What can be more convenient than heating up taco shells and enjoying when you want to have a taco? With the help of taco shells we bought, making tacos become easier and easier. But to those who want to eat gluten-free, it’s important to find out if there are gluten ingredients in your taco shells.
What is Gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in most wheat products, and acts as the “glue” that helps to hold wheat, barley,, spelt, farro, durum, bulgur, rye, and semolina together to maintain their shape.
Gluten is naturally occurring, and therefore is impossible to strip away from the grain. There is no way to make a food gluten-free if the grain already contains gluten.
What Are Taco Shells?
Taco shells are hard or crispy tortilla, typically made of corn, that has been fried or baked into a taco shape with a pocket for adding meat, beans, or other taco fillings.
Taco shells are a Mexican dish that is all-American. Buying hard shells from the grocery store is an American convenience food to avoid additional cooking or frying of corn tortillas.
What Are Taco Shells Made From?
Corn tortillas that have been shaped into the traditional taco shape and then fried or baked are most frequently used to make taco shells. Masa harina corn flour, salt, water, and occasionally vegetable oil or lard are the main ingredients used to make corn tortillas.
The majority of taco shells are yellow, but corn tortillas can be made from traditionally yellow corn, white corn, or even blue corn.
Corn tortillas are deep-fried and then cut into the traditional taco shape before being taken out of the oil and filled with taco fillings to create taco shells. Depending on the machinery used, big brands might produce these taco shells in a different way than you’d find in a home kitchen. To make the well-known taco shell, these could be baked as opposed to fried.
Is Corn Gluten-free?
While many whole grains contain gluten, corn does not. It is always gluten-free in its unprocessed, straight-from-the-cob form.
Although corn is naturally gluten-free, corn in processed foods such as taco shells or canned soup may contain gluten because of other ingredients or due to cross-contamination.
Any packaged food that contains corn, including corn tortillas or taco shells, should have a gluten-free label, so be vigilant about checking ingredient lists.
Are Taco Shells Gluten-free?
Taco shells are typically made from corn tortillas, and most corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free.
You should be aware of the brand you choose because some make claims about being gluten-free while others do not. We’ll review a few taco shell brands you can look for at the store below.
Gluten-free Taco Shell Brands
If you’re looking for a quick list of brands to look for gluten-free taco shells, let’s go over some options. Your best bet, as with any packaged food, is to read the ingredients list or check the package for a gluten-free label before making a purchase.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but just a few ideas to give you a jumping off point of some options to look for next time you’re shopping for gluten-free taco shells at the store.
I’ve also noted the options that are dairy-free with an asterisk (*).
Ortega
Be aware that Ortega makes no claims about their products being gluten-free. However, none of these contain any gluten-containing ingredients. This company either does not test its products or is aware of the possibility of cross-contamination with gluten, which explains why these taco shell products lack a gluten-free label. Use your best judgment on what will work for you and your body based on your level of sensitivity to gluten to decide if you will buy this brand.
- Yellow Corn Hard Taco Shells*
- Fiesta Flats*
- White Corn Taco Shells*
- Blue Corn Taco Shells*
- Whole Grain Corn Taco Shells*
- Cauliflower & Corn Taco Shells*
- Yellow Corn & Ancient Grains Taco Shells*
- Yellow Corn Mini Taco Slider Shells*
- Tostada Shells*
Casa Fiesta
- Taco Shells*
Old El Paso
- Crunchy Taco Shells*
- Crunchy White Corn Shells*
- Super Stuffer Taco Shells*
- Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells*
- Bold Ranch Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells
- Bold Spicy Cheddar Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells
- Bold Nacho Cheese Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells
- Stand ‘N Stuff Taco Shells Hint of Lime
- Tostada Shells*
Garden of Eatin’
- Yellow Corn Taco Shells*
- Blue Corn Taco Shells*
Mission
- Baked Tostadas*
- Yellow Tostadas Casero*
- Yellow Tostadas Nortena*
- Red Tostadas Nortena*
La Preferida
- Crunchy Taco Shells*
Siete
- Grain-free Taco Shells*
Thrive Market
- Grain-free Taco Shells*
Simple Truth Organic
- Blue Corn Taco Shells
- Yellow Corn Taco Shells
I hope this post has provided you with some information that is useful for you if you have been searching for a fantastic taco shell option for taco night on your gluten-free diet.
Many taco shell brands are gluten-free, but before buying any packaged food, it’s always a good idea to check the ingredients list or look for a gluten-free label on the package.
Bottom Line
Most taco shells are gluten-free, but you still need to check ahead before you purchase taco shells if you are having a gluten-free life. Hope this posts can help.
