Rooties Blue Cheese: Gluten-Free Indulgence

is rooties blue cheese gluten free

Rootie's Blue Cheese dressing is a gourmet, extra-chunky dip that is perfect for salads, burgers, pizzas, and more. The product is available for local delivery and in-store pickup in Western New York. However, the question of whether it is gluten-free remains a controversy. While cheeses are naturally gluten-free, some blue cheeses are made using moulds grown on gluten-based bread, which may leave traces of gluten. Rootie's does not explicitly state whether their blue cheese product is gluten-free, and it is always best to verify before consumption.

Characteristics Values
Product Rooties Blue Cheese Dressing
Type Extra Chunky, Extra Thick
Flavour Sweet
Suggested Use Salads, dips, spreads, burgers, baked potatoes, pizzas, chicken wings
Availability In-store pickup, local delivery, online
Allergens Milk, eggs

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Rooties blue cheese ingredients

Rooties Blue Cheese is a gourmet blue cheese dressing that has been a Buffalo, New York, area favorite since 1978. It is described as "extra chunky" and "extra thick" and is said to be perfect for salads, dips, spreads, burgers, baked potatoes, and pizzas.

The ingredients in Rooties Blue Cheese include:

  • Soybean Oil
  • Blue Cheese (pasteurized Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes)
  • Distilled Vinegar
  • Water
  • High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Egg Yolk
  • Salt
  • Worcestershire Sauce (distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor)
  • Propylene Glycol Alginate
  • Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (as Preservatives)
  • Citric Acid
  • Dried Garlic
  • Dried Onion
  • Xanthan Gum
  • Calcium Disodium Edta (to Protect Flavor)

For best use, it is suggested that one ounce of milk and a pinch of fine garlic powder are added to every 8-ounce serving of Rootie's Famous Gourmet Blue Cheese dressing. The product should be kept refrigerated for the best quality and contains milk and eggs.

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Gluten-free blue cheese options

Blue cheese is traditionally made by inoculating milk with mold spores grown on bread or cultures that contain gluten. However, the good news for blue cheese lovers is that there are now several gluten-free options available.

The Canadian Celiac Association has classified blue cheese as acceptable for those on a gluten-free diet. A 2009 study by the association found that even blue cheeses made with spores grown on a gluten-containing medium showed no traces of gluten. This means that those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease can safely consume blue cheese without worrying about adverse reactions.

Several companies now offer gluten-free blue cheese options, including Rosenborg, whose blue cheese is made using gluten-free mold cultures. Pt. Reyes and Sure Foods also offer gluten-free blue cheese products, and many companies clearly state on their websites that their blue cheeses are gluten-free.

However, it is important to exercise caution when purchasing blue cheese. Some individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease have reported adverse reactions to blue cheese, even when it is labelled as gluten-free. It is always a good idea to consult the label and verify the ingredients before consuming any food product. Additionally, observing your body's reaction to blue cheese and consulting a healthcare professional if you have any concerns is essential.

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Is blue cheese naturally gluten-free?

Blue cheese is traditionally made by inoculating milk with mold spores grown on bread or cultures that contain gluten. However, the question of whether blue cheese is gluten-free is a controversial topic. Some people argue that modern cheese-making techniques have made bread obsolete as a mold-growing medium, while others point to the fact that some artisans still use traditional methods.

The Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) has classified blue cheese as acceptable for those on a gluten-free diet. They base this classification on a 2009 study that found no traces of gluten in blue cheese, even when made with spores grown on a gluten-containing medium. The CCA's findings are supported by the fact that several companies clearly state on their websites that their blue cheeses are gluten-free.

However, some individuals with gluten intolerance or celiac disease have reported adverse reactions to blue cheese, suggesting that the presence of gluten in blue cheese may depend on the manufacturer's production methods. As such, it is recommended that individuals with gluten sensitivities verify the gluten-free status of a blue cheese brand before consuming it and carefully observe their body's reaction to the cheese.

