Traditionally, gummies and jellies are made using a starch molding process and finished with an anti-sticking agent. But what if the gummies are nice and shiny when they come out of the oiling drum but stick together immediately after treatment, later during storage, or in the packaging?
Keeping gummy bears from sticking together is essential because it affects their texture and flavor. Also, if they stick together, it makes for a messy eating experience. There are several different ways to prevent gummies from sticking together, which we’ll discuss below.
Why Are My Homemade Gummies Sticky?
Whether making gummy vitamins, molding your own THC gummies, or buying them pre-made, sticking can be a major issue. And sticking can particularly be a problem if you store your gummies improperly or leave them sitting out too long.
We’ll explore why gummies stick and provide tips on reducing the risk of sticking.
1. Too much sugar.
The primary reason that gummy bear candies stick is the high sugar content within the candy. Gummies with no water content and an incorrect sugar mix ratio will stick together.
To avoid this, the simplest solution is to balance the amount of the sugar and glucose syrup with the other ingredients. You also need to know the correct temperature settings and sugar-coating procedure for the best results.
2. Excess moisture.
If there is any excess moisture in the air or your gummies have been exposed to humidity, they will melt and will become a sticky mess and start clumping together.
This can be an issue with homemade and store-bought gummies since most contain ingredients like glucose syrup, powdered sugar, modified starch, and gelatin for structure and texture.
3. Incorrect storage.
As a general best practice, homemade gummies should be stored in a cool, dry place. The product may soften and become stickier if stored in an overly hot or humid environment. Formulas may become destabilized to the point where reversal is impossible, depending on the ingredients in the gummy product and the degree of humidity to which they were exposed.
It’s also worth remembering how heavy gummies are. It’s best to keep them in small containers, so the gummies on the bottom don’t get squished by the gummies on top.
You can keep cannabis gummies in a freezer indefinitely, but other edibles made with eggs or dairy won’t last as long. We discussed how gummies don’t expire in a previous post here if you’d like to find out more.
4. Faulty packaging.
Packaging not sealed correctly can allow heat and moisture from the environment to enter the container.
This can cause the homemade gummies to “sweat” and stick together within their packages. If your supplier isn’t using proper packaging, it’s best to transfer your gummies to your own container as soon as you get them home.
How to Prevent Gummies From Sticking Together
Follow these tips to prevent your gummies from being mushy and sticky.
Use the correct amount of ingredients.
The best way to prevent homemade gummy bears from sticking together is by using the proper amount of ingredients when preparing them. Too much sugar or gelatin can cause gummies to stick together more easily.
Add a coating.
Gummy coatings like carnauba wax and cornstarch are designed to prevent gummies from sticking together. Corn starch is a protective coating, while wax provides a seal to prevent air and moisture from getting in.
These coatings can be added after the gummies have cooled, dried, and taken from their molds. When used in cautious proportions, neither ingredient will not have a discernible effect on gummy vitamins taste or consistency. Others use flavored oil to coat gummies.
Store gummies properly.
Storing homemade gummy bears in a cool, dry, and climate-controlled place prevents environmental hazards like heat and humidity from the gummy coating and damaging product quality and integrity.
Humidity management also gives other extra benefits for medical marijuana dispensaries producing their own gummies, like lowering incurred losses from spoiled products and increasing consumer trust.
Refrigerate your gummies.
Refrigeration is also an option for longer-lasting storage since cold temperatures reduce evaporation rates. Keeping gummy bears sealed tightly in an airtight container or package is essential to maximize freshness.
Pack the gummies properly.
When shipping gummy bears, it’s best to use packaging materials such as bubble wrap, food-grade plastic bags, and other materials that provide enough cushioning against shock during transit.
Additionally, including gelatin and a desiccant packet inside the package helps absorb moisture, preventing gummies from sticking together.
Also, think about the shape of your gummies. Due to their shape, peach ring edibles are prone to sticking together. So, most companies pack them in hard plastic tubs rather than soft packaging, where they can easily get squished together.
More Tips to Preserve Homemade Gummy Bears
To help preserve and quality control your gummy bear candy, keep them in a cool and dark place away from direct sunlight or heat sources. You should also store gummy candies in an airtight container and monitor the humidity levels to ensure they don’t become too moist or dry. This same quality control is very important for cannabis gummies with a very sensitive flavor.
Dry edible gummies can be very chewy, while sticky gummies are messy. Following these guidelines helps keep your gummies fresher for longer periods.
