It might be intimidating to prepare food for someone who has a serious food allergy. Although, it’s becoming more prevalent than ever due to the growth in food allergies. You will want people to like the cuisine you serve. However, you wouldn’t want to be in charge of causing a serious allergic reaction in someone.
Fortunately, preparing for visitors who have severe food allergies doesn’t have to be difficult with the appropriate information and preparation. CooksDream can provide you with more help if you are struggling with how to cook for someone with allergies.
In this article, we will discuss how to cook for guests with allergies.
Which Ingredients Are More Likely To Cause A Reaction?
Any number of foods can cause allergies in people. Every allergy has the possibility to be severe, but some components are much more likely to result in severe reactions. The following are the top 8 allergens that you can come across which may cause severe reactions.
- Eggs,
- Soy,
- Shellfish,
- Milk,
- Peanuts,
- Fish,
- Wheat,
- Tree Nuts.
As a result, it is important that you speak to your guests to really understand what they are allergic to and how severe it is. Someone with a nut allergy isn’t always allergic to every type of nut, so it is vital you know which ingredients you should be wary of.
Avoid Particular Ingredients
Some individuals have a tendency to believe that if a visitor has an allergy, they may simply exclude that ingredient for that visitor and everything would be great. This may be the case for some people. However, in the case of severe allergies, it’s possible that the allergic individual doesn’t even need to actually eat the ingredient to experience a deadly reaction.
Anaphylactic reactions to peanuts, for instance, may be brought on by a tiny amount of peanuts that are scattered through the air and land on a dish. Therefore, even for those who aren’t allergic to it, it’s advisable to keep the ingredient out of the entire meal.
Ensure Your Kitchen Is Clean
Make sure you properly clean and sterilize the kitchen, including all the surfaces and utensils you’ll be using, before starting to prepare food for someone who has a severe food allergy. This also includes washing your hands as you cook and come into contact with other ingredients.
You want to ensure that everything is clean, so you don’t have to worry about cross contamination. It is better to be safe and ensure everything is definitely clean and clear of any traces of allergens before you start cooking.
Read Every Label
Although it can be annoying, reading labels is a crucial precaution against allergic reactions. Sometimes, certain ingredients contain allergens that you do not expect. For instance, seafood allergy sufferers should avoid Worcester sauce, a common condiment for burgers and steak. This is because it frequently contains anchovy paste.
Common allergens are required to be bolded on any label for easy identification. Additionally, you need to be cautious of any potential exposure because even a very small amount of an allergen might result in a reaction.
Despite not actively containing nuts, some goods, such as prepared cookies, might be created in the same area as almonds. In this instance, someone with a severe nut allergy shouldn’t eat the cookies.
Talk To Your Guests
If you have a guest with food allergies, then it is important that you speak with them regularly. It is critical to keep them in the loop on what you are doing, and what you plan to serve. This way, your guest can advise on whether they can eat the dishes you are making.
If providing for a particular diet seems too challenging, you can request that visitors who have food allergies or other restrictions bring their own meals that they can consume. Many people who follow uncommon diets are willing to lend a hand, since they realize that cooking without allergens can be difficult.
Conclusion
Cooking for guests with allergies can be a bit of a challenge if you aren’t used to it. However, you shouldn’t worry, as it is quite simple to accommodate guests with allergies. The most essential thing you can do is speak with your guests to understand their allergies. Then alter your meal to avoid particular ingredients.
We hope this article has been helpful in allowing you to understand how you can cook for guests with allergies. Follow the tips listed above and you shouldn’t have any issues!
