The Effects of Guar Gum on the Texture of Soybean Products

Guar gum is an ingredient that often appears on food labels; however, most people don't know what properties it adds to food. Guar gum has been found to have health benefits, including aiding in digestion, and it also serves as a food thickener, to prevent crystal formation, and to improve the stability and appearance of liquids like salad dressings. Guar gum is popular in gluten-free baking due to these same properties.

Role

• Guar gum has several uses in food-based products, but it is primarily used to add thickness to things like dressings, yogurts, pies and other goods that may come out too runny when prepared at home. Many companies use guar gum in items that are sold in the supermarket because the gum prevents liquids from separating and also because guar gum does not readily break down under warm or cold conditions.

In Ice Creams

• Adding guar gum to homemade ice cream gives it a creamier texture.

  Guar gum is a popular additive to ice cream because it can help preserve the texture. When added to homemade ice cream of any variety, the guar gum will give it also a smooth and creamy texture. In addition to providing texture, it will also prevent ice crystals. This will allow the ice cream to keep in the freezer for a much longer period of time. Too much guar gum will cause the ice cream to become too creamy, however. Less is more is a good rule of thumb when using guar gum in this way.

In Baking

• Guar gum is used by those with a wheat allergy to act as a thickening agent in place of flour. Guar gum has the added benefit of not being a corn product, making it a popular choice among those with corn allergies. The addition of the gum to a baking recipe will give dough a thicker quality. Using guar gum, as opposed to other gum options, can also create a denser batter, as opposed to a batter that is light and airy.

In Dips

• In a soy-based dip, guar gum will act as a thickening agent and will also serve to prevent the water and oil from separating from other ingredients. Once a package of dip has been opened, and some of the contents removed, certain other bonding materials may break apart, causing separation. The guar gum prevents this from happening and helps keep the dip's original consistency.

Flavor

• Although guar gum is usually reported to be flavorless, certain people find that it adds a bean-like flavor, especially when used in large quantities. To avoid this flavor, you can add less guar gum, or you can pair the guar gum with another thickener like xanthan gum.