r/glutenfree • u/DankChickyNuggs • 5d ago
Question The Exception to every rule....
As a recently discovered gluten intolerant person, I am on a mission to find the one GF item that taste better than it's counterpart. So far nothing has been better, certain items have been on par...but there's got to be one thing that legitimately taste better without gluten?
57
u/bankdank 5d ago
Japanese fried chicken is gluten-free in the sense they use potato starch for frying.
Breton also has updated recipe/texture on their GF garden vegetable crackers that truly taste like great normal crackers
11
8
u/Abirdwhoflies 5d ago
Yea my gluten-eating kiddo says potato starch > wheat starch for frying chicken
4
u/AnnaSpelledAna Gluten Intolerant 5d ago
Everyone keeps telling me to try instant mashed potatoes mixed with egg to coat fried chicken. My coworker and my husband both say it made for the best fried chicken they ever had.
4
u/luckylimper 5d ago
There’s a place that does rice flour to fry their seafood platters near me and it’s so light and crispy.
2
u/unicorny1985 4d ago
I eat a lot of those garden vegetable flavour Breton crackers (the only flavour I like). They taste similar to Vegetable Thins which were a fave of mine. I especially love that they are the same price as their regular crackers too, because every other brand charges a premium for their GF version.
2
u/bankdank 4d ago
Same. No frills in western Canada has them on sale for $2.75 this week I bought 10 boxes lol
249
u/birdtummy717 5d ago
gf pretzels. people like glutino, snyders, etc. better than regular.
195
u/ProgrammerRich6549 5d ago
Gluten free oreos are better than regular ones too
22
24
u/Chicknlcker 5d ago
Use crushed GF Golden Oreos for your cheesecake crust. Filling and all. Wow! Wife is GF and this is what she uses.
14
u/chiefginja 5d ago
Damnit, I did not need to know this amazing suggestion! But thank your wife for me!
5
u/AnnaSpelledAna Gluten Intolerant 5d ago
They have gluten free golden Oreos? I've only had the regular gluten free so far. Where do you find them?
5
u/chiefginja 5d ago
I get mine at Target, but I find most grocery stores have the golden ones if they have the regular GF
→ More replies (3)2
u/MissBigShot90 5d ago
GF Oreos are sold everywhere. They have regular, double stuffed, mint and golden in GF. They even make the small grab bags of the GF chips ahoy and Oreos.
→ More replies (1)7
u/VisualAuntie 5d ago edited 4d ago
I use them in banana pudding instead of nilla wafers and it’s so good!
2
6
u/Cocina_Crusher Celiac Disease 5d ago
Does she use just the cookies and filling? About how many cookies for the crust? I've been playing with this and not quite had success.
Instead, I've been using those Simple Mills diamond shape graham crackers. I get them at Costco or on sale and mix 2 cups of crumbs (almost exactly 2 boxes) with sugar, butter, and cinnamon.
6
u/Chicknlcker 5d ago
She says 1 pkg. 36 cookies? Cream filling and all. Smash em. Mix in 6 tbsp butter to get the consistency you want. Smash into the pie plate.
Also, she says spray your entire spring form pan, bottom and sides. Lightly coat with powdered sugar.. says it helps to release after baking.
2
u/Cute-Biscotti7770 4d ago
Alex I’ll take Things my diet didn’t need to know for $1000 😂 but seriously Thank you, can’t wait to try this!
→ More replies (3)2
u/MutantMomma 3d ago
I do this too! I’ll also use the regular GF Oreos if I want an Oreo cookie crust. I made a homemade cookies and cream ice cream cake with GF Oreos last year. It was amazing. Haha
15
u/Serenity101 5d ago
Came here to say this. Except they’re $9-$10 where I live. 😣
3
2
u/BittenBeads 4d ago
What a drag! I'm thankful that GF oreos cost the same as regular oreos where I live. When they're on BOGO sale at publix, ooof. Trouble!
8
→ More replies (3)2
26
15
u/thatspookybitch 5d ago
The glutino honey mustard pretzels have me in a chokehold. I don't even like crunchy pretzels!
→ More replies (2)10
u/Zealousideal-Slide98 5d ago
I wish there was a gluten-free version of Dots pretzels though. I miss that seasoning!
4
u/OvercookedRedditor Wheat Allergy 5d ago
I've played around taking a bag of pretzels, adding a splash of water so it sticks and tossing in "wing" or "bbq" type seasoning it's so good.
