What kettle chips are gluten-free?

For people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, finding tasty snack foods that are guaranteed gluten-free can be challenging. Many popular chip brands contain gluten, which comes from grains like wheat, barley and rye. Thankfully, there are some excellent gluten-free kettle chip options on the market today.

Kettle chips get their signature crunch from being cooked in small batches in custom kettles. This cooking method gives the chips a thicker, heartier texture compared to mass-produced potato chips. The kettle chip’s robust nature makes them a satisfying gluten-free snack.

This article will provide a comprehensive guide to which kettle chip brands and flavors are guaranteed gluten-free. We’ll also give some tips for deciphering tricky gluten-free labeling when shopping for chips.

What Makes a Chip Gluten-Free?

For a chip to be considered gluten-free, it must not contain any wheat, barley, rye or their derivatives. This includes obvious ingredients like wheat flour, as well as additives that could contain gluten, such as malt vinegar or natural flavorings.

Oats are inherently gluten-free, but are often contaminated with gluten because they are processed in facilities that also handle wheat. So chips containing oats could still contain traces of gluten unless they are certified gluten-free.

It’s also important to watch out for cross-contamination when cooking chips. Even chips that don’t contain gluten in their ingredient list can pick up traces of gluten during manufacturing if they come into contact with equipment or products containing gluten.

Reputable gluten-free brands will implement proper protocols to avoid cross-contamination. But it’s always smart to check the label for a “gluten-free” certification from organizations like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) for extra assurance.

What Brands of Kettle Chips are Gluten-Free?

Here is an overview of major chip brands in the U.S. and which of their kettle chip products are gluten-free:

Cape Cod

Cape Cod is one of the most popular kettle chip brands and they offer a variety of gluten-free flavors:

– Original
– Salt & Vinegar
– Barbeque
– Jalapeno
– Buffalo Cheddar (GFCO certified)
– Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper (GFCO certified)

Cape Cod states that all their potato chips, both kettle and regular, are gluten-free. However, people with celiac disease or sensitivities should note that Cape Cod products are made on shared equipment that processes wheat.

Dirty Potato Chips

All Dirty brand kettle chips are certified gluten-free to 10 parts per million by the GFCO. Flavors include:

– Aged Cheddar & Black Pepper
– Salt & Vinegar
– Barbeque
– Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper

Dirty Potato Chips are fried in pure canola oil and free of the top 8 allergens, making them a good choice for those with multiple food restrictions.

Terra

Terra makes both classic and exotic kettle chip flavors that are all certified gluten-free to 20 parts per million by the GFCO:

– Original
– Sea Salt & Vinegar
– Sweet Potato
– Beet & Sea Salt
– Sweet Maui Onion
– Chompin’ Cilantro Lime

With fun flavors like Tarragon Lime & Sea Salt and Crinkles Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt, Terra is a great option for adventurous gluten-free snackers.

Boulder Canyon

Boulder Canyon specializes in all-natural and artisanal chips, many of which are kettle-cooked. Their gluten-free kettle chip options include:

– Original
– Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
– BBQ
– Applewood Smoked
– Garlic Parm & Sea Salt

Boulder Canyon chips are certified gluten-free to 20 parts per million by the GFCO. They are cooked in expeller-pressed sunflower and/or safflower oil and free of GMOs.

Route 11

Based out of Virginia, Route 11 makes kettle chips from locally grown potatoes. All their chips are certified gluten-free to 10 parts per million by the GFCO, including flavors like:

– Sea Salt & Pepper
– Sweet Maui Onion
– Chesapeake Crab
– Barbeque

Route 11 kettle chips are non-GMO verified and cooked in peanut oil. They pride themselves on their small-batch process.

Tim’s Cascade

Tim’s Cascade is a Pacific Northwest brand that produces certified gluten-free kettle chips. Their flavors include:

– Original
– Salt & Vinegar
– Barbeque
– Jalapeno
– Sea Salt & Vinegar

While made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, Tim’s Cascade chips are certified gluten-free to 20 parts per million by the GFCO. They use non-GMO potatoes cooked in 100% sunflower oil.

Shearer’s

Shearer’s is one of the largest producers of gluten-free snacks in North America. They are certified gluten-free by the GFCO and have a dedicated gluten-free facility. Their kettle chip flavors include:

– Original
– Barbeque
– Salt & Vinegar
– Jalapeno

Shearer’s uses a proprietary multistep process to ensure their chips never come into contact with gluten ingredients. They pride themselves on producing snacks that are indistinguishable from conventional ones in taste and texture.

Jackson’s Honest

Based in Colorado, Jackson’s Honest makes all their chips gluten-free, including these kettle flavors:

– Original
– Sea Salt & Pepper
– Barbeque
– Salt & Vinegar

Their chips are certified gluten-free by the GFCO and made with non-GMO potatoes and avocado oil. Jackson’s Honest facilities are completely free of major allergens like gluten, dairy and peanuts.

