Are Uncrustables Vegan?
Uncrustables are a popular snack choice, and for good reason. These tasty treats are easy to transport, come in a ton of flavors, and can be eaten one-handed when you’re on the go. They are also the perfect addition to a lunch box or picnic and you’re sure to find a flavor for everyone.
These tasty treats are essentially crustless sandwiches with a delicious filling and a crimped edge. Two slices of bread are sealed together to hold in whatever filling you enjoy, from peanut butter and jelly to hazelnut chocolate.
They have also expanded their line to include popular roll up options and heartier fillings.
Since these snack foods are so popular, you might be wondering whether they suit your dietary needs and preferences.
So, are Uncrustables vegan? The answer is that it depends on which flavor you choose. If you go for the classic peanut butter and jelly flavors such as strawberry and grape, then yes, they are definitely vegan.
If you want to try other versions like the roll-ups or the chocolate-flavored hazelnut Uncrustable, then they aren’t vegan.
Keep reading to discover which flavors are vegan-friendly, which ones are vegetarian friendly, and whether Uncrustables are gluten-free or kosher.
Vegan-Friendly Uncrustable Options
Before we look at whether Uncrustables are vegan, we need to understand what a vegan diet is. If you choose to follow a vegan diet, that means you are not eating animals or animal byproducts.
These byproducts include things like dairy products (milk, cheese, etc), eggs, gelatin, animal fat, and anything else that originated from an animal. Depending on who you ask, honey can also be considered part of this list.
So when you’re looking to see if something is vegan or not, you need to make sure that it not only doesn’t contain animal flesh, but also excludes any of these byproducts as well.
Luckily, there are a few classic flavors of Uncrustables that are safe for vegans to enjoy. If you’re vegan, you can try one of the following flavors:
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly on Wheat
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam on Wheat
Note: While there are no animal products or byproducts in these flavors, there is a note that says these options may contain milk ingredients due to cross-contamination. So if this is a concern to you, then it might be best to avoid it.
Non-Vegan Uncrustable Options
If you need to know which products to avoid, there are some options that include meat and dairy. There are four new flavors and types of Uncrustables that all contain meat, so are not vegan friendly. These are:
- Turkey and Colby Jack Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups
- Uncured Ham & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups
- Taco Bites with beef crumble, cheese, salsa, and taco seasoning
- BBQ Chicken Bites
These four varieties are very definitively not vegan friendly since they contain meat products and dairy products. There are a couple other flavors that are not vegan friendly, but that don’t contain meat. They are:
- Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich- contains honey. Some vegans will eat honey, so they may be considered vegan-friendly by some people.
- Chocolate Flavored Hazelnut Spread Sandwich- contains milk ingredients, so definitely not vegan.
Note: Whether or not honey is vegan or okay for vegans to consume is a highly debated topic. While honey is certainly made by bees, some argue that bees are not harmed in the process, and in fact, beekeepers help save the bee population from declining. The final verdict is yours to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
In addition to wondering whether Uncrustables are vegan, you may want to know whether they are vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free, or dairy free. The answer depends entirely on the flavor you want to try. Read on to discover the answers.
Are Uncrustables Gluten Free?
If you have celiac disease, gluten intolerance, or just feel better when you don’t eat gluten, then you might be wondering whether Uncrustables are gluten-free.
Unfortunately, since all of the flavors are made with wheat, they are not considered gluten-free.
If you want to try making some of your own at home, pick up a high-quality gluten-free bread (you don’t want it to fall apart) and your favorite fillings.
- Lightly roll your bread with a rolling pin to flatten it and make it larger.
- Load the center with your goodies, leaving about half a centimeter of bread around the filling.
- Crimp the edges closed with a sandwich cutter and discard the crusts.
- Can be wrapped and frozen or eat right away.
Are Uncrustables Dairy Free?
There are certain flavors of Uncrustables that are dairy-free. While you may think on first glance that the BBQ Chicken flavor is dairy-free, the bread actually contains some skim milk powder, so it is not technically dairy-free. The following flavors are free from all dairy products:
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly on Wheat
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam on Wheat
- Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich
Are Uncrustables Kosher?
Kosher foods are those that conform to specific Jewish dietary requirements when it comes to type of food, how it’s prepared, how it’s processed, and how it’s inspected.
In order for a product to be certified, it must meet these predetermined guidelines.
Kosher products will display one of the specific symbols, such as a circled U or K, on their packaging. There are other symbols, but Uncrustables generally states right on the package or the information page whether a specific flavor is Kosher.
Based on their website the following flavors of Uncrustables are Kosher:
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Sandwich: Kosher Pareve
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly on Wheat: Kosher Pareve
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich: Kosher Pareve
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam on Wheat: Kosher Pareve
- Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich: Kosher Pareve
- Chocolate Flavored Hazelnut Spread Sandwich- Kosher Dairy
The following Uncrustable flavors are not Kosher, so if you adhere to a Kosher diet make sure you keep these ones out of your shopping cart:
- Turkey and Colby Jack Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups
- Uncured Ham & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups
- Taco Bites with beef crumble, cheese, salsa, and taco seasoning
- BBQ Chicken Bites
As you can see, there are several flavors that are certified Kosher so you can enjoy Uncrustables, while adhering to your Kosher diet.
We always recommend checking the box when purchasing because sometimes companies will change their formulas or recipes without warning and suddenly something that was Kosher before no longer is. It’s always best to err on the side of caution and double-check before you buy.
Are Uncrustables Vegetarian Friendly?
To understand whether Uncrustables are vegetarian, you need to know what a vegetarian diet is. This way of eating is different from a strict vegan diet because it generally allows the consumption of animal byproducts like dairy.
Vegetarians don’t eat meat, though some practice pescetarianism and eat fish. However, many will enjoy animal byproducts such as milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, eggs, and honey.
Each person will have some variety within their vegetarian diet depending on what they include or exclude, but in general these items are allowed. There are several delicious flavors that are completely vegetarian friendly, which are listed below:
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly on Wheat
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich
- Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam on Wheat
- Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich- contains honey
- Chocolate Flavored Hazelnut Spread Sandwich- contains milk ingredients
What Are Uncrustable Roll-Ups?
The Uncrustable Roll Ups are a new option from the Smuckers company that use a flatbread instead of regular bread. Each roll up is layered with meat and cheese and rolled into a convenient pinwheel that’s easy to eat and take with you on the go.
They’re a perfect option to change things up, while still keeping the convenience of a regular Uncrustable sandwich. They come in two non-vegan flavors:
- Turkey and Colby Jack Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups
- Uncured Ham & Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Roll-Ups
Final Thoughts
There are so many great flavors of Uncrustables to enjoy and you can find something to suit almost every dietary requirement or preference. If you are gluten free, you can try making your own Uncrustables at home.
Even though this information all comes from the Smuckers website, we always encourage you to check your labels and boxes before you purchase your products. Sometimes companies will update or change their recipes and formulations without warning.
Taking a quick peek at the box before you put your Uncrustables in your cart can save you from unknowingly eating a product or food that you are avoiding. Most labels will say at the end of the ingredient listing any allergens it contains such as wheat, eggs, dairy, or soy.
There should also be a label that certifies whether the product is Kosher so keep an eye out for that symbol to prevent consuming something that doesn’t align with your dietary requirements.
Once you become a pro at label reading it won’t take any time at all to skim the ingredient list and pop your Uncrustables in your cart. In no time you will be on your way to enjoying one of the many convenient and delicious flavors.
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