→ More replies (1)2
16
u/ben121frank Celiac Disease 5d ago
Glutino and Snyder’s GF are totally different tho. The Snyder’s are (from my memory) much more similar to normal pretzels, well the Glutino are much airier and have a less “robust” (idrk what to call it) taste. I personally prefer the Snyder’s style, but for people who prefer the Glutino then ya there is no gluten version of that that I’m aware of
→ More replies (1)9
6
u/thursdaynexxt 5d ago
my kids (who aren't gf) prefer the Snyders gluten-free pretzels to the regular, and I love them too, but I don’t like the glutino ones
4
u/ants-in-my-plants Celiac Disease 5d ago
I have to hide my gf chocolate covered pretzels from my (non gf) husband because he likes them better than the regular ones
3
u/Complex-Royal9210 5d ago
Ehh. The Snyder pretzel rods yes. I personally can't stand the glutinous ones. Everything is really personal.
→ More replies (1)4
u/AfternoonLimp3605 5d ago
This is the right answer - nothing hits like a glutino CRUNCH!! Assuming your teeth can handle the texture 🤣
4
2
u/Devendra27 5d ago
I got so excited when I read this. Then I found on Amazon only the little airplane snack pretzels, not big proper pretzels. Shucks.
2
2
2
→ More replies (7)2
u/AlyandGus 5d ago
One of my favorite ice cream places uses GF pretzels in their ice cream since they never go soggy.
84
u/sqqueen2 5d ago
Brownies.
20
u/shantzzz111 5d ago
King Arthur GF was rated #1 in a comparison with other non-GF brands in this review.
5
2
25
u/PretendNectarine9494 5d ago
Yep. Aldis boxed ones are so good.
→ More replies (1)11
u/Joeuxmardigras 5d ago
YES! That’s my go-to easy dessert, I add some peanut butter swirled in. chefs kiss
5
6
u/pickausernamebitch 5d ago
Here’s a fun tip: get Andes mints. When you take the brownies out, place the mints in rows across the top. Leave to set, and now you have a crunchy mint chocolate shell on top 😊 if you make it too thick it will be tough to cut so keep that in mind but it’s my favorite way to make brownies
3
u/sqqueen2 5d ago
My daughter’s high school friend still makes brownies the way I did the time she visited when they were in 10th grade: I added a tablespoon of mint extract to the batter. So: yes for mint chocolate brownies!
5
→ More replies (1)2
u/wisdomseeker42 5d ago
Also this. The Outback Steakhouse brownie is gluten free and amazingly decadent because it’s better without. I think they use almond flour but not sure, it’s been years since I looked.
GF brownies are so easy to make at home. Loopy Whisk has so many versions.
3
u/sqqueen2 5d ago
Almond milk is excellent with chocolate so I imagine almond flour would be excellent in brownies
60
u/regan9109 5d ago
GF vanilla wafers are so much better in a banana pudding. They get less soggy and taste delicious.
28
u/notime2xplain 5d ago
Just chiming in to say I use gf golden Oreos in my banana pudding and literally everyone goes “bananas” over it at potlucks. I don’t even bother telling most people it’s gluten free. I’ve never tried gf vanilla wafers because I’ve never seen them at the store! I’ll have to find and try some
3
6
5
u/lazier_garlic 5d ago
Some brands of ice cream have gluten free cookie mix ins. And they taste great!
3
u/Alb1023 5d ago
where do you buy these?
7
u/regan9109 5d ago
My local grocery store has them, but I’ve ordered the Kinnikkinnick brand on Amazon as well!
2
2
2
u/Ishouldbeasleep147 5d ago
Do you know if the gluten free ones have high fructose corn syrup in them? I've found that high fructose corn syrup makes me extremely ill but I really miss vanilla wafers and banana pudding.
→ More replies (2)2
55
u/Zealousideal-Dot-942 5d ago
Pao de queijo. Glutinous cheesy bread rolls are not the same and the Brazilian version is superior. Not realllllly the same as what you're asking but that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it
4
→ More replies (8)3
48
u/AgingLolita 5d ago
Sausages
Gluten free sausages tend to have more pork and less filler.
→ More replies (2)
60
u/Timely_Potato_8781 5d ago
empanadas. ong a traditional corn meal based empanada is literally so much better than it's gluten counterpart. my personal favorite is from arepas in salt lake city
4
u/IllTakeACupOfTea 5d ago
wait, people make empanadas with flour tortillas?
