Curdlan is a polysaccharide widely used in the food industry as a gelling agent, thickener, and stabilizer. It forms firm, elastic gels when heated in water, making it ideal for applications such as meat analogs, frozen foods, and low-calorie processed foods where texture improvement is needed. Its heat-induced gelation property is unique, allowing it to remain stable under high temperatures, which is beneficial in retorted and baked products.

In addition to food, curdlan is used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It serves as a drug delivery carrier due to its biocompatibility and ability to form hydrogels. In skincare products, it provides moisturizing and film-forming effects, enhancing product feel and performance.

Curdlan also finds use in biotechnology and material science, where it is employed in the development of biodegradable films, coatings, and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Its natural origin and non-toxic nature make it suitable for eco-friendly and biomedical applications.