Sugar/Citric Acid Coating giving Gummy Bears a Wet Look
So I'm able to make my gummy bear recipe just fine. Its just a simple mix of the following:
1/2 Cup water
1/4 Corn Syrup
1 6oz package of Jell-O Brand gelatin
2 packages of gelatin (Out of the four pack boxes)
I'm assuming you know how to make this recipe into bears at this point as this question isn't about the recipe more so the coating. However this recipe is from the ever so popular gummy bear video on YouTube found here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_dV-e4d9c
So the bears are made, chilled, came out great. No issues. Except they're definitely not AS clear as the YouTube video, but again not really the point. Taste fine, and are firm.
So, I add a PURE sugar coating, let them sit out for a day, and harden up. They're good to go. Its a solid dry sugar coating similar to sour patch kids, or those little orange or cherry slices you get at the gas station.
However I wanted to create some type of sour coating similar to sour patch kids. I tried buying this product here:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/UBO-Citric-Acid-7-5-Ounce-USA/647638748
Its Ball Jar brand Citric Acid. I added this to a 1:3 ratio of citric acid to sugar, and then coated my gummy bears. After letting sit out for a day to dry up and harden, i come back to the gummy bears looking wet, sticky, and not easily handled.
I'm wondering if anyone has any advice to solve this problem. Its my first time posting here, so hopefully someone can help. :P
Best Answer
I've never eaten soft sour candies. Is the sugared coating sour too or just the body of the candy?
The reason your candies became sticky is citric acid is generally sold in the anhydrous form. Citric acid exists in anhydrous and monohydrate forms. In the anhydrous form, it's plain citric acid with no water molecule attached. Monohydrate form has a single water molecule attached to the single citric acid molecule.
The anhyrdous form of citric acid is hygroscopic - which means it attracts and absorbs water from surrounding air. I don't know if there's anything that can be done at this point since anything you tried to dry them (like heating them) would only melt the Gummi bears. And they'd only rehydrate afterward in anything you did that succeeded in driving off the water. It's the nature of citric acid. I use citric acid and keep mine in a glass jar with a tight lid and a few packs of silica gel to absorb moisture and it still tends to clump.
Why not remelt the batch treated with citric acid and make slightly sour ones but coated only with sugar.
Pictures about "Sugar/Citric Acid Coating giving Gummy Bears a Wet Look"
Why are my homemade gummies wet?
The main ingredient that makes the gummy bear candy to be wet and sticky is citric acid. Citric acid is a water-soluble ingredient that will pull moisture out of the gummy bears thus making them to melt. This is the reason why gummy bear candy usually becomes wet and sticky during the sugar-coating procedure.Why are my sour gummies wet?
Citric acid is an important ingredient in gummy candies to help wake up the flavor. Sour gummies use citric acid in the candy syrup and on the surface of the candy, but we need just a little here for the syrup.What does citric acid do to gummies?
You simply add citric acid to a sugar coating and then toss in the gummy bears. You can buy citric acid in most pharmacies or online. BUY the Gummy Bear Mold I used from Amazon.How to professionally (sour) sugar coat gummies + troubleshooting
More answers regarding sugar/Citric Acid Coating giving Gummy Bears a Wet Look
Answer 2
I’m having the same problem. My gummy worms are turning gel-like within two hours of me coating them with a sugar/citric acid mix. Fumaric acid seems to be the way to go because it’s the least water-soluble and it’s non-hygroscopic. Citric, Malic, and Tartaric are all hygroscopic. Corn Starch prevents them from gelling as bad (when coated w/ citric) but it messes up the feel of them on the outside. I’m ordering a bottle of Fumaric acid today. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Ok it works!!! Gotta use very little sugar if you’re sealing them up for later. If you’re leaving them out then the sugar won’t bother them as much although a non-sugar sweetener will get you completely past this problem. Use one cup of Fumaric acid, and a tablespoon or two of sugar (can go double or triple this with an artificial sweetener). The Fumaric acid doesn’t have an instant sour kick like citric acid so the fact that it’s the primary part of the coating doesn’t overwhelm your taste buds with sourness lol.
Answer 3
After coating in citric acid/sugar mixture, spread your gummies out on parchment in a single layer and not touching. Allow them to air dry for 12-24 hours, flipping once or twice. This step allows the moisture to desiccate and will result in a firm, semi crunchy, crystallized coating.
Answer 4
For some reason, I always thought alum was used, but guess I was wrong. A few looks around gave different answers, but it seems that different acids are used in cases, citric acids mixed with sugar being one option. Others include malic tartaric acids (food grade only). Malic may be a more stable unless you really want the more lemon like test or citric. Malic is considered a bit more of a sour apple taste.
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