not to freeze rice paper wrappers. The texture changes when frozen, making them more likely to tear or crack when thawed.
• If you do freeze wrappers, thaw them completely before attempting to roll. Let thaw overnight in the fridge.
• Avoid refreezing any wrappers you previously froze and thawed.
• For best texture, use up fresh wrappers within a week. Store unused portions sealed at room temperature.
• If wrappers become dried out from improper storage, briefly run under warm water to rehydrate before using.
• For longer storage, consider making spring rolls in advance, rolling them fully, then freezing the assembled rolls. Thaw before serving.
• You can also store spring roll filling ingredients like cooked shrimp or shredded chicken in the freezer, making wrappers as needed.

With some care, spring roll wrappers can keep for up to a week without freezing. If freezing, be sure to thaw properly and use as soon as possible for best results. Making the full rolls ahead is a better freezing option.

Conclusion

Gluten-free rice paper wrappers offer an easy substitute for traditional wheat-based spring roll wrappers. Look for well-known brands made from rice flour, tapioca starch or arrowroot. Handled properly, these delicate wrappers allow you to make flavorful Vietnamese-style spring rolls that are safe for gluten-free diets. Pair them with your favorite fresh fillings and gluten-free dipping sauces for a tasty appetizer or light meal everyone can enjoy.