If you’re catering for a guest with coeliac disease, choose a roll whose current packaging states that it is ‘gluten-free’. Long-life, part-baked Kaiser rolls are handy for baking just before you eat; frozen rolls need freezer space and advance planning. At the BBQ, keep the bread, utensils, toppings and sauces separate from gluten-containing food, and check for any other allergens.
As well as gluten-free bread, you’ll need to prepare and serve it separately. Use a clean pair of tongs, set aside a dedicated spot for the roll and provide separate sauces. The Dutch Coeliac Society highlights the risk of cross-contamination with gluten.
You’re looking for long-life, part-baked rolls that you can bake shortly before serving, without having to plan ahead for defrosting.
You want more rolls per pack and can plan when to defrost them. With the frozen option we looked at, you’ll also need to follow the storage instructions for after defrosting.
Start by checking the gluten-free label and making sure you can serve the roll without cross-contamination. Then choose a pack size and preparation method to suit the number of guests and how your BBQ is planned.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Serving gluten-free food | Check the current ‘gluten-free’ label and make sure you have a clean, separate area for preparation and serving. | If a guest has coeliac disease, I want to prevent crumbs from ordinary rolls getting onto their food; around 42% of consumers put preventing cross-contamination first. |
| Preparation and timing | Read the baking or defrosting instructions and check when the oven will be available. | When the grill and oven are needed at the same time, I want to know when the rolls will be ready. This planning is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Other allergens | Read the latest allergen information, especially if soya, mustard, eggs, milk or nuts are relevant for a guest. | If someone has an additional food allergy, I don’t want to assume that ‘gluten-free’ also means free from other allergens; around 17% of consumers prioritise checking this. |
| Portions and availability | Work out how many rolls you need per pack and check availability at your shop. | If several guests eat gluten-free, I want to make sure I can buy enough suitable rolls. Pack size and availability are the top priorities for around 16% of consumers. |
An ingredients list or the absence of wheat from a product name is not a substitute for a ‘gluten-free’ label. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food sold to the final consumer may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten.
For a guest with coeliac disease, check the current gluten-free label on the packaging.
The Dutch Coeliac Society warns that crumbs and shared utensils can cause cross-contamination. So a gluten-free roll won’t automatically stay separate from other BBQ food.
Keep the roll wrapped for as long as possible and use clean, separate utensils, a dedicated serving area and separate sauces.
For the Schär Kaisersemmel, Jumbo recommends defrosting for 1–2 hours or baking for 8–10 minutes at 180 °C. According to that product information, they must not be refrozen after defrosting; keep them in the fridge and use within one day.
Plan to defrost them before the BBQ. If you’d rather bake them shortly before eating, check the instructions for a long-life option.
A product page doesn’t tell you whether the rolls will be available at your local shop when your BBQ takes place.
Check local availability in good time and read the packaging again when you buy.
The supermarket product pages we looked at list four-pack long-life Kaiserbrötchen and six-pack frozen Kaisersemmel as gluten-free. Preparation and storage instructions vary by product.
This product is a mini baguette, not a Kaiser roll. It’s only a suitable alternative if the shape of the bread is less important for your BBQ; check the current gluten-free label and preparation instructions before choosing it for a guest with coeliac disease.
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A bread alternative for your BBQ if you don’t specifically need Kaiser rolls. The product information describes it as gluten-free, but gives conflicting details about part-baked bread and a mix. Check the current packaging to confirm what you’re buying and how to prepare it.
The accompanying description lists soya and possible traces of lupin and mustard. If you have additional allergies to consider, read the latest allergen information and keep the product separate from gluten-containing food at the BBQ.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food sold to the final consumer may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten. When you buy rolls to serve to a guest with coeliac disease, check the current packaging.
Use a clean, separate pair of tongs for the gluten-free rolls. The Dutch Coeliac Society also recommends keeping bread, toppings and sauces separate at a BBQ to prevent cross-contamination.
At a BBQ where you’re serving both gluten-free and ordinary food, keep gluten-free rolls wrapped for as long as possible. The Dutch Coeliac Society says this helps limit contact with crumbs and shared equipment, and keeps the label information close at hand.
Not necessarily. According to the product information we reviewed, the long-life Schär Kaiserbrötchen contain soya and may contain mustard. The frozen Kaisersemmel contain soya and may contain eggs, hazelnuts, milk and mustard. Always check the current packaging for the product you choose.
