Quick answer: Most cream of celery soups contain gluten, as they are thickened with wheat flour. However, there are gluten-free cream of celery soup options available made with other thickeners like cornstarch or rice flour. Checking the ingredients list is the best way to determine if a particular brand of cream of celery soup contains gluten.
What is Cream of Celery Soup?
Cream of celery soup is a creamy vegetable soup made with a base of celery and broth. It has a smooth, velvety texture and creamy white color. Traditional cream of celery soup recipes call for a roux made of butter and wheat flour to thicken and add body to the soup. The flour thickener gives the soup its signature creamy, velvety mouthfeel.
In addition to celery and a roux, cream of celery soup typically contains ingredients like onions, carrots, chicken or vegetable broth, milk or cream, salt, and pepper. It can be served as a starter or side dish. Cream of celery soup is also a popular choice to use in casseroles and as a base for dips and sauces.
Does Cream of Celery Soup Contain Gluten?
Because most traditional cream of celery soup recipes use wheat flour to thicken the soup, the majority of store-bought and homemade cream of celery soups contain gluten.
Wheat flour contains gluten, a protein composite found in wheat, barley, and rye. When mixed with liquid, the gluten in wheat flour forms a sticky network that gives structure and a creamy texture to sauces and soups. This makes it a useful and common thickening agent in cream-based soups like cream of celery.
So if you see wheat flour or just “flour” in the ingredients list of a cream of celery soup, you can assume it contains gluten. Other signals that indicate the presence of gluten include mentions of a “roux” or “white sauce” used to thicken the soup.
Exceptions
While most cream of celery soups contain gluten, there are some exceptions:
- Gluten-free cream of celery soups thickened with cornstarch, arrowroot, rice flour, or other gluten-free starches instead of wheat flour.
- Canned condensed cream of celery soups that do not contain a wheat flour thickener.
- Homemade cream of celery soups thickened with gluten-free starches or xanthan gum instead of wheat flour.
So while gluten is common in cream of celery soup, checking the ingredients list and product labeling is the only way to be sure if a particular brand or variety contains gluten or not. Look for gluten-free labels as well as non-gluten thickeners like cornstarch in the ingredients list.
Are There Gluten-Free Cream of Celery Soup Options?
Yes, there are several options for gluten-free cream of celery soup:
1. Check for Gluten-Free Labelling
Many brands of canned cream of celery soup now explicitly label their soups as “gluten-free” if they do not contain any wheat/gluten ingredients. Checking for this label is the easiest way to identify gluten-free options. Popular brands of canned gluten-free cream of celery soup include Campbell’s and Progresso.
2. Look for Non-Wheat Thickeners
Scan the ingredients lists and look for non-wheat based thickeners like:
- Cornstarch
- Rice flour
- Potato starch
- Arrowroot
- Xanthan gum
If the cream of celery soup uses one of these as a thickener instead of wheat flour, it should be gluten-free.
3. Make Your Own
You can make gluten-free cream of celery soup from scratch at home. Simply use cornstarch, rice flour, xanthan gum, or another gluten-free starch to thicken it instead of a traditional roux. Homemade allows you to control all the ingredients for a guaranteed gluten-free end result.
4. Try Condensed Soups
Some brands of canned condensed cream of celery soup do not contain any added thickeners or wheat flour. They rely on the starch from the celery and other vegetables to slightly thicken the soup. Check the ingredients to confirm, but some condensed cream soups are gluten-free.
What to Look for When Checking Labels
When evaluating cream of celery soup labels for gluten, look for:
- The words “gluten-free” on the packaging
- Ingredients like wheat flour, barley, rye, malt, or oats – these indicate gluten
- Thickeners like cornstarch, potato starch, xanthan gum – these are gluten-free
- “No gums or thickeners added” on condensed soup – a good sign it’s gluten-free
Avoid soup with terms like “roux”, “white sauce”, or “wheat-based thickener” on the label, as these contain gluten. Carefully checking the ingredients list is the most reliable way to assess gluten content. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer to inquire about gluten sources.
Gluten-Free Substitutes for Cream of Celery Soup
If you are following a gluten-free diet, there are several alternatives you can use in place of traditional gluten-containing cream of celery soup:
| Substitute | Notes |
|---|---|
| Gluten-free cream of celery soup | Use a certified gluten-free product, homemade version, or check the ingredients for gluten-free thickeners. |
| Celery puree | Puree celery, broth, milk or cream, and seasoning. Will be thinner than cream soup. |
| Cashew cream | Blend cashews with seasonings for a nutty, creamy base. |
| Coconut milk | Use full-fat canned coconut milk and stir in seasonings. |
These substitutes can be used in a 1:1 ratio in recipes that call for cream of celery soup. Adjust consistency as needed with starch thickeners or extra liquid.
Is Cream of Celery Soup Safe for a Gluten-Free Diet?
Most traditional varieties of cream of celery soup are not gluten-free due to the wheat-flour based thickener. However, there are several easy ways to find or make gluten-free cream of celery soup safely.
When purchasing canned soup, check the labels closely for gluten-free designations and avoid soups listing wheat flour or ambiguous thickeners like “starch.” Look for brands that use cornstarch, rice flour, or other gluten-free starches instead.
When making cream of celery soup from scratch, simply replace the wheat flour with an alternative like rice flour or xanthan gum to thicken it. With these simple substitutions, people following a gluten-free diet can safely enjoy cream of celery soup.
Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should be especially diligent about checking labels and contacting manufacturers to confirm gluten status if uncertain. When prepared carefully, cream of celery soup can be a delicious gluten-free option.
The Bottom Line
Most traditional cream of celery soups contain gluten due to the use of wheat flour as a thickening agent. However, with the rise in gluten-free diets, there are now many canned and homemade cream of celery soup options made without gluten. By checking labels for call-outs, glancing at the ingredient list, and substituting thickening agents, gluten-free cream of celery soup can easily be incorporated into a gluten-free lifestyle.