Guar Gum vs Xanthan Gum: Which One Should You Use?

The challenge is on - guar gum vs. xanthan gum - which one is better for your recipes and which one should you use?!

guar gum and xanthan gum on a cutting board

Unless you are living a gluten free lifestyle, you may have never heard of guar gum or xanthan gum. To the non-gluten sensitive crowd, they probably sound like terms from an industrial plant or some commercial process.

But actually, guar gum and xanthan gum are two of the most well-known ingredients in gluten free cooking. Actually, most gluten free bakers either have one or the other of these gums handy in their kitchens.

So, if you’re wondering just what these ‘gums’ are and what to do with them, here is a very simple, crash course…

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Gums... Defined
Differences: guar gum vs xanthan gum

Gums... Defined

The most basic definition of guar gum and xanthan gum lies in the ‘binding agent’ definition.

Both of these gums can be used to bind, thicken and emulsify gluten free ingredients. In fact, if you bake or plan on baking your own gluten free yeast breads, many times you'll incorporate either guar gum or xanthan gum in your recipe.

These recipes all use xanthan gum:

Other times you'll use something like chia seed or flax seed or even psyllium husk powder, but there's almost always a binder involved.

But since some form of these essential binding agents is essential to breads, how do you know which one to use?

For many people, it is a matter of personal preference. But there are different qualities of each that can affect the end result of your loaf.

Differences: guar gum vs xanthan gum

1. Xanthan gum is corn based, guar gum is legume based

xanthan gum on a cutting board — Xanthan gum

Xanthan is made by fermenting corn with a microbial called “Xanthomonas campestris.” Guar gum comes from guar beans. It is the seed of a bean-like plant – which is also referred to as an Indian tree. Guar gum is also high in soluble fiber.

2. Production of each gum

If there’s one thing to know about xanthan gum is its history. It actually produced from a laboratory in the 1960’s. They harvested the bacteria from fermented corn sugar. We now call it xanthan gum.

Now the one thing to be concerned about with this process is that corn is one of the most genetically engineered foods on the market, so you can bet that there is nothing ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ about the gum itself. Is this a deal-killer for using it? Not necessarily, but it may be for you.

3. Price

Xanthan gum is generally more expensive than guar gum. In contrast, guar gum is a bit cheaper.

Not a huge difference, but still notable.

4. Different properties of each

Because they are both thickening agents, they both have the characteristics of making liquids more viscous. But the similarities end there.

Guar gum is high in fiber and a very good emulsifier, but it does not exhibit the gelling properties of xanthan gum. For these reasons, some bakers prefer to use a combination of both gums to achieve the desired result.

5. End result of your baked goods

As mentioned above, sometimes using a combination of guar gum and xanthan gum is needed to get the best end result.

Every so often, breads made with xanthan gum can feel or taste wet, even when completely cooled. And breads made with guar gum can sometimes collapse or get very dry.

Each gum brings different properties to baking, so combinations often work very well at achieving both texture and shape.

6. Taste: xanthan gum or guar gum

While there are several components that make these gums different – taste is a big one. It might even be the deciding factor for you.

Because xanthan gum is a man-made product, the taste, or lack of, is controlled. In other words, baked goods made with xanthan gum may have a chemical aftertaste to them, unlike what you'd find in guar gum.

Guar gum comes from a bean, so it might have a bean taste. This really depends – sometimes you may not notice it at all, other times, it may be very powerful.

7. Gluten-like behavior qualities

We all have opinions. We have opinions on what we eat and drink and even on what others eat and drink. So it should come as no surprise that opinions on these gums is highly subjective.

At Zest For Baking, I tend to err on the side of neutrality; however, there is one area that deserves some controversy.

And that is the area of which gum actually behaves the most like gluten. As non-organic as it is, in my opinion, the xanthan gum actually produces a loaf of bread very similar to those loaded with gluten.

The guar gum just doesn’t produce the same elasticity that the xanthan does. Don’t get me wrong, I actually do use both, but they both serve different purposes.

Having looked at several differences with guar gum vs xanthan gum, at the very minimum, this will give you an idea of what to expect when you use one or the other.

Check out these recipes, each using different kinds of binders:

Gluten free baking brings with it a lot of questions and challenges. Like what can you use when you don't have either guar gum or xanthan gum and need to substitute for it. That's where this Guide to Substitutes in Gluten Free Baking comes in. It's the ultimate guide for substitutes - including flour, dairy, eggs and gums - and will transform your baking!

Comments

Samantha Matete

May 21, 2013 at 10:46 pm

Which gum should we use? Neither! I know it is not easy to develop good gluten free bread, but it seems to me that using gums to stick the ingredients together is just a bit lazy! Besides that, if my digestive system is already damaged by gluten, I am not sure that I want to start filling it with gum. Psyllium is far better for you and does the gums job far far better, if not has improved the world of gluten free bread baking! And Chia seed is running a close second to psyllium. I use both with excellent results and no gumminess!

