Xanthan Gum And Baking Powder/baking Soda Have Completely Different Functions
Im honestly not sure where the idea that theyre somehow interchangeable originated is it because theyre all white powders?
In any case, xanthan gum and baking powder/baking soda fulfil completely different roles in gluten free baking: xanthan gum is a binder , and baking powder and baking soda are raising or leavening agents, making your bakes nice and fluffy.
So, they are in no way related and have no direct interaction or effect on each other. Just because, for example, your gluten free flour blend contains xanthan gum, that doesnt mean that you need to change the amount of baking powder or baking soda in the recipe in any way. Okay? Okay.
Xanthan Gum In Gluten Free Baking
Xanthan gum is a crucial ingredient in gluten free baking and one that I use in the majority of my gluten free recipes. It acts as a binder that greatly improves the texture of gluten free bakes. Here, Im sharing everything you need to know about xanthan gum from how its made and its function in gluten free baking, to how much you actually need to use depending on what youre making.
Today, were continuing the Gluten Free Baking Basics series by talking about one of the most important topics in gluten free baking: xanthan gum.
By the way, if you havent seen the first post in the series, I definitely recommend having a look! I took a deep dive into everything you need to know about making your own homemade gluten free flour blend, and also shared my favourite, go-to blend recipe that you can use in most of my gluten free recipes.
Lets start by stating the obvious: in gluten free baking , there is no gluten. That means that youre removing an ingredient that is responsible for holding your bakes together , for giving them elasticity and flexibility, and also to some extent for keeping your bakes moist.
Todays post will cover everything you need to know about xanthan gum: from how its made to its function in gluten free baking. Well bust some xanthan gum myths and Ill share my rough guide for how much xanthan gum you need to use depending on what youre baking.
So, lets talk xanthan gum!
Treating Dry Mouth & Swallowing Conditions:
Chronic dry mouth condition makes it difficult for its patients to swallow their food due to the lack of saliva. Xanthan gum acts as a moisture retainer. Some health conditions, e.g., strokes, can practically make it impossible for patients to swallow food without choking on it. As a thickening agent, xanthan gum thickens food and saliva to make swallowing easier.
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What Is Xanthan Gum Used For
The application of xantham covers an enormously diverse spectrum.
Today it is widely used in the following products:
- Baked goods
In the food industry, xanthan gum donates the essential benefit through the following three uses.
Thickening agent
Xanthan gum is used to give liquid foods a thicker consistency. Therefore, one uses it in sauces, soups, and smoothies.
Especially in low-carb diets, xanthan gum replaces thickening ingredients such as bananas or arrowroot flour, as these contain too many carbohydrates.
Binding agent
Xanthan gum is a popular binder in baked goods. There this binding agent usually replaces gluten, which is responsible for a soft but chewy texture.
In the process, xanthan gum holds baked goods together and is a popular alternative to sticky wheat protein.
Like gluten, it binds ingredients in a way that allows air pockets. For this reason, xanthan gum can also impart a tart flavor to baked goods.
Emulsifier
Emulsifiers are substances that help fats, such as cooking oils, combine with water.
When you think of a rich bone broth, fat eyes that didnt bond with the water probably immediately come to mind.
Emulsifiers work to counteract this result allowing the fat and water to combine eventually.
For example, youll find xanthan gum as an emulsifier in foods like salad dressings and ice cream. In addition, there are also many industrial uses of the gum as an emulsifier.
How Is It Different From Guar Gum
They’re made from two different sources: xanthan gum from a bacteria and guar gum from a seed native to Asia. In the kitchen, there are important differences in using xanthan gum versus guar gum. In general, guar gum is good for cold foods such as ice cream or pastry fillings, while xanthan gum is better for baked goods, especially those that use yeast. Foods with a high acid content can cause guar gum to lose its thickening abilities. For recipes involving citrus you will want to use xanthan gum.
Read more about how they are different and similar in this post: Guar Gum vs Xanthan Gum.
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Is Xanthan Gum Safe For Celiacs
People use xanthan gum for different purposes, including to try to treat or manage constipationanddiabetes but more studies are needed to confirm the efficacy. People withceliac diseasemust avoid a protein called gluten.
