Are milkshakes gluten free? Let’s Find Out!

Introduction

Choosing tasty milkshakes can be a challenge if you follow a gluten-free diet. The good thing is that in recent years, more manufacturers and food establishments have incorporated gluten-free products into their services. If you like milkshakes, here are some interesting facts that you should keep in mind and some famous milkshakes gluten-free that you could try whenever you want.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in the seeds of dryland cereals, especially wheat, but also in barley, rye and their variants (spelt, einkorn, kamut, triticale and farro), as well as some varieties of oats.

Gluten is not essential for humans, the protein found in it is of low nutritional and biological value.

The gluten-free diet is based on the consumption of gluten-free products, natural or produced specifically for celiacs, enriched or fortified with minerals and vitamins.

What are milkshakes?

Milkshakes emerged in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a sweet drink made by mixing milk, sometimes ice cream and caramel-flavored flavorings or sweeteners, chocolate or fruit syrup and more until a thick, sweet and cold mixture is achieved.

There is a healthier option made with non-dairy products, plant milks such as coconut milk, soy milk or almond milk.

Are milkshakes gluten-free?

The good news is that yes, milkshakes can be gluten-free. But here’s the trick: before you buy or drink one, make sure you check the label carefully. Some may hide gluten ingredients, such as flour, starch or malt.

I’ll tell you which are the usual suspects that usually hide in milkshakes :

• Wheat flour
• Nutty
• malt
• Whole grain flours

If you opt for a packaged shake, look carefully for the label that says “gluten-free.” The FDA requires these foods to have less than 20 parts per million gluten, so you’ll be safe.

Now, if you prefer to make your own milkshakes , choose ingredients that are 100% gluten-free. Here are some ideas:

• Gluten-free milk
• gluten free ice cream
• Fresh or frozen fruits
• Fruit juices
• gluten free chocolate

And to sweeten your life, I’ll give you some gluten-free milkshakes recipes that you can try:

• Gluten-free strawberry smoothie
• Gluten-free chocolate shake
• Gluten-free banana smoothie
• Gluten-free vanilla shake

If you are ever in doubt about whether a specific shake is gluten free, don’t hesitate to ask the seller or manufacturer. Enjoy your milkshakes without worries!

The best places to buy milkshakes gluten-free: our recommendations

Whole Food Market 

It is a supermarket chain founded in 1980, in Austin, Texas. It specializes in the sale of natural and organic foods. It has more than 460 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In 2017 it was acquired by Amazon. 

Whole Food Market has organic vanilla, chocolate and malt flavored shakes. On its website it has recipes for fresh mango milkshakes and fresh milkshakes with almond milk and frozen bananas.

In Brooklyn, Whole Food Market has a boozy vegan milkshakes that is part of the N4 menu.

Trader Joe’s 

Trader Joe’s is a grocery store founded in 1967 in California. Currently, it has 560 stores throughout the United States. Trader Joe’s products, such as gluten-free pizzas, are the company’s own private brand that offers significant discounts on other brands and other similar products.

Trader Joe’s doesn’t typically offer milkshakes on its menu, but it does offer recipes on its website, including a Pumpkin Pie Shake and a Salted Caramel Sepculoos Shake.

It is important to verify that smoothie recipes do not contain gluten, confirming the ingredients or consulting with the staff about the preparation and preparation process.

McDonald’s

It is a fast food restaurant franchise founded in 1940. It has more than 36,000 establishments in 118 territories and countries around the world.

McDonald’s milkshakes come in different flavors, including vanilla, strawberry, banana and chocolate. They are considered gluten-free, however you have to be very careful about possible cross contamination because they usually use the same equipment for their preparation and preparation.

In the United Kingdom, it is the only place where McDonald’s ensures that the ingredients in its milkshakes do not include gluten.

Chick-fil-A

It is a fast food restaurant chain founded in 1883 in Georgia, United States. As of 2006, it has more than 1,300 locations in 37 US states.

Chick-fil-A offers a variety of flavors including: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies, cream, and seasonal flavors like Caramel Crumble, Cookies & Cream, and Peppermint Chip. They have the particularity of being made by hand and contain the Chick-fil-A Icecream dessert, which is a whipped cream with cherry.

The flavors do not contain gluten, but in any case, it is recommended to verify the ingredients and ask about the production process for greater security.

Warning

Although many restaurants and fast food outlets sell milkshakes gluten-free, you have to be very careful with cross contamination.

Cross contamination occurs when extreme hygiene care is not taken when preparing or preparing food. We recommend, in these cases, to inform yourself about the ingredients and the preparation process so that the food is safe for people intolerant to gluten or with celiac disease.

Natural and artificial flavors

The composition and origin of natural and artificial flavors are different. Natural flavors come from natural sources such as fruits, vegetables, leaves, spices and more. Artificial flavors, on the other hand, are created in laboratories and emulate intense and varied flavors. Not necessarily, natural flavors are usually healthier than artificial ones, since they depend on their origin and nutritional value.

Gluten-free shakes can sometimes contain gluten in their flavors made from wheat or barley, so you have to take this into account and check the label or preparation with the sales representatives to be sure.

Prices

Below we offer a price table. These may be subject to changes in the menu and may vary depending on location and time of day:

Restaurant	Flavor	Size	Price
Whole Foods Market	Chocolate	16 ounces	$6.99
Trader Joe’s	Chocolate	16 ounces	$5.99
McDonald’s	Chocolate	12 ounces	$4.19
Chick-fil-A	Chocolate	12 ounces	$3.69
Shake Shack	Chocolate	12 ounces	$5.99
In-N-Out Burger	Chocolate	12 ounces	$4.25
Dairy Queen	Chocolate	16 ounces	$5.49
Cold Stone Creamery	Chocolate	16 ounces	$6.49

Curiosities

• The word milkshakes was first documented in 1885, but the recipe was very different from the one we know today.
• Milkshakes are believed to have originated in the late 19th century in the United States as a mixture of milk, eggs, and whiskey!
• They gained popularity after the electric mixer was introduced in the 1920s.
• The ice cream parlors where they were sold became meeting places for youth and the milkshakes became symbols of the innocence of youth.

Conclusions

Milkshakes gluten-free are a delicious and refreshing option all year round. The most recognized franchises have different flavors and ingredients on their menu to delight the most demanding palate.

When choosing a milkshakes gluten-free, you must take into account that its ingredients or flavors have not been made with the protein produced by gluten and that there has been no cross contamination.