There are a range of
food additives that are used during cooking and baking for varied purposes –
like thickening, gelling, emulsifying, sweetening or just to improve the
appearance. Others are added for preserving the freshness or safety of the food
and so on.
Guar gum powder is one such additive that is commonly
used as a thickener, binder and stabilizer. Derived from guar bean that has
been ground into a fine powder form, its best feature is that it is soluble and
able to absorb water. When mixed in liquid, it acquires a gel form that can
thicken and bind other substances.
What makes things even
better is that guar gum is soluble in cold water – therefore, it can be used in
beverages to thicken or improve the texture without having to heat them or use
other cooking methods that can end up altering the flavor of the item. It is
often added to plant-based milks like almond, flax, soy and hemp.
Apart from drinks,
guar gum is a common ingredient in soups, sauces, stews, gravies, marinades,
salad dressings, yogurt, ice cream, etc. For instance, it gives yoghurt a
creamier texture, makes ketchup thicker in consistency and alsoreduces the
amount of oil absorbed by foods while frying. Additionally, it enhances the
shelf life of many foods and drinks.
That’s not all! This
same additive is a staple of gluten-free cooking. In the absence of gluten,
guar gum can work as a binder. It proves to be handy for baking gluten-free
products like cakes, brownies and cookies, apart from helping to emulsify and
thicken the gluten-free ingredients.
How to use?
When it comes to using
guar gum, always keep in mind the simple rule – a little goes a long way! Adding
a bit of the powder will instantly increase the thickness, therefore, using too
much can render the beverage/dish bulky and stringy. And as the gum is high in
fiber, it can upset the stomach as well.
In sum, it cannot be
denied that guar gum is a functional and versatile food ingredient that brings
smoothness, thickness and stability to food. It works wonders for gluten-free
products and can become a game changer for baking without gluten. As chefs
around the world continue to explore and harness the benefits of this simple
looking powder, the demand and usage continues to abound.
Moreover, the
application is not limited to food as the gum is also used in other industries
like cosmetics, paper, medicines, textiles, etc.
It follows that the
price of guar gum has also peaked over the past few years. However, you
don’t have to let the cost of this food additive be a limitation in the
kitchen. Cape Crystal Brands (https://www.capecrystalbrands.com/) comes to the rescue
with specialized food products of top quality at the most reasonable prices.
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