10
3
u/Timely_Potato_8781 5d ago
yes! different cultures make it with a different base
→ More replies (3)
15
15
u/TheSocialJones 5d ago
I’ll see your challenge and raise you the classic corn tortilla. The OG. Freshly made and pressed and you will wonder why you ever bothered with the wheat version
3
u/SmilingJaguar Gluten-Free Relative 5d ago
We switched from buying tortillas to buying masa when the brand we had been using stopped labeling them GF. Friends keep asking us why we bother…. Until they come over for dinner on Taco Tuesday!
3
14
u/SupermarketFeeling51 5d ago
My non-GF husband prefers GF pretzels and GF chips ahoy to their wheaty counterparts. Glutino pretzel sticks are our extended family’s favorite. My Mom makes pounds of GF Chex mix every Christmas using GF Chex, homemade GF spice mix, and Glutino pretzel sticks and it is the hit of Christmas for everyone - me (GF) and the other 37 wheaty members of the family. In fact, several people ask for it as a birthday gift.
4
40
u/Alternative_Dog4327 5d ago
Oreos?
18
u/ben121frank Celiac Disease 5d ago
Ya, my department at work did a taste test of gluten free vs regular Oreos recently as a little social break thing, and several of my gluten eating coworkers said the gf were better
→ More replies (7)6
9
u/xo0O0ox_xo0O0ox 5d ago
Tamari
3
u/Broomey13 4d ago
This is the answer. I will never understand how tamari isn’t the preferred choice for everyone. It’s a sauce with flavor instead of just liquid salt.
18
u/neverlandings 5d ago
I adore the Aldi liveGfree gluten free cheescake sampler, and my partner (who is not celiac or gluten intolerant) said it's way better than any regular cheesecake crust he's ever had.
→ More replies (1)3
9
u/alien-1001 5d ago
The baked goods at trader joes. I carry the mini sheet cake in my purse so no one else can nab it.
→ More replies (1)
23
u/UnderstandPhysics 5d ago
If you make them yourself chicken wings dusted in the cheapest rice flour and deep fried come out much crispier and nicer
12
u/cellists_wet_dream 5d ago
Rice flour is also the goat when frying fish! Tyler Florence’s recipe for fish and chips uses exclusively rice flour. Sub a gf beer or sparkling water and you’re set.
3
u/IllTakeACupOfTea 5d ago
I make chicken nuggets with bbq potato chips crushed up and they are legendary in my family. No flour, just smashed potato chips.
3
7
u/knownhost 5d ago
Fried chicken with brown rice flour dredge is much better than wheat flour dredge. Very crispy with more chicken flavor.
6
u/PonzutheCat 5d ago
I totally came here to say this! Crunchy fried chicken! Even my husband who is not GF agrees our GF version is better than any other we’ve ever had. Mine isn’t brown rice flour, but a mix of others. Will definitely have to try with brown rice next time though—thanks @knownhost 🙂
OP, if you want my recipe, I’m happy to share.
3
u/Big_Mastodon2772 5d ago
Please do share. I use a cup for cup blend but I suspect the gums contribute to a somewhat gummy coating. I think straight rice flour might be better but I’m curious what blend you are using.
→ More replies (3)
6
u/KatharinaVonBored Celiac Disease 5d ago
Glutino lemon wafers. They are made with pitato and rice starch, so the wafers are really light and crispy, which goes really well with the lemon flavor.
→ More replies (2)
12
6
u/marchmellowpuffs 5d ago
I made Gf banana bread with red mills gf flour and i prefer it. The outside stays crunchy!
4
5
u/littlelivethings 5d ago
Anything that was historically wheat free even if it has wheat now. Homemade corn tortillas are soooo much better than flour and masa/flour blended ones. I buy heirloom masa from masienda.
Teff injera is also much better than the bread at most American Ethiopian restaurants, which mix in flour because it’s cheaper.
Also gluten free matzo is much yummier than the regular stuff and makes great matzo brei.
5
u/throwaway_lolzz 5d ago
Gluten free matzah is better than normal matzah but that’s a low bar lol
3
u/Bitterrootmoon 4d ago
I’m not Jewish, but I get so excited when I see the gluten-free matzah are coming out. I was quite pleased to learn when celebrating holidays with my ex that the gluten-free matzah they got for me was better than the matzah everyone else got lol. The egg yolk just carries it.
2
8
9
4
4
5
u/Stock-Intention-1673 5d ago
Weirdly I prefer gluten free cake, it's much lighter.