- Chrissy Lane
  
  May 22, 2013 at 6:54 pm
  
  Hi Samantha!
  
  Thanks for your comments!
  
  I'm doing some experimentation right now with chia and flax seeds and also with Psyllium -
  
  Have you ever used flax seeds for the gum replacement?
  
  ~GF Baker
  
  - Samantha Matete
    
    July 03, 2013 at 9:25 pm
    
    Yes but its not very strong. I use it in conjunction with psyllium. Usually a combo of 80% psyllium and 20% ground flaxseed. Psyllium is all I use now in my GF bread baking, its wonderful! 100 times better than xanthan and guar gum!!!
    
- Ms. Pris
  
  December 06, 2013 at 9:26 pm
  
  The AP flour I buy has guar gum in it, but I have had trouble with yeast breads being truly stable. My answer was to add psyllium to the yeast breads, and they are great! Quick breads don't seem to need it, but yeast breads need psyllium.
  
- Michele
  
  July 25, 2022 at 3:50 pm
  
  I know this is faaaarrrr from the oringal posting, but thought I’d ask anyway. What was your substitution ratio (psyllium husk to either gum) and did you use psyllium powder? TUI
  
  - Christine
    
    July 26, 2022 at 7:22 pm
    
    Hi Michele,
    
    In case Samantha doesn't see the response with your question, I'll chime in... Psyllium powder is the one to use, yes! It's typically called psyllium husk powder. And as a substitute for gum - I typically don't use more then 2 teaspoons in a recipe. 1 Teaspoon per cup of flour or starch is the norm, but no more than 2 teaspoons of it.
    
    Christine
    
    - Joy Qualls
      
      February 21, 2024 at 10:54 am
      
      I do not like psillium husk. When making an unyeasted dough, without eggs, it is more like kinetic sand, then dough. It does not hold together. Xanthan gum will be more like a dough. More like a biscuit dough.
      
      - Christine
        
        February 23, 2024 at 11:11 am
        
        Hi Joy,
        
        I've found whole psyllium husk works very well with certain recipes. This cinnamon roll recipe is incredible with it https://zestforbaking.com/delicious-gluten-free-cinnamon-rolls-recipe The dough can be handled quite nicely.
        
        But it definitely depends on the recipe.
        
        Christine
Melissa

October 27, 2013 at 2:19 pm

I'm making gluten free, oat free cupcakes and need to make sure that there is no oats in xanthan gum. I've heard its derived from oats and corn? finding information about oat free foods is almost impossible. Just want to make sure these are safe for a child with severe allergies 🙂 Thank you

- Chrissy Lane
  
  October 27, 2013 at 9:34 pm
  
  Hi Melissa,
  
  According to Wikipedia, "Xanthan gum may be derived from a variety of source products that are themselves common allergens, such as corn, wheat, dairy, or soy. As such, persons with known sensitivities or allergies to food products are advised to avoid foods including generic xanthan gum or first determine the source for the xanthan gum before consuming the food."
  
  So, in other words, steer clear of xanthan gum, if you're making something for someone with severe allergies.
  
  Here's an article that offers some alternatives... https://zestforbaking.com/5-alternatives-to-xanthan-gum-and-guar-gum-in-gluten-free-baking
  
  Hope that helps!
  
Paul

March 22, 2014 at 6:32 pm

I avoid xanthan gum totally. Here's why. I'm not gluten intolerant, my partner is, but when we started dating I discovered the GF food I was eating that contained xanthan gum (e.g. Our local Crust pizza shop's GF base) gave me really bad diahorrea. Every time I ate it, without fail. Even when I cooked our own food at home with good fresh ingredients, I got the same result. There's lots of info on xanthan gum intolerance on the Internet - worth mentioning it in this guar v xanthan article, I reckon.

- Chrissy Lane
  
  March 24, 2014 at 10:29 am
  
  Hi Paul,
  
  Yes - absolutely understand where you're coming from!
  
  Appreciate the suggestions too! I have some ideas to cover xanthan gum intolerance a little more in depth in some future articles.
  
  Stay tuned...
  
  Thanks for the feedback!
  
Ann

August 05, 2014 at 8:50 am

I tried Guar Gum in my Gluten Free Baking and it gives my Husband and I a lot of gas. I am new to Gluten Free baking and I was wondering why Baking powder is not used instead of this Guar Gum.

murugan theJA

June 08, 2020 at 2:31 am

i use pasteurized egg albumin liquid making on macaroon its not come .please what it do?

- Christine
  
  June 08, 2020 at 8:32 am
  
  Hi,
  
  Thanks for asking, but I'm really not sure what could be the problem. Did the recipe call for that? Maybe find a recipe that calls for the ingredients you have / want to use, rather than substituting.
  
  Hope that helps!
  
  ~Christine