Who is this for?

People planning a gluten-free shared lunch

Look for a gluten-free label on the bread and plan how to serve it alongside ordinary bread. Coeliac UK advises using clean utensils and keeping crumbs out of shared spreads.

People packing lunch without an oven

Check the serving directions before choosing a naan. Sainsbury's says its Free From naan is ready to eat, whereas ASDA provides oven-heating directions for its plain naans.

People open to a different flatbread

If a plain bread for cheese, pickle or other savoury toppings matters more than naan, M&S lists a gluten-free plain flatbread. Its ingredients include dried egg white, so check the pack when buying for someone with an egg allergy.

What to check before buying

Start with the specific pack's gluten-free label, then work backwards from where and how the ploughman's lunch will be served.

Priority What to check Your needs
Gluten-free label Check the claim on the specific naan, not its plain flavour or appearance. The Food Standards Agency states that food labelled gluten-free must contain no more than 20 mg/kg gluten as sold to the consumer. I need bread identified as gluten-free, rather than assuming an ordinary plain naan will do.
Other allergens Read the current ingredients and precautionary information for each relevant allergy. BFree lists a mustard-and-sesame precaution for its naan; M&S lists dried egg white in its gluten-free flatbread. When buying for someone with another allergy, I need to check more than the gluten-free claim.
Serving method Sainsbury's says its Free From naan is ready to eat or can be oven heated. ASDA gives oven directions, while Ocado lists oven, toaster and pan methods for BFree naan. Follow the purchased pack. There will be no oven at lunch, so I want serving directions that work without one.
Pack and storage ASDA lists two naans in 200 g and says to use them within one day of opening. Ocado lists two BFree naans in 240 g, with four suggested half-naan servings and use within two days of opening. I am planning how much bread to serve and whether an opened pack will still fit the lunch date.
Shared preparation Use a clean board and utensils when ordinary bread is also served. Coeliac UK advises separate condiments or clean cutlery for shared spreads to avoid introducing crumbs. We will share a lunch board, but I need to keep ordinary-bread crumbs away from the gluten-free portion.

Common buying and serving mistakes

  • Assuming plain naan is gluten-free

    Plain describes the flavour, not the gluten content. Waitrose Plain Naan, for example, lists wheat flour and wheat gluten.

    Check the gluten-free claim and ingredients on the particular pack before choosing by flavour or format.

  • Stopping at the gluten-free label when there is another allergy

    A gluten-free claim does not rule out other allergens. BFree's naan information includes a mustard-and-sesame precaution, and M&S's gluten-free flatbread contains dried egg white.

    Read the current full ingredients and precautionary information for every allergy that applies.

  • Serving gluten-free bread on a crumb-covered board

    Ordinary-bread crumbs can reach the chosen bread through a shared board, knife or spread.

    Follow Coeliac UK's advice to use clean preparation equipment and uncontaminated serving utensils and condiments.

  • Assuming every naan has the same serving and storage directions

    Sainsbury's describes its naan as ready to eat, while the ASDA and BFree listings give heating directions. Their after-opening instructions differ too.

    Choose for the equipment available and the date of the lunch, then follow the instructions on the pack you buy.

    An opened pack may need using sooner than your next planned lunch.

Product and brand references

These examples distinguish gluten-free naan from other flatbreads and ordinary naan; check the current pack when choosing a product.

ASDA Free From

ASDA Groceries lists a 200 g pack of two plain naans labelled free from gluten, milk and egg.

  • The listing gives oven-heating and after-opening storage directions.
  • Plan for those oven directions if the lunch will be served away from heating facilities.

Sainsbury's Free From

Sainsbury's lists a 180 g gluten-free naan pack that it describes as ready to eat or suitable for oven heating.

  • The stated ready-to-eat option is relevant to a lunch without an oven.
  • Check the current pack and local availability before planning around this particular naan.

BFree

BFree identifies its naan as gluten-free; Ocado lists a pack of two 120 g naans.

  • Ocado provides oven, toaster and pan heating methods, plus suggested half-naan servings.
  • BFree lists a mustard-and-sesame precaution. Check the purchased pack if either allergen matters.

M&S Made Without

M&S describes its 240 g gluten-free plain flatbreads as suitable for dipping or savoury toppings. They are flatbreads, not an identified naan.

  • The plain format offers an alternative when naan itself is not essential.
  • This product contains dried egg white; M&S advises checking the product label.

Waitrose

Waitrose Plain Naan is a label-check example, not a gluten-free naan option.

  • Its listed ingredients include wheat flour and wheat gluten. Do not infer gluten-free suitability from a plain name or flatbread format.

Joybuy bread alternatives

These Joybuy options are a gluten-free crispbread and gluten-free tortilla wraps for a ploughman's lunch when naan is not essential. Neither product is naan.

Schar Gluten Free Crispbread 150g

Schar Gluten Free Crispbread 150g

This gluten-free crispbread is a different format from naan for a shared lunch. Check the pack's allergen and serving information before buying for someone else.

View on Joybuy
OLD EL PASO Gluten Free Tortilla Wraps 216g

OLD EL PASO Gluten Free Tortilla Wraps 216g

These gluten-free tortilla wraps offer a wrap rather than a naan for lunch. Check the current pack for other allergens and serving directions.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does plain naan count as gluten-free?

No. Plain describes the flavour, so check the specific product's gluten-free label and ingredients. Waitrose Plain Naan, for example, lists wheat flour and wheat gluten.

Does gluten-free mean free from other allergens?

No. Check the current pack for each relevant allergen. BFree's naan information includes a mustard-and-sesame precaution, while M&S's gluten-free plain flatbread lists dried egg white.

How should I serve gluten-free bread alongside ordinary bread?

Use clean boards and utensils, and keep ordinary-bread crumbs out of shared spreads. Coeliac UK recommends separate condiments or clean cutlery for shared ones; also follow the chosen bread's own serving instructions.

What should I check when buying the bread ahead of lunch?

Check the purchased pack's best-before date, after-opening directions, serving instructions and allergen information. In particular, the ASDA and BFree naan listings give different periods for use after opening.

Does a gluten-free naan label cover the whole ploughman's lunch?

No. Check packaged accompaniments individually and prevent crumbs from reaching the gluten-free portion through shared boards, knives or spreads. Coeliac UK advises checking labels on processed foods and sauces as well as avoiding cross-contact during preparation.