Xanthan Gum Facts and Tips

Xanthan gum is made by fermenting corn or cabbage sugar with a microbe called "Xanthomonas campestris". Xanthan gum works like gelatin in recipes. If too much is used you may notice a heavy or gummy texture to your recipe so measure carefully. It is used mainly in the food industry as a thickener, it is vegan and great for cooking and baking for people with cetain food allergies or if you are trying to omit dairy, eggs, gluten, or soy from your diet.

To use xanthan gum in your dairy free recipes,use about 1/8 teaspoon per cup of liquid and combine these with a blender, not by hand as it will clump up if not stirred constantly. For sauces, blending the xanthan gum with a little oil before adding the soymilk or rice milk makes for a more creamy texture.

 

Tips for using xanthan or guar gum in gluten free cooking

Bread and pizza dough recipes add 1 teaspoon xanthan or guar gum per cup of gluton free flour.

Cake, muffin and quick bread recipes, add 1/2 teaspoon xsnthan or guar gum per cup of gluton free flour used.

Cookie or bar recipes, add 1/2 teaspoon (or less) xanthan or guar gum per cup of gluton free flour used.

For best results always follow the recipe recomendations.

Alternative Flours

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05/03/2011 19:48
Sorghum.......What is Sorghum?: Sorghum is a cereal grain that originated in Africa about 5000 years ago where it continues to be an important food source today. It's sometimes called milo and in India it is known as jowar."Sweet" sorghum is a popular ingredient in gluten-free flour and baking...
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  Soy flour is made by milling roasted soy beans into a fine powder. Two kinds of soy flour are available: natural or full-fat soy flour which still contain the natural oils that are found in the soy bean. Defatted soy flour has the oils removed during processing. Both kinds will give a...
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Here are three basic uses for bean flour. I have spent some time researching the uses for bean flours and have compiled this information for your reference as well as my own. I haven't tested all of these ideas yet, so I would like to hear about your experiences and tips. Feel free to share your...
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RICE FLOUR Rice flour is made by removing the grain from the chafe. The grain is then washed, soaked and dried. It is then ground in a mill to form a powder. Flour can be made from white, sweet, or brown rice. White rice produces a light fluffy flour, while brown creates a whole grain type flour...

Topic: Xanthan Gum

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Ken 05/24/2011
What kind of experiences have you had using xanthan gum ?

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