NOW Foods, Xanthan Gum Pure Powder, Kosher and Gluten-Free Natural Thickener, 6-Ounce

I will admit to not being a typical molecular gastronomy type of guy. I guess that means that I tend to like to do things the 'old' way...the proven way. But sometimes there is just no useful reason to avoid modern technology. This is one of those times. Over the past few years I have noticed an increasing use of Xanthan Gum in products off of the Grocer's shelves. So, yes, I READ the labels. After doing a little research, I decided to find some of this miracle stuff and give it a try. It really is quite a remarkable product.Quickly then, Xanthan Gum is a thickener and a stabilizer. While it acts like an emulsifier, it apparently is not. In VERY SMALL quantities it acts to thicken solutions--providing smooth and even textures, increasing the ability to hold non-solution ingredients stable and prevent them from separating from the solution. It can be used in a variety of different ways...different temperatures and different levels of acidity (PH levels..). It is similar in some ways to Guar Gum (see: Now Foods Guar Gum Powder, 8 oz ( Multi-Pack)). Probably one of the most common uses today in store bought products is for adding stability to bottled salad dressings. I currently have four different dressings in the house (from three different manufacturers..)and all of them contain Xanthan Gum. Ever wonder why those little grains of mustard or pieces of spice or herbs don't settle out of your salad dressing..??? Uh huh, that's right.....So, why do I like it?? Especially since there are many different products out there that effectively thicken. Well, there are three real reasons. First, when used appropriately, there is absolutely no taste. That means no starchy aftertaste like when you add flour or cornstarch to gravy or sauces. I know, I know, you can "cook out" the starchy taste (for the most part..). The second reason is there is no appreciable glycemic load. Look at the nutrition label...For a single serving of 1/2 tsp. (1.6g) there is 1g of carbohydrate...that seems like a high percentage, about 62.5%.....BUT you use such small amounts of Xanthan Gum there is no appreciable glycemic load when compared to daily carbohydrate intake....It is just a non-issue. And third, Xanthan Gum is gluten free. It is frequently used to bind with gluten free flours and products...to take the place of gluten where it is normally required for successful recipes. There is a fourth reason too. I don't think anything else is quite as effective for stabilizing and holding suspensions (like home-made salad dressings or other vinegar/water and oil mixtures). I make a lot of dressings and sauces so I will keep it around just for those reasons........but after reading more about it, there are a LOT of uses for Xanthan Gum that I will never get around to. I am sure some of you will find creative uses for it as well.I feel certain that most of the different sources for Xanthan Gum are fine. I chose NOW Real Foods version because I am familiar with their product line. I like their support for natural products and I like them because they are a family owned and operated business. Quoted from their source..."Keep it natural. Keep it real."That is good enough for me!!

Worked perfectly but I have WAY more than I will ever use.

Very good quality. It thickens sauces to give a smooth, uniform texture without changing their flavor. A little goes a long way, so use a small amount at a time until the desired result is achieved. It keeps sauces from separating, even after refrigeration. It is low in calorie and much easier to work with than other thickeners.

Used this for incense. It blends to wood pieces together well. Worked okay and binds everything

for whatever reason, xanthan gum seems to be sold out in stores around me whenever i actually need it. after some quick comparisons online, i decided to just order it from amazon. this product is great! it’s actually cheaper per ounce compared to the other xanthan gum options i was looking at and the quality of this one is good. it’s now my go-to xanthan gum for my Ninja Creami recipes!

This is a substitute thickener. Used for keto diet. works well.

Fantastic Xanthan Gum for gluten free baking. Would highly recommend and will buy again.

I tried using xanthan gum as a thickener in my lotions, and while it does thicken them, I don’t like the sticky feeling it leaves behind. It’s not the right fit for my lotions, so I won’t be buying it again. However, I can see how it would work for other recipes where stickiness isn’t an issue.