LesserEvil

With a cheeky name and focus on healthy snacking, LesserEvil has a line of certified gluten-free kettle chips:

– Original Sea Salt
– Black Truffle & Sea Salt
– Pink Himalayan Salt & Olive Oil

Their chips are certified gluten-free to 10 parts per million by the GFCO. They are also certified organic, non-GMO and kosher.

Blue Diamond

Known for their almonds, Blue Diamond has ventured into gluten-free kettle chips made with rice flour instead of wheat. Flavors include:

– Sea Salt
– Barbeque
– Buffalo Bleu

While naturally gluten-free, these chips are not certified gluten-free, so individuals with celiac disease or sensitivities should exercise caution. They’re made on equipment shared with other Blue Diamond products containing allergens like milk, soy and peanuts.

Food Should Taste Good

This brand lives up to its name with unique kettle chip flavors like:

– Sweet Potato
– Multigrain
– Flax & Sesame

Their products are certified gluten-free by the Celiac Support Association to 10 parts per million. Food Should Taste Good chips are also non-GMO verified, vegan and made with whole food ingredients.

Oberto

Best known for jerky and meat snacks, Oberto recently released Prime Kettle Classics potato chips cooked in olive oil. Flavors like Sea Salt & Pepper and Barbeque are certified gluten-free to 10 parts per million by the GFCO.

What About Store Brand Kettle Chips?

Many major grocery store chains offer their own store brand kettle chips that are gluten-free:

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s kettle chip flavors confirmed gluten-free include:

– Original
– Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper
– Parmesan & Garlic

Their chips are fried in sunflower oil and made without wheat. While not certified gluten-free, Trader Joe’s does avoid cross-contamination and label allergen information clearly.

365 Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value brand has these gluten-free kettle chip varieties:

– Lightly Salted
– Barbeque
– Salt & Vinegar
– Jalapeno

365 chips are made without artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or MSG. While not certified, Whole Foods has protocols to avoid gluten cross-contact.

Kroger

Under its Private Selection brand, Kroger offers these gluten-free kettle flavors:

– Original
– Barbeque
– Sour Cream & Onion
– Sea Salt & Vinegar

Their chips are prepared in facilities free from gluten and major allergens. Kroger also labels for allergens and cross-contamination risks.

Publix

Publix GreenWise line has several gluten-free varieties:

– Sea Salt
– Barbeque
– Sea Salt & Vinegar
– Hot & Spicy

While not certified gluten-free, their chips are made without wheat ingredients on dedicated gluten-free lines.

Wegmans

Wegmans Food Markets’ own brand of kettle chips list these safe gluten-free flavors:

– Original
– Barbeque
– Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
– Salt & Vinegar

Wegmans has strong protocols to avoid cross-contamination at their manufacturing plants. They also clearly label potential allergen risks.

HEB

Under its Central Market Organics brand, several HEB kettle chip flavors contain no gluten ingredients:

– Original
– Hint of Jalapeno
– Pepperoncini

HEB adheres to rigorous quality standards to minimize the chance of gluten exposure during production and packaging.

Tips for Buying Gluten-Free Kettle Chips

When shopping for gluten-free kettle chips, keep these tips in mind:

– Check the ingredients list – wheat, barley, rye and malt mean it’s not gluten-free. Oats could go either way.

– Look for a certified gluten-free symbol from GFCO, Celiac Support Association or another reputable organization. This ensures an extra level of safety.

– Call the 1-800 number on the package if you’re unsure about ingredients or gluten exposure risks. Most brands have helpful consumer affairs departments.

– Know the store’s policies. Larger grocery retailers like Whole Foods, Kroger and Wegmans have allergen protocols to minimize cross-contamination.

– Beware of flavors like ranch, sour cream & onion and barbecue as they often contain gluten-based spices and seasoning. Stick to simpler flavors.

– Check for advisory statements like “made in a facility that also processes wheat.” While not an automatic no-go for gluten-free, it’s good to know.

– Consider oils. Expeller-pressed or non-GMO oils are less likely to be contaminated versus more processed oils.

– Opt for chips fried in dedicated fryers rather than shared equipment. Some brands use separate gluten-free fryers.

– Don’t assume organic or non-GMO means gluten-free. Chips with these certifications contain no artificial additives but could still have gluten.

Conclusion

Following a gluten-free diet can be frustrating when so many snack foods are off limits. But there are still plenty of tasty kettle chip options to satisfy even the biggest cravings. Major brands like Cape Cod, Route 11 and Tim’s Cascade offer gluten-free chips in classic flavors. Many grocery store brands also carry quality gluten-free kettle chip selections. Just remember to always check labels carefully for gluten ingredients and certification symbols. By understanding which chips are genuinely gluten-free, snacking can remain a fun and fulfilling part of your diet.

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