If you’re on a gluten-free or keto diet, you may have heard of these exotic-sounding ingredients, but what are they, and what do you use them for?

If you’re looking to thicken, bind, emulsify, or bake, which is the better choice when it comes to xanthan gum vs arrowroot powder?

Get the low-down on two of the most popular ingredients for gluten and grain-free baking and alternatives you can use in their place. 

What is Arrowroot Flour Used for?

Arrowroot Flour (also referred to as arrowroot powder or arrowroot starch) is a food thickener that is similar to corn starch. It is derived from the starchy, tuberous root of the arrowroot plant in a solid state and then processed into a powdered form that imitates the texture of gluten when heated. 

This powder has long been used in cooking but has gained more recent popularity thanks to its ability to thicken and bind gluten-free recipes. 

This thickener can be used to make puddings, pie fillings, gravies, and sauces. Its powder is quite fine and has no particular taste or odor, making it an excellent substitute for cornstarch and wheat flour.

Arrowroot Powder Substitutes

Xanthan Gum

Because of their similar thickening qualities, xanthan gum can be substituted for arrowroot flour. However, you’ll want to use a smaller amount of xanthan than you would use for arrowroot starch. One teaspoon of xanthan gum is usually sufficient for one tablespoon of arrowroot powder.

Corn Starch

Made from corn, this substitute is a great thickener and is popular for gravy, sauces, soups, and baking. Its only drawback is that it provides a cloudy and fairly appealing finish and may cause allergic reactions in people with corn allergies.

Potato Starch

Obtained solely from potatoes, potato starch is a rich natural substitute for arrowroot powder. It thickens quite fast, so it’s best added towards the end of your cooking to achieve the best results.

Tapioca Flour

Also known as Tapioca starch, this popular ingredient is derived from the cassava root and makes a pretty great gluten-free flour. It’s very versatile and can be used in numerous cooking and baking recipes like muffins and cakes. It’s also a great replacement for wheat flour to sprinkle on savory recipes to crisp them up, like veggie fries or fritters.

Rice Flour

Sweet rice flour can be a good substitute for arrowroot powder. This thickener works well in soups, stews, tempura batter, and clam chowder. Rice flour also works well for baking, especially when blended with other gluten-free flours. 

Guar Gum

Guar gum is a common ingredient in many packaged foods because it can bind, thicken, and emulsify things like salad dressings, coconut milk, yogurt, and ice cream. This binding agent is made from the seeds of guar beans, which are processed into a powder.

What Is Xanthan Gum Used For?

Xanthan gum is a thickening agent similar to arrowroot. However, it has a more binding or emulsifying effect on foods. This product is commonly used in making ice cream, sauces, salad dressings, baked goods, and more. In the last several years, it has also become a staple in flour blends for gluten-free baking.

Xanthan gum is made by fermenting glucose with the natural bacterium known as Xanthomonas Campestris. The fermentation process creates a gooey or gel-like substance that is subsequently dried and ground into a fine powder.

This food additive is naturally gluten-free and a soluble fiber, which means it attracts water and is great for thickening and emulsifying. 

A little goes a long way with xanthan gum, so a tiny bit in your cooking can thicken a good amount of sauce, baked goods, or gravy. This additive is widely used in packaged foods and even toothpaste. 

Xanthan Gum Substitutes

Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot powder (also called arrowroot flour or starch) is a great substitute for xanthan gum, although you may have to use more arrowroot than the amount called for in a recipe for xanthan gum. Generally, you can use one tablespoon of arrowroot per one teaspoon of xanthan gum. You can also use the other substitutes listed for arrowroot as suitable replacements for xanthan gum, like corn starch, tapioca starch, potato starch, rice flour, or guar gum.

Whipped Egg Whites

One egg white can be substituted for a single tablespoon of xanthan gum in a recipe. These ingredients make great binders and raising agents and are best used in baked goods. Whipped egg whites help to bring fluffiness to gluten-free baked goods like cakes and biscuits.

Ground Chia Seeds

Soaked ground chia seeds form a gel-like consistency quite similar to xanthan gum when mixed in hot water. This substitute is excellent for vegan baking and has a higher nutrition content than xanthan gum. Chia seeds can also be used in jams, yogurts, and puddings.

Ground Flax Seeds

Natural ingredients like ground flaxseeds can be used as a fairly effective thickening agent by mixing them with hot water, stirring them, and adding them to recipes. The only drawback is that they can taste a bit earthy or grainy if they’re not properly covered with other flavors or if they’re used too heavily. Golden flaxseeds generally have a milder flavor than brown flax. Flax goes great in breads, pie crusts, vegan cookies, and low-carb oats.

