How To Make Gummy Bears Without Gelatin?

1.Define Gummy Bears?

Various colorful gummy bears- Picture Courtesy: justcandy.com

Gummy Bears are small bear shape soft, chewy gummies which are made up of sugar along with other ingredients such as gelatin, corn syrup, starch, colorants and flavors etc. These gummy bears are available in range of flavors and vibrant colors that appeal to every eye seeing these confectioneries.

Although, there are large number of gummies produced in other shapes, yet the popularity of gummy bears is unmatchable which is one of the reasons why in some English speaking countries these are called jelly baby. Thus, you can have these cute gummies to enchant your events.

History 

Bear dancing in the street- Picture Courtesy: geektyrant.com

The history of gummy bears is quite interesting which goes back to 1920s when a German confectionery worker naming Hans Riegel was inspired by the street dancing bears. He then produced gelatin based soft candies with fruit flavors which were greatly loved by people.

Gradually, the formula expanded to other areas and changes have been added to it according to people preferences. As a result, now we can see gummy bears as soft, hard, gelatin based and without gelatin etc.

Size

Gummy bears are available in different sizes and each size is given a specific title, so, one can easily have the desired one. These include:

Original gummy bears:These gummy bears are about 0.8 to 0.75 inches long.

Medium Size gummy bears:These gummy bears are also called giant gummy bears with 0.5 5 LBS.

Jumbo gummy bears:jumbo gummy bears are the largest one used in parties. Their size is also very large which is 26 LBS

2.What Is Gelatin?

Various forms of gelatin- Picture Courtesy: cozymeal.com

Gelatin is a protein with colorless and odorless properties which is derived from the collagen of animals. Its form can be both liquid and solid where in the former condition it collagen is sticky and rubby while as the latter make it brittle.

Gelatin has been the principal gelling agent for making gummy bears because of its natural thickening characteristics and associated benefits. However, with passing time certain obligations on part of dietary concerns and religious limitations, now a portion of consumer looks forward for gelatin free gummy bears.

Making Process

Gelatin is produced by processing the connective body parts of animals like cow and fish etc. Through boiling their bones and tendons, the viscous protein is extracted and turned into translucent, colorless and tasteless jelly like substance called gelatin. The obtained gelatin can be further processed to turn it in powder form or strips.

Benefits

Gelatin is beneficial in many ways such as:

• It contains amino acids and protein which are considered vital elements in enhancing the elasticity of skin, removing wrinkles and beautifying hair and nails.
• Gelatin is helpful for reducing joint pain.
• It helps in improving digestion by improving calcium absorbency.
• It is also useful for containing glutamic acid which strengthen the intestinal wall against damage.

Side Effects

Despite many advantages, gelatin do have potential side effects including:

• Taking excessive amount of gelatin by mouth may result in unpleasant taste, sore throat, and swollen gums.
• Gelatin may cause allergic reaction in form of poor digestion and bloating.
• Constantly consuming gelatin without concerning for health may lead to stomach and kidney problems.

3.How To Make Gummy Bears Without Gelatin? What Are The Alternatives?

If you are a gummy bears lover and want to produce gummy bears either at home or industrial without gelatin then no need to worry as there are multiple substitutes for gelatin. These are common and easy to have with many benefits. So, let's know what these alternatives are:

Pectin

Pectin powder with fruits- Picture Courtesy: bakersauthority.com

Pectin is a powder obtained from the citrus peels or shells of fruits such as apple, lemon, and orange etc. Texture wise, pectin is softer than gelatin and gives your gummy bears a more stable and jelly like structure. However, it requires excessive heat to reach the boiling point between 288-291°F for cooking.

Agar-Agar

Agar-agar granules & strips- Picture Courtesy: tuasuade.com

Agar-agar is another plant based substitute to gelatin. It is derived from seaweed and is potent to gelatin. That's why, you will need a little amount of agar-agar for making your gummy bears chewy like. The temperature requirements for agar-agar is 185-203°F for its melting point.

Carrageenan

Carrageenan- Picture Courtesy: thefooduntold.com

Carrageenan is yet another valuable non-gelatin gelling agent which is extracted from red edible seaweeds. It has effective stabilizing properties for making gummy bears with melting point ranges between 122-158°F. Apart from this, carrageenan is also widely used as an inactive binder excipient in tablets production.

4.How To Make Gummy Bears Without Gelatin? The Process?

Making gummy bears without gelatin require you to follow few simple steps both on industrial level and at home. So, let's look at these steps!

Process At Industrial Level

Gummy mixture in hopper- Picture Courtesy: Aipak Pharmaceutical Equipment

Collecting Ingredients

First, you need to collect the ingredients required for making gummy bears without gelatin. It usually requires gelling agent such as pectin, agar-agar, or carrageenan along with colorants, flavors, and solvent like water. During this step, it is necessary to take the amount of ingredients in accordance with formula to avoid over or under use of constituents that might lead to inconsistent formulation.

