Is Gyro Meat Gluten-Free?

Celiac.com 11/16/2022 - We know gyro meat is the delicious foundation of a great gyro, but is gyro meat gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease?

We get a lot of questions about which food products and ingredients are gluten-free. Sometimes, we can solve the question with a quick referral to our Safe and Unsafe ingredient lists. Other times, the questions can be trickier.

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Lately we've seen a lot of questions about gyro meat. Specifically, is gyro meat gluten-free and safe for people with celiac disease?

Gyro meat, pronounced YEE – row, is delicious spiced cone-of-meat that is cooked traditionally on a vertical rotisserie, and then sliced to put in pita bread.

Known as doner kebab in Turkey and gyros in Greece, gyro meat is the foundation of a delicious pita-based sandwich, that is popular worldwide. Putting aside the fact that gyro meat is usually served on a non-gluten-free pita, here's the lowdown.

What makes it unique is the way it is traditionally prepared. Gyro meats are either done as thinly sliced fresh meats on a vertical rotisserie, or they are finely ground, mixed with spices, and then either baked as a meat loaf, or chilled before grilling on a vertical rotisserie. 

Gyro meat is usually a mix of lamb, and sometimes includes chicken and beef, along with herbs and spices. So, if you ditch the pita, is gyro meat gluten-free? The answer is that it depends. Sometimes yes, often no.

Many home made gyro meat recipes, including this one from Alton Brown, are gluten-free. Many traditionally prepared gyro meats are also gluten-free.

The real question is about the gyro meat you find in shops, restaurants, or the frozen section of your local store. Many pre-made commercial gyro meats are made with wheat ingredients, usually breadcrumbs, such as this version by Midmar, available at Amazon.com.

Midmar Gyro Meat ingredients: Halal Beef, Halal Lamb, Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Breadcrumbs (Bleached Wheat Flour, Sugar, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil, Yeast) Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Dehydrated Onions, Spices and Flavorings.

If gyro meat is made with wheat flour, or if the spices used should contain gluten, then it is not gluten-free and not safe for children or adults with celiac disease. So, the long answer is that if your gyros are traditionally made, they may very likely be gluten-free. It's always important to check ingredients and to verify that you are eating gluten-free gyro meat. Be sure to check ingredients, or ask your cook. If you're not sure, it's best to avoid gyro meat.