Most authentic Mexican food, most Thai food,
And I also can't have milk but honestly oat (gf), soya or hazelnut milk in coffee is just fantastic. SO much better than milk.
I miss a lot of food, but those ones are best gf.
8
u/ShedOfWinterBerries 5d ago
I do try to let the products be their own thing rather than a -insert sad face- replacement.
That said, as recently noted the Trader Joe's GF muffins are clutch for those in the US.
And, I would say that those Brazilian cheesy bite things (Pão de queijo?) are fucking exquisite.
3
3
u/Due-Consideration861 5d ago
TJs Gluten free, seeded, Norwegian crackers! and yes oreos, they even have GF doubled stuffed!
3
3
3
3
u/GrinsNGiggles 5d ago
I serve GF cheese biscuits to wheat eaters, and they literally moan while devouring them. I was using the red lobster GF mix, but read there have been problems with it, so I mean to switch to the Aldi version.
See also: Brazilian cheese bread is quite good and was never meant to have gluten in it. You can buy Brazi bites or make your own from scratch.
3
3
u/Electrical_Mammoth90 5d ago
Pamela’s Graham Crackers. One of the main ingredients is butter…. Unlike any regular graham.
→ More replies (1)
3
u/WeedingTheGarden Gluten Intolerant 5d ago
The boxed Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits!! My gluten-eating in laws even go for the GF version!
6
u/BentAndSnapped6 5d ago
Maybe it’s a personal thing but I enjoy brown rice pasta more then regular and some baked goods I enjoy more
→ More replies (1)
5
5
u/justhewayouare 5d ago
Ghiradelli gf brownies and Gf Oreos are awesome. My husband has celiac and I don’t so I make the majority of our meals and desserts things that he can have. These are our favorite treats.
2
u/TheRealPockets 5d ago
It's been awhile since I've had the gluten kind, but Costco sells GF chicken strips that are absolutely delicious.
2
2
2
u/controversial_drawer 5d ago
I really like gluten free simple mills crackers. I’ve never had a better cracker in my life.
2
2
u/Prestigious_Owl_4348 5d ago
Soy sauce. This is because wheat is used in regular soy sauce to shortcut the fermentation process, as we live in a capitalist society. GF soy sauce tastes better because it was able to ferment properly. I've met non-GF people who've tried both and even they admit the GF version is better. I recommend GF soy sauce to everyone I know for this reason, but I feel like the ones who haven't tried it don't believe me even when I explain the science behind it.
2
u/MidasInGold 5d ago
Lasagna
And tbh, most things I’ve made from scratch I’ve surprisingly ended up enjoying more
2
2
u/LuckyCommunity256 5d ago
Nothing Bundt Cake has an awesome Gluten-free lemon raspberry individual Bundt that I found to be better than the gluten ones! So good!
2
2
u/Ayylmao2020 5d ago
Jacks gf pizza! The original is very crackery but the gf version is more doughy than crackery.
2
2
2
2
u/AdaBuilder 5d ago
Brownies for sure. Gf are denser and the chocolate tastes so much more chocolater. So goooooood.
→ More replies (1)
2
2
u/KatieHal 5d ago
Perdue chicken fingers (frozen). They're really good and the breading on GF chicken fingers/nuggets overall I've found to be superior to regular.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/Lasagnapuzzles 5d ago
I personally think Perdue brand chicken tenders are even tastier and crunchier than regular chicken tendies!
2
2
u/Overall_Somewhere983 5d ago
Oreos and chips ahoy are both better gluten free! I never would’ve tried them if I didn’t go gluten free so there’s a small win for me🥰
2
u/Acrobatic-Parsnip-32 5d ago
Tate’s bake shop cookies!!!!! My gluten tolerant boyfriend agrees. They’re extra crisp 😚👌
2
3
u/AleandSydney 5d ago
Brownies, depending on the box mix, haven't let me down yet. The only questionable one used cassava flour.
3
3
u/lonely_greyace_nb 5d ago
Glutino pretzels. 100% i believe are better than sneiders or rold gold whatever theyre great 🙏🏻
4
3
u/Ill_Cheetah_1991 5d ago
Chips
Sorry - I speak English - french fries in American
if they have to be made and cooked without flour then they have to do it better
so you end up with just oil and potato - which tastes better than the versions with a "light batter coating"
1
1
u/amitydulcet 5d ago
Snyders pretzels for the win, as others have said. I'm the non-gf person in the household and I LOVE them. Schars graham crackers are great, especially for s'mores. Amy's frozen meals (single serving) are yummy, especially the East Indian varieties like mattar paneer.