Preparing Mixture

Once you have gathered all the required ingredients, just stock them into the cooking vessel and turn it on. When the fixed time period passes after the boiling point is reached, your slurry for gummy will be prepared at this stage.

Transferring Mixture

Proceeding further, the prepared slurry will be simply transferred from the cooking vessel to the hopper located in depositing unit. The hopper keeps the slurry at desired temperature to avoid jamming.

Filling Moulds

Gummy slurry filling into moulds- Picture Courtesy: Aipak Pharmaceutical Equipment

Now, the gummy bear shape moulds are continuously filled through the filling nozzles which precisely dispense dosage of liquid gummy slurry into passing moulds.

Cooling Gummy Bears

As the gummy bear moulds get filled with gummy mixture, they are moved ahead for cooling. At the point, these moulds are passed through a cooling tunnel where the excessive cooling temperature cool down the gummy mixture in moulds and they turn from liquid gummy solution to the solid gummy bears shape.

Demolding Gummy Bears

Now, when gummy bears are finally made, it's time for their safe removal from moulds. For this purpose, demolding technique is employed through which gummy bears are safely removed out of moulds and discharged from the machine.

Coating Gummy Bears

At last, the optional step of gummy coating is carried out where any one among wax coating, sugar coating, oil coating, and cornstarch coating is introduced to the finished gummies for resisting stickiness to each other. So, your gummy bears are finally ready to be chewed in your mouth.

Process At Home Level

After discussing about the industrial way of making gummy bears without gelatin, let's explore what steps are followed if one prepare the same gummy at home!

Gummy bears on mold tray- Picture Courtesy: vectormolds.com

Prepare Silicone Molds

Take the gummy bear shape silicone molds and clean them properly to eliminate dirt and dust.

Gather Ingredients

Gather ingredients in separate bowls for making gummy bears including desired fruit juice, thickening agent like agar-agar powder or pectin, sweetener, and other optional food powder for flavor, color, or additional value.

Prepare Mixture

Once you have collected the ingredients, pour the fruit juice in a saucepan and place it over stove. Add sweetener and stir it well. Now, prepare the paste of agar-agar or other non-gelatin thickening powder in a separate bowl and add it to the saucepan. Turn the heat high and whisk continuously until the mixture start bubbling.

Transfer To Molds

Now, remove the saucepan and let the mixture get cool for few minutes. After that, use a dropper to transfer gummy mixture into molds. After filling molds, refrigerate them for 30 minutes to get the gummy bears take their strong shape.

5.How To Make Gummy Bears Without Gelatin? Machines Required?

Making gummy bears is now very easy with advanced machines which can automatically conduct the entire process of gummy manufacturing. So, let's know in a bit detail about these machines!

APK-GM80Q Gummy Making Machine- Picture Courtesy: Aipak Pharmaceutical Equipment

Gummy Cooking Vessel

Gummy cooking vessel is one of the primary equipment needed for preparing gummy slurry by mixing and cooking various ingredients at specific temperature. It is also known as gummy cooking jacket and is composed of a jacket cooker, drive motor, temperature system, and control system etc.

Gummy Depositing Machine

It is another essential machine employed for carrying out the function of gummy depositing into moulds. The machiyis composed of a hopper, filling heads, mold lubricating flusher, and main frame. It simply works by taking liquid gummy mixture from hopper and filling it into gummy bear shape molds.

Gummy Cooling Tunnel

Gummy cooling tunnel is another unit that is integrated with a gummy depositing machine to cool down the gummy bears. It consists of a large enclosed tunnel with fitted system for air regulation, mould tray conveying, and demolding of gummy bears.

Similarly, when gummy bear molds enter the cooling tunnel, cold air start solidifying the aqueous solution into strong gummies. Afterwards, with the help of demolders, gummy bears are removed from molds onto conveyor for discharging.

Gummy Coating Machine

Gummy coating machine is optional yet important machine to undertake gummy bear coating. It features a rolling drum or pan inside which gummy bears along with coating solution are stocked. The constant rotation of rolling drum results in the homogeneous coating.

6.Explain The Benefits Of Making Gummy Bears Without Gelatin?

Well, there are several benefits which are associated gummy bears without gelatin. These are enlisted below:

Benefits of gelatin free gummy bears- Picture Courtesy: unichi.com.au

Better Digestive Health

The most effective advantage of gelatin free gummy bears is that they are light on stomach. Similarly, these gummy bears are helpful in improving your overall digestive health by supporting quick absorption and avoiding discomfort caused by the harsh gelatin.

