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This study compared four biocolloids (sanxan, xanthan gum, curdlan, and guar gum) in different concentrations to replace NaCl in improving the recooking quality of salt free frozen cooked noodles (SF-FCNs). Sanxan outperformed NaCl and other biocolloids significantly improving the firmness (21.0%), chewiness (63.5%), and toughness (15.4%) of SF-FCNs after 10 freeze-thaw (FT) cycles. The results of the freezing-thawing curves showed SF-FCNs had prior FT stability when sanxan was added at 1.2%. Subsequently, the result of differential scanning calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance revealed sanxan reduced the content and mobility of freezable water while increasing the content of bound water. The scanning electron microscope, mercury intrusion, and optical microscopy analyses indicated that sanxan reduced the size and volume of ice crystals and the structural damage of SF-FCNs by controlling the water. The work contributes to a theoretical framework for enhancing SF-FCNs quality through precise water and ice crystal control. • Biocolloids outperformed NaCl in alleviating texture loss in frozen cooked noodles. • Sanxan increased the freezing rate of salt free frozen cooked noodles. • Sanxan reduced freezable water content and mobility. • Sanxan mitigated ice crystal-induced damage to salt free frozen cooked noodles. • Sanxan suppressed ice recrystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]