Is rice gluten-free?
All pure rice is naturally gluten-free — white, brown, jasmine, basmati, arborio, wild rice, and sticky rice. The main risks are flavored rice mixes, rice pilafs with orzo (which is wheat pasta), and cross-contamination at restaurants that share fryer oil or prep surfaces.
When it's safe
- The package contains only rice, or rice plus naturally gluten-free ingredients
- The label is certified gluten-free or no wheat/barley/rye appears in the ingredients
When to avoid it
- The product is Rice-A-Roni or similar pilaf mix — orzo (wheat pasta) is a common ingredient
- The seasoning packet in flavored rice mixes lists wheat, malt, or soy sauce
- You're eating at a restaurant with shared fryers — rice itself is safe, but prep matters
Not sure about a specific product?
GF Scanner is an iOS app that scans barcodes and ingredient labels to detect gluten in seconds. It's free to download, includes 1 free barcode scan and forever-free offline ingredient-label text scanning, and offers a free trial for Pro barcode scanning and AI analysis. It works on packaged foods worldwide and supports 33 languages.
Download FreeFrequently asked questions
Is sticky rice gluten-free?
Yes. Sticky rice (glutinous rice) is naturally gluten-free — the word "glutinous" refers to its sticky texture, not the gluten protein.
Is rice vinegar gluten-free?
Yes, almost always. Pure rice vinegar is gluten-free. Check seasoned rice vinegar used for sushi, since some brands add barley-based flavorings.
Is wild rice gluten-free?
Yes. Wild rice is actually a grass seed, unrelated to wheat. Pure wild rice and wild rice blends with only rice varieties are gluten-free.