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!!

This xanthan gum powder works perfectly as a thickener for my homemade shampoos. It blends smoothly, gives a nice consistency, and doesn’t leave any residue in my hair. A little goes a long way, and it’s exactly what I needed for my DIY hair care projects!

Great quality and a great price. I'll be ordering more for sure.

I like to use about 1/4tsp of this in my homemade ice cream. It helps stabilize in thicken.

Makes my ice cream all nice and creamy

Great product

A small amount can thicken crockpot sauces and keep them thick even after freezing the dish.

Does what it says :)