In respect to this, does xanthan gum have gluten?
Yes, our Xanthan Gum is gluten free.
Secondly, do I need xanthan gum with gluten free flour? Gum MeasurementsOnly a small amount is needed in each recipe, never more than a tablespoon. Bread and pizza dough recipes: Add 1 teaspoon xanthan gum or guar gum per cup of gluten–free flour. Cake, muffin, and quick bread recipes: Add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum or guar gum per 1 cup of gluten–free flour used.
Similarly, it is asked, how much xanthan gum do you use for gluten free baking?
For this reason, many gluten–free baking recipes call for Xanthan Gum to replace the elasticity and texture of gluten. For every cup of gluten–free flour in a recipe, use 1 tsp of gum for cakes and cookies and 2 tsp of gum for breads and pizza.
What is xanthan gum made out of?
To quote its Wikipedia page’s definition: Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide secreted by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Translation: Xanthan gum is a sugar derived typically from corn that has been pooped out by a bacteria that produces rot on various vegetables.
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Side Effects For Infants
While the effects of xanthan gum on the digestive systems of healthy adult humans may not be hazardous, this could be different for infants.
Xanthan gum is sometimes used as a thickener to give breast milk or infant formula a consistency that counteracts swallowing problems and reflux.
Studies suggest that thickeners containing xanthan gum may cause necrotizing enterocolitis .
This intestine disease is feared in preterm infants because it is the most common acute gastrointestinal disease of all in this patient group, and its treatment causes complications.
After it was suspected that the food additive was responsible for individual fatal outcomes of the disease in infants, studies also suggest that it may be life-threatening.
The still underdeveloped intestinal tract of infants could be overwhelmed with the high amount of short-chain fatty acids caused due to xanthan gum .
Accordingly, short-chain fatty acids could also cause significant damage to the intestinal wall in newborn rats .
For these reasons, nobody should use xanthan gum in children who have not yet completed the first year of life.
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Har King Arthur Glutenfritt Mel Xantangummi
Vårt glutenfrie mel inneholder ikke xantangummi, ettersom vi utviklet den til å være ideell for et bredt utvalg av bakevarer, kan du bruke den til nesten alt. Selv om det ikke er noen spesifikk formel i seg selv, starter vi med 1/4 teskje xantangummi for hver 1 kopp mel i en oppskrift.
Xanthan Gum And Baking Powder
Sure, xanthan gum, like baking powder, helps gluten-free goods achieve the chewy texture of normal treats.
BUT xanthan gum alone cannot act as a leavening agent – which is what baking powder mainly does.
What you can do, though, is use a leavening agent with xanthan gum.
When a recipe calls for a leavening agent , here are some alternatives:
- Whipped egg whites
- Vinegar combined with baking soda
- Cream of tartar with baking soda
- Yogurt
If youre looking for a delicious and melt-in-your-mouth gluten-free Italian bread, look no further. This loaf of bread is infused with the richness of Italian herbs everyone loves.
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Can I Just Skip The Xanthan
This is a hard question because the answer is that it just depends. Some recipes can be made successfully without xanthan.
Certain recipes with an adequate amount of butter, oil and eggs still work well even without xanthan. Think muffins, certain types of cookies etc. The main difference is that they might crumble a little easier and they might be a bit dry.
If youre not an experienced gluten free baker I recommend just trying to look for recipes that dont ask for xanthan to save yourself the potential wasted ingredients. If youre still set on making a particular recipe without xanthan make sure to check out the suggested substitutes below.
Types Of Baking Powder
There are two types of baking powder, single-acting and double-acting baking powder.
Single-acting baking powder makes your bread rise as soon as your dry and wet ingredients combine. So if using this type, you’d want to bake right after mixing so the bubbles dont disappear.
On the other hand, commercial, double-acting baking powder, as the name suggests, leavens your bread twice–once when your ingredients get wet and then when exposed to heat during baking.
One thing to note, baking powder does contain starch. And some brands have starch that’s been sourced from wheat. Thankfully, with improved food labeling, you can easily find brands that use rice in wheats place. Clabber Girl is an example of a gluten free brand.
