What can I do with Xanthan Gum?

November 6, 2008 6:53 PM

What can I do with two pounds of Xanthan Gum?

I've come into a couple pounds of xanthan gum. I know it's traditionally used as a thickener, but as a non-cooker I'm not really sure what exactly I can make with it. Any recipes or other secret uses for this stuff?

posted by woebot to food & drink (7 comments total)

It's great for thickening sauces (it's great for gravies; you don't have to lose any of the taste to flour) and the like, but you'll never go through two pounds that way. It also acts as an emulsifier, which means you can add it to homemade salad dressings and vinaigrettes and have it bring the oils and non-oils together.
posted by scabrous at 7:07 PM on November 6, 2008

You could become the ruler of all Xanthia!

The Material Safety Data Sheet for xanthan gum says that high concentrations of xanthan gum dust will explode if ignited with a spark or flame. But I guess that happens with baking flour too so that's not so exceptional.

You could make a scientifically accurate model volcano.

If you got the other ingredients you could make one and a half gallons of dog shampoo.
posted by XMLicious at 7:13 PM on November 6, 2008

At roughly $25/lb, you could make a quick $50.

(I was actually shopping for xanthan gum today after finding this recipe.)
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:50 PM on November 6, 2008

This (pdf download) guide to hydrocolloids is written from a fairly technical perspective (aka molecular gastronomy), but it's definitely informative.
posted by O9scar at 8:59 PM on November 6, 2008

If you pick up any gluten-free cook book you'll find tons of recipes that call for xanthan gum. Cakes, breads, gravies, and other things.

Or, like Cat Pie Hurts says, sell it! That stuff is expensive in grocery stores.
posted by geekchic at 7:13 AM on November 7, 2008

Why not surreptitiously dump it in someone's toilet tank all at once and see what happens?
posted by heffalump at 7:19 AM on November 7, 2008

ooh, interesting! Thanks for the answers!
posted by woebot at 6:29 PM on November 7, 2008