Saltine crackers, also known as salt crackers, are a popular form of snack food. These salty snacks are super simple and versatile, pairing nicely with cheese, meat, or jam.
For many people, saltine crackers are a comfort food.
If you adore snacking on saltine crackers, you may be wondering whether or not they are suitable for vegans. For the most part, saltines are suitable for vegans. Let’s explore why!
Saltine Crackers: Are They Vegan?
Yes, the majority of saltine cracker brands are suitable for vegans. The reason for this is that the basic ingredient list for these crackers does not contain any foods sourced from animals.
Traditionally, a saltine cracker will be made from flour, salt, yeast, and baking soda. Deriving from plants, these ingredients are fine for vegetarians and vegans alike to consume.
Though additional ingredients will be added for seasoning, they rarely contain anything that will make these crackers unsuitable for vegans.
Despite this, it can still be worth double-checking the packaging to determine whether or not a brand of saltine crackers is suitable for your dietary needs.
Though most saltine crackers are fine for vegans, the large number of brands available means that caution can be beneficial.
What Non-Vegan Ingredients Should You Search For?
For the most part, you will not find non-vegan ingredients on the packaging for a box of saltine crackers.
However, some manufacturers may sneakily use ingredients that you may not realize are unsuitable for vegans. These are some of the ingredients that you need to be vigilant for:
- Milk powder: milk powder may also be included in a saltine cracker recipe. Luckily, this ingredient is usually easy to find, as the packaging should read “contains: milk”.
- Cheese or whey: some cracker manufacturers will give their products a cheesy twist. Though this tastes delicious, the addition of these ingredients will mean that they are no longer vegan. This is because whey derives from milk.
- Certain diglycerides and monoglycerides: if you are vegan, it is best to try and avoid these ingredients as much as possible. This is because many varieties originate from animal fat. Though some versions are suitable for vegans, others will not be appropriate.
Popular Vegan Saltine Cracker Brands
Now that you know a little more about the ingredients that are used to make saltine crackers, you may be searching for some popular vegan cracker brands.
The truth is that there are loads of cracker brands out there that are suitable for vegan diets. Some of the most popular brands include:
- Target’s Market Pantry Saltine Crackers
- Keebler Zesta Original Saltine Crackers
- Sunshine Krispy Saltine Crackers
- Harris Teeter Original Saltine Crackers
- Wegmans Saltine Crackers
- Nabisco Premium Original Saltine Crackers
Are Saltine Crackers Gluten-Free?
No, most saltine cracker brands are not gluten-free. This is because they are usually made with flour that derives from wheat. Therefore, it is best to avoid these crackers if you have celiac disease.
Yet, there are plenty of gluten-free crackers out there for you to try. These brands will use different types of flour to make saltine crackers that are fine for people with celiac disease, such as soy flour.
You can typically find these crackers in the gluten-free aisle of the supermarket.
Some of the best brands for gluten-free saltine crackers are Schar, Natural Nectar, Glutino, Orgran, and Simple Mills.
Just be sure to double-check the packaging to ensure that you have bought the gluten-free versions. These manufacturers will typically make products with ingredients that contain gluten.
Final Thoughts
If you are searching for a light and easy snack, saltine crackers can be a fantastic choice.
Made with simple ingredients, these crackers are perfectly suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
As a result, you can eat these crackers without consuming animal food products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Saltine Crackers Contain Milk?
No, most saltine cracker recipes will not contain milk, as this ingredient is simply not needed to make the crackers. If a brand of these crackers is made with milk, they would no longer be considered vegan. In particular, you should look out for milk powder in the ingredients list.
What Can You Eat With Saltine Crackers?
Though saltine crackers are tasty, they will be rather dry and bland if you eat them on their own. As a result, we recommend that you pair these crackers with a generous topping of vegan cheese, plant-based cream cheese, vegan butter, vegan peanut butter, jam, or fruits. You can even use them to make s’mores, though graham crackers are the superior option.