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Is Xanthan Gum Bad For You
One of the most frequent questions I get asked about xanthan gum is about whether or not its bad for you.
Now, before anything else, a disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. If you are in any way concerned about the effects of xanthan gum on your health, consult a medical professional.
Okay, with that out of the way, heres what I think: from the research Ive done myself , there doesnt seem to be any evidence of any harmful health effects associated with xanthan gum. In fact, according to a 2017 study titled Re-evaluation of xanthan gum as a food additive by the European Food Safety Authority Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food, there is no safety concern for the general population of xanthan gum as a food additive even at high intake amounts. You can read the research paper here.
There have been claims of xanthan gum lowering blood sugar and reducing cholesterol whether or not that is actually true remains to be seen. What definitely seems to be true is that for the average person, xanthan gum is safe to consume, especially in the rather small amounts typically used in gluten free baking.
However, if you find that for whatever reason xanthan gum doesnt agree with you , then of course dont use it. And I would definitely encourage you to do your own research if you have any doubts about using it or any other ingredient, for that matter. Just make sure that youre using a reputable, reliable source of information .
Is Xanthan Gum Actually Bad For You
February 24, 2014 by Cara
I get this question almost on a daily basis: Hey Cara, I see that you dont use xanthan gum in some of your recipes and I was wondering: Is xanthan gum actually bad for you?Since this has become a hot topic over the past couple of years, I thought I would weigh in on my opinion on this issue and answer why I omit xanthan gum from my homemade gluten-free flour blendand ultimately from the majority of my currentrecipes.
Xantha-what?
Xanthan gum noun. To quote its Wikipedia pages definition: Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide secreted by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. Translation: Xanthan gum is a sugar derived typically from corn that has been pooped out by a bacteria that produces rot on various vegetables. Yup, you heard me correctly friends.
What products can you find xanthan gum in?
Chances are you have consumed xanthan gum mores times than you realize. It is a common ingredient in everyday items like toothpaste, medicine, various condiments like salad dressing, cosmetics, ice cream, and even gum. Its probably fair to say that if it is packaged, it contains xanthan gum. Why, you might ask? It is a great thickenerit has the properties perfect for creating a food that binds well and is stabilized. Keep reading to find out how
So xanthan gum is derived from what, you say??
Why is xanthan gum so popular in gluten-free goodies?
Why dont you have xanthan gum in your All-Purpose gluten-free flour blend?
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How Is Xanthan Gum Made
Xanthan gum was discovered by a research team at the Department for Agriculture in the 1960s.
It is created naturally through a process of fermentation using simple sugars and bacteria.
After the fermentation process is complete, the Xanthan gum is separated from the waste, dried and turned into powder. Youll typically find that Xanthan gum comes in a powder format with a similar consistency to baking soda.
In any process of fermentation, a food source is required. Soybean, maize and wheat are often used in the process of fermenting Xanthan gum, but theres no need for your alarm bells to sound.
Even though Xanthan gum may be created using potential allergens, nutrients derived from the soybeans, maize or wheat are consumed by the fermenting bacteria.
This means the end product does not contain any of the source nutrient or allergen which is why it is safe to use in gluten free foods.
Ground Flax Seeds And Water
Like chia seeds, flax seeds create a thick paste when combined with water. Theyre also easy to find and fairly cheap.
However, whole seeds arent good at binding, so you should either grind the seeds on your own or buy ground flax seed, which is sometimes called flax meal. Mixing it with water activates its binding capacity.
Bear in mind that ground flax seeds may lend your recipe a nuttier, slightly gritty quality.
Use ground flax seeds in place of xanthan gum in a 1:1 ratio, mixed with 2 parts hot water for every 1 part flax.
summary
Ground flax seeds replace xanthan gum in a 1:1 ratio but need to be mixed with hot water.
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Why Use Xanthan Gum
Xanthan gum works well in place of gluten . Xanthan gum helps trap the air bubbles created by leavening agents to allow your breads and baked goods to rise. It helps thicken liquids, which is why it is often found in salad dressings and sauces. This thickening action helps hold gluten free baked goods together and keeps them from becoming too crumbly
, making it a popular substitute to regular flour when making gluten free goodies.
