Thursday, January 21, 2010

Crunchmaster Gluten-Free Multi-Grain Crackers Review


I think these are perhaps the best all around gluten-free cracker I have encountered thus far : the Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers - crunchy oven backed original multi-seed variety. And, I have tried quite a few different gluten-free crackers over the years including others that I certainly enjoy (e.g., Mary's Gone Crackers : those are good crunchy robust crackers in general, though they often taste slightly burnt to me for whatever reason and they crumble a bit more easily than these Crunchmasters).

I found these wonderful crackers at CostCo for 1/2 of what they cost in the local grocery store too: $6.99 for a box that contains two (2) 10-ounce bags (for a total of 20oz of crackers). Still a bit steep on a per-pound basis, but considering that this is HALF what they cost when purchased in much smaller boxes I have found elsewhere, they are a relative deal.

UPDATE: I just received our Costco Wholesale member coupon-booklet for the period of Feb. 4 - Feb 28, 2010, and it has a nice $2.00 off coupon for these crackers! That makes for a deal! (and, coupon says "no limit") :)

I have taste-tested these crackers with a variety of participating testers: gluten-free / Celiac persons and non-gluten-free persons alike. The opinions of my taste-testers were broadly similar in that everyone found the crackers to be quite hearty and full of flavor from the sesame seeds, flax, quinoa seeds, amaranth seeds, and a bit of tamari (the other core ingredients are brown-rice meal, some potato starch, safflower oil, and a bit of salt).

As the name "Crunchmaster" implies: these gluten-free snack crackers have a very nice crunch indeed! The non-gluten-free people testing the crackers did not find them to be lacking anything when compared to the "normal" (gluten-containing) crackers on the market. We have tried them served plain or with cheese, hummus, and a few other things -- the results were always appealing to the taste buds.

In addition to being crunchy and flavorful, the dairy-free/wheat-free/gluten-free crackers also boast a rather low sodium level (110mg / 15-crackers) coupled with 2grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, 280mg of Omega-3 per serving, and zero cholesterol; this makes them a rather "healthy" cracker option to consider. They are certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) and carry a clearly-displayed moniker to that effect. If you want to see more online, here is a link to the Crunchmaster Web-Site.

Bottom line: highly recommended, especially if you enjoy a good crisp and flavorful cracker that goes well with a variety of complementary spreads and toppings!

15 comments:

Palila said...

I also love these crackers! The cost isn't too bad in the small packages, but only if they're on sale/with a coupon. I was really surprised to find such a large box of anything labeled gluten-free at Sams.

(And I thought the weird burnt taste in Mary's crackers was just me.)

Jenn/CinnamonQuill said...

Oooo, I'd like to find these!

Unknown said...

These are by far the best crackers I've eaten. My whole family loves them.

Amy B. said...

I eat these crackers often, as they are more like "real" crackers than some (and they are affordable!) however, they NEED something on them, not like nut-thins you can eat straight from the box. the flavor is very strong!

Jess said...

I found a super sized pack at Costco. They are great, just wish they had a little less salt to them.

Steph said...

I'm a big fan of these crackers too! I only eat them with certain things though because I feel the flavor of them overpower some things.

amy said...

I agree, these are great crackers. We typically use these for dips and hummus because they've got the nice crunch that some GF crackers lack. When we've served them at family gatherings even the gluten eaters like the crackers! They don't suspect they're gluten-free! Here's a link to a great GF dip that I like to use with these crackers! http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/12/little-dipper-cranberry-orange-dip.html

Suzanne said...

Crunchmaster is the top choice for our GF family; the kids call them the 'birdseed crackers.' They really are exceptional.

Anonymous said...

Hey I just found this new product by Gluton-Free and Fabulous. They have all these kinds of foods from pizza to cookies. I have tried the cookies and the shortbread ones are delicious. They are easy to find too. I haven't found a grocery store yet that doesn't have the stuff and you can get it online too. I would definitely recommend the stuff.

Jen said...

Mmm looks tasty. And glad to know that they can easily be found in Costco! I'm always on the hunt for healthy snacks. Have you tried cassava chips? They're similar to potato chips but gluten-free! Non-GF and GF people love them. They're not as easy to find but I found some at my local Trader Joe's. I definitely recommend them!

Anonymous said...

costco has discontinued this item #538385, but if you put it in the suggestion box asking for it back, it might return as they are still being made. though juno alska has 58 boxes still!
I think these crackers are awesome with hummus, but plain they are rather disgusting.

Mike Eberhart said...

Anon..., I have noticed these are now lacking at CostCo too. They are great tasting crackers (for me) both plain and with hummus, cheese, and other things. CostCo is carrying the same brand of Rice Crackers, but the Rice-only ones are quite simply not of the same outstanding quality as the multigrain version. The rice crackers are just "OK". I sure hope Costco gets the others back in stock!

Anonymous said...

Our Costco in Avon OH was out for a while, but now they are back. Yay!

Kristin said...

Love these also. I can find them at Sam's and they are great with all dips and spreads or even crumble on a salad for a nice crunch to resemble the forbidden crouton:)

Anonymous said...

I have an intolerance to corn not gluten and these crackers are the best substitute for nachos that I have found to date, crunchy and slightly salty, they hold up to baking with cheese better than most crackers which go soggy.