Xanthan gum: What is it, What is it Used for and Recipes

Name: Express Mini-Muffins
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 3 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 100g of Egg White from FoodSeries; 40g Instant Oats, chocolate flavour from FoodSeries; 10g cacao powder from FoodSeries; 1 spoon of baking soda; 1 spoon of coffee Xanthan gum from FoodSeries; Cocoa and Hazelnut Hyperprotein Cream Low in Sugar

Melanie Ramos 5 min. of reading Functional foods Leave a comment

Are you one of those who likes a good sauce at meals but also look to take care of yourself? We bring you a food that will become essential inside your kitchen: Xanthan Gum

What is Xanthan gum what is it for?

Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide from maize, which is produced with the fermentation of the bacteria Anthomonas Campestris.

In other words, it is a very common natural compound in the food industry, which occurs in the form of a whitish powder

In fact, it is often found in foods like thickener E-415.

Its main use is for the food sector, where it is widely used as emulsifier and for thickening of all types of food, from sauces, to desserts and beverages.

One of its characteristics is that its thickening power works both cold and hot, so once the mixture reaches its maximum thickness level, it will not vary even if the food changes its temperature. This makes it the perfect complement to your kitchen.

Benefits of Xanthan gum for the body

Xanthan gum, in addition to being a good complement to your meals, is a product that presents several interesting properties that are beneficial to the body:

Constipation

This natural complement facilitates intestinal transit, thanks to the extra fibre supply that its ingestion brings. Studies where participants have been given xanthan gum in food testing have shown their efficiency as laxative.

Celiac

People with gluten intolerances or allergies should remove gluten from their diet. But this one works like a great natural thickener. Xanthan gum is presented as a natural substitute, with which you can thicken pizza bases or biscuits.

Diabetes

Xanthan gum has the ability to slow down sugar absorption in digestion. In fact, a study involving both celiac and non-celiac patients found that after six weeks of eating 12g xanthan gum, diabetics had lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels than before the study.

Difficulty swallowing

If you have trouble swallowing because your saliva flow is very poor or you suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome, xanthan gum will help stimulate its secretion and also work lubricating your mouth.

How to use Xanthan Gum

It is a perfect substitute for traditional thickeners, in fact very small amounts of the product are needed to see results. On the other hand, it does not provide fats or sugars, and although it has 3kcal per gram, with only small amounts included, the caloric intake is almost zero.

It is also common to use in cooking and medicines as emulsifiers and thickeners of water-soluble foods, improving the texture of food in the mouth.

Xanthan gum: Applications and Culinary Uses

Here are some of its possible uses, as well as the recommended quantities to be used in each case:

Foams and mousses: In sweet recipes such as whipped cream, meringue or even mousses, it increases stability, causing them to “drop” more slowly. For these cases, 1g per litre will be sufficient.
Ice Cream: It is a perfect option to increase its texture, with less fat use required in recipes. It also acts as an emulsifier, favouring the formation of micro-air bubbles which gives volume and lightness to the ice cream.

Avoid ice. Use 1 to 2 grams per litre of mixture

Healthy smoothies: Increasing unctuousness, allowing us to make milkshakes, but they will have a texture very similar to that of an ice cream made with milk or even cream. Use 2 to 4 grams per litre according to desired thickness.
Pastries and bakery products: It will help you increase the consistency and improve the texture of any bread, cake, cookie or cake you want to prepare.

To get the help of xanthan gum add 2 teaspoons of it for every 150g of flour

Salads: Using it to thicken salad dressings is amazing. To do this you only have to use 1 g of xanthan gum every 1/2 cup of vinegar. Mix the xanthan gum in a bowl with the vinegar and whisk until completely dissolved. Finally add the oil.
Thickening of cold (or hot) sauces: 2 to 3 grams per litre of water are sufficient to make a light sauce. For a very thick sauce we will use up to 5 grams per litre.

Unleash your imagination and make your best desserts!

Spherifications: If the product we want to spherify is too liquid, the spheres will not form properly. A little xanthan is added to give the right consistency that ensures the perfect formation of the spheres.
Cocktails: Used to increase the density of a drink allowing particles or fruits to remain in stable suspension.

It is recommended not to exceed these amounts, as excessive use may cause gas or upset stomach. Likewise, their prolonged use over time has not been shown to have side effects