Kinnikinnick Tapioca Rice Hot Dog Buns

Another Kinnikinnick food item that can be used for a favorite comfort food: gluten free tapioca rice hot dog buns. A couple of weeks ago I reviewed their hamburger buns, now lets see how these hot dog buns fare.

Experience:
These buns are also sold frozen, a common theme with wheat and gluten free baked products. Also here you have different options to thaw this product.

The first time I used this bun was during a BBQ we have been invited to. I simply wrapped the frozen thing in foil and brought it with me. It had plenty of time to thaw and I didn’t even think of using a toaster. Bad decision on my part as I learned later on. The bun felt very dense, not as soft as the regular wheat/gluten containing counterparts. Due to the density of the bun, and I mean dense, the whole hot dog experience wasn’t all that great. While the regular buns kind of wrap around the “dog” and other ingredients you might have added, this gluten free one did not. It stayed open in an angle. Oh well. At least a bun, right?

The taste was OK, maybe a tad sweet, but not bad. The texture was too dense and it also was quite dry. The density did ruin the hot dog experience for me. I think I’d rather forgo the bun the next time.

I wanted to give it another try though. This time I didn’t let the bun just thaw on its own, I used a toaster instead. This makes a difference. More than I thought it would. It was less dense and a bit softer, but crunchy at the same time. Still not like the regular ones, but much better. The taste changes a bit too, just like with any other bread you put in a toaster. I liked it better this way. Although it still was not the soft hot dog bun most people are used to, it was much better than I experienced the first time.

The verdict: toasted it is fine to eat, but don’t expect it to be a regular hot dog bun. Definitively room for improvement.

Ingredients (according to the package):
White Rice Flour, Tapioca Starch, Whole Eggs, Yeast, Cellulose, Sugar, Sunflower and/or Canola oil, Dextrose, Pea Protein, Sodium Carboxy Methylcellulose, Salt, Vitamin Blend (Thiamin, B2, Niacin, Folic Acid, Iron).

Where to Buy:
I bought mine at my local Whole Foods store. You might be able to find them in other similar stores as well. I do have my doubts that you will find them in a regular grocery store.

Website: consumer.kinnikinnick.com, Store Finder

Rating: 2.75/5