For those with celiac disease, which prevents people from processing gluten correctly, knowing whether Whataburger fries are gluten free is crucial due to the serious health implications involved.1
As you may be aware, even traces of gluten can cause serious harm to someone with celiac.2
The bad news is that even though French fries themselves are gluten, Whataburger fries practically always have trace amounts of gluten since they use the same fryer for all food items.
However, the good news is that there’s some Whataburger menu items below that can be enjoyed with a gluten intolerance, and there’s 5 similar restaurants to should be tried instead.
Does Whataburger Have Gluten Free Fries?
Whataburger’s fries have gluten contamination, even though french fries seem like they would be gluten free. After all, there are no obvious ingredients in french fries that would have gluten. Whataburger’s recipe for fries is essentially potatoes, frying oil, and seasonings.
Source: pjohnson1 via Canva.com3
None of these ingredients contain gluten, so you might think Whataburger fries are gluten-free. However, they are not, although this is not due to any gluten-containing ingredients.
Whataburger’s preparation methods expose their fries to foods that do have gluten. Special methods are necessary for a restaurant to avoid polluting fries with gluten, and most restaurants don’t take these steps.
However, some do, and this article includes a review of these restaurants and their fries below. With this information, it’s easy to safely enjoy gluten free fries while eating out.
Exploring How Whataburger Prepares French Fries: Understanding Their Gluten-Free Status
Some restaurants prepare their french fries by cutting potatoes on site, while others get them out of a bag. Both of these processes can involve gluten contamination. If a facility that cuts and bags fries doesn’t prevent them from contacting wheat and wheat byproducts, then bagged fries will have gluten.
Cutting bread and potatoes with the same knife or on the same cutting surface will also cause contamination.
That said, the biggest culprit is the fryer. Whataburger and most other restaurants use the same fryers for all of their fried foods. Sharing fryers between glutenous foods and gluten-free foods will add traces of gluten that can trigger gluten intolerance and celiac.4
French fries are only gluten free if the restaurant prepares them in dedicated fryers. By doing so, the restaurant keeps the gluten separate and prevents cross-contamination. In the future, if Whataburger implements such protective measures, the gluten-free status of their fries might change.
Can a Manager Make Whataburger Fries Gluten Free if I Have Celiac Disease?
Running a restaurant isn’t easy, and that’s just one reason why the Whataburger manager won’t be able to help. The only way to make gluten free fries is by making sure the potatoes never come in contact with glutenous foods.
That means separate stations and specific cleaning standards. Above all, it’s necessary to have dedicated fryers just for the fries, since shared fryers virtually guarantee cross contamination. There’s nothing that a manager can do when their kitchens don’t have dedicated fryers for gluten free foods.
Even trying to get the manager to change the oil wouldn’t be sufficient. Dumping the oil will still leave traces of gluten that could trigger an episode in anyone with celiac disease.
It takes thorough cleaning to eliminate every trace of gluten, and it’s just more risky than it’s worth. Instead of asking the Whataburger manager to take steps that won’t actually produce gluten free fries, it’s better to play it safe.
Choosing another restaurant, one that has procedures in place to offer gluten free fries. If not that, make homemade french fries instead.
Does Whataburger Have Gluten Free Food? What Menu Items at Whataburger Are Gluten Free?
Whataburger offers some gluten free foods on their menu. However, the company doesn’t have any gluten free certification, so it’s never certain that a food has no gluten at all.
You can enjoy the following foods at Whataburger if you have a minor gluten intolerance, but those with celiac or extreme intolerance should just avoid the restaurant.
Source: Azurita via Canva.com5
This chain technically offers gluten free burgers. The technicality comes into play because there are no gluten free buns at Whataburger. However, customers can ask for a burger without a bun. Beyond that, the options for mildly gluten free food are:
Snacks and Salads
- Apple Slices
- Apple & Cranberry Salad
- Garden Salad
- Fruit Chew
Desserts
- Chocolate Shake
- Strawberry Shake
- Vanilla Shake
Drinks
- Orange Juice
- 1% Fat Chocolate MIlk
- Decaf Coffee
- Sweet Tea
Fast Food Restaurants That Have Gluten Free Fries Made in a Dedicated Fryer
Making french fries in a dedicated fryer will be enough to make them suitable for those with moderate gluten intolerance. However, more stringent requirements are necessary to make gluten free fries that are safe for those with celiac disease. These are some of the top fast food restaurants that make gluten free fries in a dedicated fryer:
In-N-Out: Everything at In-N-Out is gluten free except for the buns. There are also countless keto In-N-Out options for those following a keto lifestyle.
Five Guys Burger’s and Fries: Not only does Five Guys fry their french fries in dedicated fryers, but their staff will change gloves and wash their hands to accommodate customers with celiac.
Red Robins: This chain will fry food in a dedicated gluten free fryer on customer request.
Penn Station: The staff at this chain will follow similar safety procedures as Five Guys if the customer tells them they have celiac disease.
McDonalds: McDonalds french fries are never gluten free in America. However, locations in the UK, Italy, and some other international locations offer gluten free fries.
Other fast food restaurants that offer gluten free options include:
- Try Pollo Tropical gluten free foods
- Anyone can enjoy the plentiful Waffle House gluten free options
- There are delicious Bon Chon gluten free dishes to consider
The inquiry about the gluten-free status of Whataburger fries often arises because, while fries themselves are gluten-free, the preparation methods at Whataburger make their fries unsuitable for those avoiding gluten. Fortunately, there are many alternative restaurants that cater to gluten-intolerant individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Whataburger Have Gluten Free Buns?
As of October 2022, buns at Whataburger all have gluten. The only workaround to enjoy a Whataburger is to order it without the bun. It may be possible to ask for two large pieces of lettuce to use as buns, to eat a keto-style Whataburger. Otherwise, the only option for eating a gluten free burger at Whataburger is to eat it like a steak with a fork and knife.
Where Can I Find Whataburger Allergen Menu?
Unfortunately, there’s no official Whataburger allergen menu on the company website or otherwise. The only resource for Whataburger allergens is a variety of non-profit websites which may not be reliable. Those with severe allergies should exercise caution when it comes to eating at the popular burger chain.
Gluten-free options are becoming increasingly popular, providing a lifesaver for those with celiac disease. Unfortunately, Whataburger hasn’t kept up with this trend. Their fries are not gluten-free, but other restaurants do offer gluten-free fries.
References
1Billion Photos. “French Fries Side Dish.” Canva, 13 December 2011. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MACuJ-8QBPQ-french-fries-side-dish/>
2Hossein, A. (2022, January). Gluten Associated Medical Problems. NCBI. Retrieved November, 3rd, from <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538505/>
3pjohnson1. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEEwsJ_8Y8-fries/>
4Thompson, T. (2021, 3). Gluten-Free Foods Cooked in Shared Fryers With Wheat: A Pilot Study Assessing Gluten Cross Contact. NCBI. Retrieved November, 3rd, from <https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33834035/>
5Azurita. Canva. Accessed 13 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MADBgiHU53E-burger-and-fries/>