Xanthan: a small supplement with a specific structural task

Useful to know

Xanthan gum acts as a thickener and stabilizer. King Arthur describes its role in binding and maintaining structure in certain gluten-free mixtures. [1]

First check whether a prepared flour blend already contains it. Adding more by habit can alter the texture. Do not transfer one quantity unchanged between bread, cake and sauce: their intended behaviour differs. Its technical role here is about how a mixture holds together during a particular process, rather than a general health claim.