Xanthan gum is a popular food additive

Xanthan gum is a popular food additive that's commonly added to foods as a thickener or stabilizer.Though Xanthan gum sounds like it was created in a science lab, it's an entirely natural product. Made from fermented corn sugar that has been broken down by a plant bacteria called Xanthomonas campestris, the remaining residue is then dried and turned into a powder known as the food additive xanthan gum.

Xanthan gum has become a vital ingredient in gluten free baking. It helps goods made from gluten-free flours like almond flour and buckwheat flour bind together and develops elasticity-a job commonly completed by gluten. For individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, this ingredient plays a vital role in recreating traditionally gluten-full treats sans gluten.

These binding properties create goods with similar textures that hold together during the baking process. Many gluten free recipes don't bind well without xanthan gum and result in baked goods that crumble. Xanthan gum recreates gluten's stickiness while ensuring that the recipe remains gluten free.When xanthan gum powder is added to a liquid, it quickly disperses and creates a viscous and stable solution. This makes it a great thickening, suspending and stabilizing agent for many products.