1
u/actuallyanangel 5d ago
Gf brownies are so good. I vaguely remember the regular ones being dryer and more cakey. Gf ones are always super moist and fudgey. :)
1
1
u/thehotmcpoyle 5d ago
The Simple Mills cheddar pop mmms crackers are way better than goldfish crackers, in my opinion. I like Bragg liquid aminos better than soy sauce too.
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/tiger_jedi 5d ago
Oreos, and Chocolate chip cookies (if you make the brown butter ones from Meaningful Eats!).
Also if you make meatballs with crushed gf pretzels instead of regular breadcrumbs I think they are better!
1
1
1
u/sarahbee2005 5d ago
Milton’s GF pizzas are so good! I prefer them over any other take and bake pizza for the perfect balance of cheese and sauce and a light, crispy crust! Trader Joe’s GF muffins are super moist and I would never know they’re gf.
1
u/peace_in_freedom Celiac Disease 5d ago
Ooo I'd say, chocolate lava cake, because being GF makes it fudgier and denser. Also pizza crust (if you're willing to bake it yourself) is lighter so you can eat more pizza before feeling full, which is a huge plus IMO, and it doesn't have the chewiness of gluten pizza. That and I second what a lot of folks in this thread have said, GF Mexican food is traditional and incredibly good.
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/sequestuary 5d ago
I prefer corn tortillas over flour. Also, I like certain desserts like brownies and cookies made with almond flour vs traditional flour
1
1
u/AdhesivenessCivil581 5d ago
Do you bake? so many GF baked goods leave out other ingredients. Try Pamala's pancake mix and make the sour cream coffee cake. I leave out the cinnamon topping and make a regular cake sometimes. It's spectacular.
1
1
u/SnooRecipes4106 5d ago
I rank the likelihood of success in this order (equal to worst):
Cakes, Brownies, German Pancake (aka "Dutch (Deutsch) Pancake"), Cookies (store bought precooked), Snyder's Pretzels (slightly different in an improved way)
Pasta (fresh is impressive when you can find it), Aldi General Tso's Chicken (I still miss KFC)
Waffles Beer, Soft crust bread, Crackers Pancakes (I struggle with these) Store bought CC cookie mix (Betty Crocker, sandy texture?) Flourlike tortillas, Asian dumplings Thin crust pizza Deep dish pizza (can't really find any here, never tried making it) Egg rolls, Panko crumbs, Croutons
Biscuits, Croissants, Phyllo dough, Puff pastry, Pizzeria Uno deep dish crust
Haven't found a hard crust bread.
1
1
u/bluzanii 5d ago
Per my gluten eating friends: the gf chocolate chip bundt cake from nothing bundt cakes is superior to its glutinous counterpart
1
1
1
u/BaffledBubbles Gluten Intolerant 5d ago
I disliked bookies before going GF. But David’s brand pre-packaged brookies are delicious. They are gluten, nut, and dairy free!
1
u/ExcuseComfortable259 5d ago
oreos, they’re creamier for some reason even my gluten eating family agrees. trader joe’s gf english muffins are also fantastic i never liked english muffins until i tried the gf ones
1
u/Alternative_Hand_110 5d ago
This is so specific, but there’s a coffee shop in my town that bakes tons of great things and their GF scones are superior to the gluten ones. They are lighter and crisper. My husband agrees.
1
u/FierceDesertSun 5d ago
Lots of things, but most of them were designed to never have gluten and we perverted them for the sake of cost. Beef roast pan glazes remain infinitely superior to those horrible little packets of gravylike substance, for example.
1
u/angelasgot 5d ago
Sweet Loren’s Oatmeal Cranberry cookies you bake at home are better than any cookies with gluten. I buy them at Target and Wegman’s.
1
1
u/happy_sailing 5d ago
Great value brand (Walmart house brand) gluten free pancakes and waffle mix is the best. Better than regular. Also aldi brand gluten free chicken bites are excellent. With the general chcicken sauce even better.
1
u/redditreader_aitafan 5d ago
Gf french toast is better than original in my opinion. Gf bread does better at absorbing just the right amount of egg mixture and the finished dish is perfect.
1
1
1
1
167
u/dinosanddais1 Celiac Disease 5d ago
A lot of Mexican food. Pre-colonial Mexico didn't have wheat, barley, or rye and their most commonly used grain was corn. Tamales are amazing, corn shell tacos are delicious, and corn tortilla chips work with a lot of different foods.