Yes, margarine is gluten-free and safe for those with gluten intolerances or allergies to consume.
Some brands of margarine that claim to be gluten-free, and therefore safe to consume are Stork, Land ‘O Lakes, and Earth Balance.
Typically, margarine won’t contain gluten, although in some cases, manufacturers might stuff the product with additional ingredients like flavors, colors, and stabilizers.
While some of these ingredients are gluten-free, others aren’t. Before purchasing margarine, you should check the individual brand’s ingredients label (just to be sure!) You should be conscious of each item you eat, as each brand may differ in its ingredients and manufacturing processes.
About Margarine
Margarine is often used as a substitute for butter, particularly in baking, but cooking too. Regarding their appearance and usage, butter and margarine are quite similar products.
Distinguishing margarine and butter by their appearance can be quite difficult. They’re both yellow, their consistency is quite similar and can be found either as a hardened stick or block or as a spread.
In the same way that you’d put butter on toast or crackers, margarine can also be used as a topping for snacks. Margarine can also be used as an alternative ingredient to butter in baking. Baking goods like cookies are made even crisper by using margarine instead of butter, which takes less time to melt.
Despite their similarities, there are also quite a few differences. One of the key differences between butter and margarine is the ingredients, and due to this, health benefits. Where butter is made from cream, margarine is made from vegetable oils. As margarine uses vegetable oils instead of cream, margarine is often seen as a healthier alternative to butter, as it contains less ‘bad’ fats.
The discussion of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ fats comes into play when comparing butter and margarine. Butter contains saturated fat which if too much is consumed, can lead to significant health risks and clog the arteries. Margarine, on the other hand, contains unsaturated fat, which provides good health benefits. These types of fats are known for reducing the risk of cholesterol and are more beneficial than products containing saturated fats.
During the 19th century, Napolean III called for a cheaper alternative to butter, and thus, margarine was created by Hippolyte Mèges-Mouries. Originally, margarine used to be extracted from animal fat. However, it’s now made from vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, safflower, soy, and cottonseed.
Ingredients
Depending on the brand, ingredients may vary. For more accurate information, let’s take a look at the ingredients for Stork margarine in more detail.
The ingredients are:
Water, Buttermilk, Salt, Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed, Palm1), Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Mono and Diglycerides, Vitamin A and D, Flavorings.
Nutritional Information
In a 100g measurement, Stork margarine contains 70g fat, 0.5g carbohydrates, 0.5g protein, 1.4g salt, and 619 calories.
Whether you want to use margarine as a topping for your crackers or in a recipe for your baked goods, it’s a good gluten-free product that should be safe for you to consume. Just remember to check the brand!