How To Use Xanthan Gum For Hot Sauce

A lot of hot sauce companies use xanthan gum to thicken their products brooklyn s heatonist shop famously doesn t sell sauces with xanthan gum if you re looking for such a thing but i didn t want to mess with an ingredient i didn t know much about on my first try.

How to use xanthan gum for hot sauce. Avoid adding to a stationary liquid or it will solidify instantly and give you a lumpy sauce. Stir constantly as you add the xanthan gum and castile soap until the mixture starts to thicken and froth. Transfer mixture to a squeeze bottle and store in the fridge for 2 3 weeks. Use 1 8 teaspoon per cup of hot sauce for light thickening and 1 4 teaspoon for heavier thickening. If i have a sauce that is about 50 50 pepper solids to brine then i usually need to add about 1 2 teaspoon of xanthan gum per quart.

Whisk the xanthan gum into the liquid. While the blender is running sprinkle in the xanthan gum if using and blend for an additional minute. But it s different every time. Xanthan gum is also a very light preservative for color and flavor. Add to blender with pepper mixture and puree for 30 seconds.

The liquid will thicken in 20 to 30 seconds. Whisk quickly until the mixture is smooth. Transfer mixture to a bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to 9 months. No heat will be needed to alter your sauce s texture. One of the most common questions we are asked about hot sauce manufacturing involves ways to effectively disperse xanthan gum without lumping or fish eyes the clumps that can form when adding powdered gums are difficult if not impossible to re incorporate into the final product.

Combine 2 tablespoons cold water and xanthan gum in a small bowl. Add the xanthan gum first stir vigorously to distribute it then mix in the castile soap. Combine 1 4 teaspoon to 1 2 teaspoon of xanthan gum with 1 tablespoons hot water for every 1 cup of gravy in a small bowl. To use xanthan gum you will need to add it to the sauce while it is being blended. Stir the sauce soup or liquid you want to thicken after you finish cooking it and sprinkle the powdered xanthan gum over it.

Pour mixture into a blender making sure to leave the cover vent open but covered with a kitchen towel and blend until very smooth. It s fine to eat it just doesn t look nice and you have to shake it a lot every time you use it. Let the mixture cool to room temperature for at least 30 to 60 minutes.