Konjac Powder

Perfect for vegetarian and vegan diets, konjac powder is an Asian kitchen staple that serves as a great thickening agent. It can be used to thicken soups and sauces and make baked goods like naan and pita bread.

Unflavored Gelatin

Gelatin can be a tricky thickener to use. If added too early in the cooking process, it can set, harden, and ruin the consistency of your meal. However, if used correctly, it’s nevertheless an excellent substitute for xanthan gum and can provide a number of health benefits.

Agar Agar

Extracted from red algae, agar agar is a versatile, vegan-friendly gelling agent commonly used to stabilize, thicken, and texturize baked goods, beverages, dairy products, dressings, and more. 

Pectin

This thickener is less versatile and should only be used in recipes containing an even balance of acids and sugar. Pectin is obtained from fruits like citrus and tart apples and is used to make candies, jellies, and jams.  

Psyllium Husk Powder

Suitable for both paleo and keto diets, Psyllium husk powder is a natural and tasteless thickener used in making a wide range of foods like soups, tortillas, noodles, and more. My favorite way to use it is with gluten-free bread!

What is the Difference between Arrowroot and Xanthan Gum?

Arrowroot powder and Xanthan gum are both great substitutes for wheat flour and are vegan-friendly. However, they have distinguishing features that make them better suited for certain cooking processes than others. 

The main differences between these additives are how they’re derived, their taste and texture, their uses, market availability, nutritional content, and price.

Product Source

Arrowroot powder and xanthan gum are derived from different sources. 

Arrowroot starch is extracted from the roots of the arrowroot plant, while xanthan gum is obtained from the end product of bacterial fermentation on a certain sugar.

Taste and Texture

Arrowroot powder is barely perceptible in meals because of its practically nonexistent taste or neutral flavor. 

Conversely, xanthan gum is often least preferred in this regard because of its distinctively sour taste, which can be noticeable when used in cooking. 

As for texture, heated arrowroot provides a smooth texture to meals, while xanthan gum has varying textures depending on whether it’s mixed in hot or cold water.

Xanthan additives mixed in cold water generally create a gel-like consistency, while their dissolved products in hot water are a lot smoother.

Uses

Arrowroot flour and xanthan gum are used more or less in the same way. However, xanthan gum’s emulsifying abilities make it slightly more versatile than arrowroot. 

Arrowroot starch is usually used to substitute cornstarch, while xanthan gum is a popular substitute for wheat-based flour. 

When it comes to quantity, xanthan gum should be used more sparingly in recipes than arrowroot powder.

A teaspoon of xanthan gum does about the same thing as a tablespoon of arrowroot powder. 

Market Availability

Both xanthan gum and arrowroot powder can be found in health food markets and grocery stores. However, xanthan gum may be harder to find in stores than arrowroot, which is more common in grocery stores in the United States. Both are easy to purchase online.

Nutritional Content

Due to their potent nature, xanthan gums are usually added to meals in considerably small quantities, typically providing little to no nutritional value. 

Nevertheless, a tablespoon of xanthan gum contains about 30 calories, 1 gram of protein, and 7 grams of carbohydrates. 

Arrowroot powder, on the other hand, is rich in carbohydrates and low in fat and protein.  A tablespoon of arrowroot starch is about 35 calories and contains 8 grams of carbohydrates. 

Price

Xanthan Gum is generally more expensive than arrowroot powder, but since it’s used minimally, it lasts a lot longer.

Xanthan gums cost between $15 and $20 per lb. Conversely, arrowroot powder typically costs about $5 to $10 per lb.

Which is Better: Xanthan Gum or Arrowroot Powder?

Both xanthan gum and arrowroot powder make excellent gluten-free food bases. The choice between the two depends on personal preference and the type of recipe you’re hoping to make.

There are a few things to consider when choosing between the two.

Arrowroot Powder Use Benefits

• Arrowroot is a natural ingredient, whereas xanthan gum is made in a lab.
• Arrowroot is more easily available in grocery stores, whereas xanthan usually needs to be purchased online.
• Arrowroot is relatively easy to work with and is forgiving if you using a little more or less than intended, while xanthan is a little more powerful and can be easy to overdo.
• Arrowroot is virtually flavorless, whereas xanthan can add a bit of a sour flavor if you use too much or don’t cover it with stronger flavors.

Xanthan Gum Use Benefits

• Xanthan gum has double, if not triple, the binding/thickening power of arrowroot. 
• Xanthan gum is generally used minimally in recipes, unlike arrowroot, making it a good value for your money in the long run. 
• Xanthan Gum is soluble in both cold and hot liquids, but arrowroot is not.
• Xanthan gum is a potent lab-made additive, while arrowroot is a natural ingredient that is not as strong. 

Xanthan Gum Vs Arrowroot Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)