Rooties Blue Cheese Extra Chunky dressing contains milk and eggs, but it is not clear whether the blue cheese used in the product is gluten-free. Individuals concerned about gluten should contact the manufacturer to verify the gluten-free status of the product.

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Rooties blue cheese production

Blue cheese can be made from cow, goat, sheep, or even buffalo milk, which may be raw or pasteurized. The diets of these animals create variables in cheesemaking, depending on what they eat and where they graze. The cheesemaker can also affect the outcome of a given blue cheese in terms of how much piercing they do to the wheels, how the cheese is ripened, and for how long.

Rooties Blue Cheese is a pasteurized milk cheese, which is generally gluten-free. However, some of the molds used to create blue cheeses are grown on gluten-based bread, and the mold spores are then used in the cheese-making process. Rooties Blue Cheese is an extra-chunky dressing and dip variety, which contains soybean oil, distilled vinegar, water, high-fructose corn syrup, egg yolk, and preservatives. It is recommended that one ounce of milk and a pinch of fine garlic powder are added to every 8-ounce serving.

The main method of making blue cheese is a piercing technique. All blue cheeses start as simple-looking white wheels that are then pierced with stainless steel needles to create crevices. This allows oxygen to interact with the cultures in the cheese and for the blue mold to grow from within. The mold is from one or more strains of the genus Penicillium. After the piercing, the mold can also grow between the curds.

Once the curds have been ladled into containers to be drained and formed into a wheel of cheese, the Penicillium roqueforti inoculum is sprinkled on top of the curds, along with Brevibacterium linens. The curd granules are then formed into molds to create cheese loaves with an open texture. Whey drainage continues for 10-48 hours, with no pressure applied, and the molds are frequently inverted. Salt is then added for flavor and preservation, and the cheese is brine or dry-salted for 24-48 hours.

The final step is ripening the cheese by aging it. A fermentation period of 60-90 days is usually required before the flavor is typical and acceptable for marketing. The distinct flavor of blue cheese comes from lipolysis (the breakdown of fat). The metabolism of the blue mold further breaks down fatty acids to form ketones, giving blue cheese its rich flavor and aroma.

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Gluten-free blue cheese products by Rooties

While most cheeses are naturally gluten-free, blue cheese has sparked controversy in the gluten-free community. This is because some blue cheeses are made using moulds grown on gluten-based bread, leaving consumers unsure of whether or not these cheeses contain gluten.

Rootie's, a Buffalo, New York favourite since 1978, offers a range of blue cheese products, including its famous gourmet blue cheese dressing. This extra chunky and extra thick blue cheese dressing is made with the finest ingredients, including soybean oil, pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, distilled vinegar, water, and other flavourings.

While Rootie's does not explicitly label its blue cheese products as gluten-free, it is important to note that modern cheese-making techniques have largely done away with bread as a mould-growing medium. Additionally, a 2009 study by the Canadian Celiac Association found that even blue cheeses made with spores grown on gluten-containing media showed no traces of gluten.

If you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, it is always best to exercise caution and verify the gluten-free status of any product before consuming it. You can do this by checking the company's website or contacting their customer service team directly. It is also important to remember that individual sensitivity levels vary, and some people may still experience adverse reactions to certain blue cheeses, even if they are technically gluten-free.

So, while Rootie's blue cheese products may be safe for gluten-free consumers, it is always a good idea to do your research and make an informed decision based on your personal comfort and sensitivity level.

Frequently asked questions

Blue cheese is made from pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, and enzymes. However, some of the moulds used to create blue cheese are grown on gluten-based bread, which raises the question of whether these cheeses contain gluten. A 2009 study by the Canadian Celiac Association found that even blue cheeses made with spores grown on gluten-containing media showed no traces of gluten.

Rooties Blue Cheese dressing is made with soybean oil, blue cheese, distilled vinegar, water, high fructose corn syrup, egg yolk, and other ingredients. While the product does not appear to contain gluten, it is manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat products, so there may be a risk of cross-contamination.

Rooties Blue Cheese dressing can be purchased online from Amazon, Instacart, or Premier Gourmet. It is also available for pickup or delivery from select local retailers.

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