There are reliable brands of baked beans if you’re wondering which ones are gluten-free. Gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, also appears in some baked beans. Assuming there is no gluten cross-contamination during manufacturing, beans should be gluten-free.
However, some cooked bean recipes call for improvements like liquid smoke flavoring and Worcestershire sauce that include gluten.
So, when you’re looking for beans without gluten, stick to these four brands:
- B&M (gluten-free in every kind)
- Bush’s Best (gluten-free in all types)
- Amy’s Kitchen (gluten-free in every kind)
- Heinz (see below for which varieties to buy; some are gluten-free)
Baked Beans with Vegetables from Amy’s Kitchen
Amy’s Kitchen offers organic vegetarian and vegan baked beans, which are also part of their extensive gluten-free menu. The classic bean recipe combines organic white beans with tomato puree, mustard seeds, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Less than 20 parts per million of gluten in the company’s products satisfies legal requirements for gluten-free products. In addition, the beans are kosher and devoid of dairy, lactose, soy, and tree nuts. The recipe contains grain-based vinegar, so people sensitive to gluten may want to avoid it.
Baked Beans B&M
Baked beans from B&M come in seven varieties: Original, Vegetarian, Country Style, Maple, Bacon & Onion, and Home Style. Made from navy beans, all of them. The company, a branch of B&G Foods, Inc., claims that all seven flavors are gluten-free up to the legal threshold of fewer than 20 parts per million.
Baked Beans with Bush’s Best
Since all varieties of Bush’s baked beans are gluten-free, they provide a simple option for those who follow a gluten-free diet. Bush’s baked beans are carried in most major grocery stores. A handful of the variations are Original, Vegetarian, Organic, Barbecue, Brown Sugar, Brown Sugar Hickory, Country Style, Homestyle, Maple & Cured Bacon, Honey Sweet, Onion, Sweet & Tangy available,Sweet Heat and Boston Recipe. A Bush FAQ states that “Everything that Bush manufactures that contains canned beans is free of gluten.Some of our products contain cornstarch, but they don’t contain gliadin gluten. While we use cornstarch in some of our products, it does not contain gliadin gluten, which can cause negative reactions in people with celiac sprue or sensitivities to wheat, barley, oats, or rye grains. Additionally, we use distilled vinegar with a corn base in our canned bean products.”
Baked Beans by Heinz
Heinz not only produces the most widely-known brand of gluten-free ketchup but also sells a wide range of beans, including Original, Bourbon & Molasses, Bacon & Sweet & Spicy, Bold & Spicy, Molasses & Pork, Brown Sugar, and Hickory Smoke. Original, Hickory Smoke, and Molasses & Pork are the three flavors considered gluten-free. These three tastes are not vegetarian-friendly. Be aware that although Heinz utilizes vinegar derived from maize, all three of the gluten-free bean varieties contain distilled vinegar. It should be noted that although the Hickory Smoke beans feature smoke flavoring, barley is not one of the ingredients in this flavoring (most smoke flavoring does).
Brands of Baked Beans That Don’t Contains Gluten
These baked beans don’t contain any gluten:
Campbell’s
Although its soups are its specialty, Campbell’s also produces a bean version called Campbell’s Pork & Beans. However, Campbell’s list of gluten-free items does not include the product.
Grandma Brown’s
This New York-made brand is well-liked in the area. Sadly, the corporation is infamous for keeping information about the recipe and ingredients secret, so you’re better off going with a different brand.
Pacific Foods
In addition to making a range of gluten-free soups, Pacific Foods also produces two varieties of baked beans: Traditional Beans with Pork and Organic Vegetarian Baked Beans. But according to the business, none of these are gluten-free
Trader Joe’s
Store-brand baked beans are available at the grocery chain, but they’re not on Trader Joe’s gluten-free list.
Van Camp’s
Known as “America’s Original Beans,” Van Camp offers Original, Hickory, and Bacon types of beans. Conagra Brands, Inc., the company that owns Van Camp’s, does mark some meals as gluten-free.Sadly, none of Van Camp’s bean-based products are on Conagra’s gluten-free list.