Guar Gum in the Food Industry
From its lowly moniker derived from Sanskrit (“food for cows”), guar has been grown for thousands of years in India. For its industrial uses, guar gum is ideal for thickening and stabilizing liquids, emulsifying and binding, and its solubility in cold water and biodegradability. These properties and many others give guar gum from your industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem applications over several industries.
Baked Goods and Confections
Guar gum improves the texture of batters, which, in turn, gives better crumb structure to the baked product. Dough volume and moisture retention increase with guar gum as it extends the shelf life of baked goods. Candy viscosity, bonding properties, and moisture retention improve with guar gum, which also acts as a glaze for many confections.
Beverages and Dairy Products
Guar gum thickens juices and other beverages, improving their mouthfeel. It also stabilizes processed cheese, improving flavor, color, and texture. In ice cream and kefir, the texture improves significantly, melting is impeded, and ice crystallization halts.
Gluten-Free Foods
Most gluten-free batters are more free flowing than that of their counterparts. Guar gum thickens these batters, creating more palatable baked goods.
Meats
Sausages and other processed meats must be bound, and guar gum exceeds expectations in this regard. It also absorbs water, improves the rate of flow as sausage is formed, and emulsifies the final product.
Noodles
With the addition of guar gum, noodles retain moisture as the texture and form stabilizes.
Soups, Sauces and Dressings
Guar gum stabilizes these foods as it thickens them, which improves flow during processing.
People often ask how food additives affect health. In the case of guar gum, studies have proven its effectiveness in suppressing hunger, which can lead to weight loss. Because guar gum is a polysaccharide, it acts as an energy storage component. Also, guar gum is eight times more effective at thickening than cornstarch, so only a tiny amount is necessary for similar results.
Guar gum contains significant amounts of protein and acts as a water-soluble fiber, which gives it properties similar to a bulk-forming laxative for aiding in digestion. As a soluble fiber, guar gum may also retard the absorption of sugar, which decreases blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Bell Chem is your industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including guar gum. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.