Allergy-Friendly

People with allergies are also fond of taking gummies but gelatin based gummy bears impose restrictions on them. However, gummy bears without gelatin are always favorable for such people. Instead, they are fully safe to be consumed without any fear of facing adverse allergic reaction.

Ethically Acceptable

As human beings belonging to different religions and cultures, we do have certain limitations on everything including the products we consume. Similar is the case with gelatin based gummy bears which are animal byproduct such as pig, pork, and cow. These sources are prohibited in religions like Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism. Hence, gummy bears without gelatin allow us to consume our favorite gummies without any limitation.

Effective Nutrients Delivery

Vegan based gummy bears are rich in fiber and nutrients. In this way, one can easily opt for gelatin free gummy bears to boost their immunity level, improve gut health, and enhance therapeutic effect for delivery of supplement and herbal gummy bears.

7.What Type Of Gummy Bears Can Be Made Without Gelatin?

Gummy bears without gelatin are not only available in form of confectionery but you can make them in various other types. Some of the notable types are as under:

Gummy Snacks

Gummy snacks

Gummy snacks come under the umbrella of confectioneries which are rich in sugar with assorted colors and flavors. Such gummy bears are available in all sizes from 2 cm small size gummy to 26 LBS large size party gummy bear. Thus, everyone can enjoy gummy bear snack without any restriction.

Gummy Vitamin

Vitamin gummy bears

Gummy vitamin on the other hand are types of gummy bears with handful of vitamins. They contain essential vitamins to support overall health in a fun way. The common examples of gummy vitamin include vitamin B12 gummy bears , vitamin D3, gummy bears, and other types of multivitamins for kids and adults.

Gummy Protein

Protein gummies- Picture Courtesy: cravegummy.com

Gummy bears are also available in form of gummy protein which are extremely helpful in fulfilling our daily intake of essential nutrients. These protein gummies contain amino acids which are effective for repairing muscles and hormonal development.

Gummy Supplement

Probiotic gummy bears- Picture Courtesy: lilcritters.com

Gummy supplements are dietary supplements which can now be delivered in form of gummy bears. As gummy supplements are meant to be consumed for improving health, gelatin free gummy bears are preferred. The common examples include prebiotic and probiotic gummy bears.

Herbal Gummy 

Various herbal gummies- Picture Courtesy: adamantkitchen.com

Herbal gummy bears are prepared to treat certain illnesses like sleep disorder or mood swing. Such gummies are made by using herbs such as carrageenan or konjac to eliminate the allergies caused by gelatin.

Beauty Gummy

Beauty gummy bears- Picture Courtesy: nutrifactor.com.pk

Beauty gummies are popular gummy bears which are enclosing in them the benefits for enhancing beauty such as long hair, strong nails, and smooth skin. Thus, gelatin free gummy bears are frequently used to deliver beauty gummy.

8.How To Store Gummy Bears Without Gelatin?

Gummy bear containers on shelf- Picture Courtesy: dolceflav.com

Producing fine gummy bears is your first successful step but how you preserve their originality is what determines their quality. Thus, it is very important to store the produced gummy bears in an enclosed environment where there is no exposure to air and sunlight.

Generally, the storing of gummy bears without gelatin is pretty easy. Just put your gummy bears in an airtight container and keep the container in refrigerator. Usually, vegan gummy bears stay for up to 5 days, however, their shelf life can be further extended to 3 months by freezing them.

9.How To Make Gummy Bears Without Gelatin? Factors To Consider?

When making gummy bears without gelatin, it is significant to consider few factors. We have enlisted these considerations for you in the underlying paragraphs:

Amount of Ingredients

As gelatin free gummy bears are prepared by using plant based stabilizing agent, its ratio to be taken for preparing gummies must be considered. For example, agar-agar is potent to gelatin, so, less amount of it will be needed for giving your gummy bears a chewy like structure or else it will become undesired hard gummy.

Melting Point

Thermometer- Picture Courtesy: Twinkl

Similar to the amount taken for making gummy bears, melting point for each alternative also vary. So, you need to be cautious when taking different substitutes to gelatin. What you need to do is simply know the melting point of desired ingredient and boil the gummy slurry at that temperature.

Making Process

Making process for gummy bears without gelatin is also changed from the way gelatin based gummy bears are made. In this way, it is important to take note of the properties of taken ingredient because your negligence can ruin the mixture. In addition, gelatin support modification in form of adding substances but other alternatives are often strict to serialized process.

Gummy Moulds

Gummy bear moulds- Picture Courtesy: darkcitymolds.com

Gummy moulds taken for making gelatin free gummy bears must be of bear shape. However, the size of moulds may vary depending upon your needs. So, make sure to use the right set of gummy moulds.

Conclusion

Let's wrap up this review by recalling your question about How To Make Gummy Bears Without Gelatin? We are glad to have helped you in finding the best possible answer to your question. Making gummy bears without gelatin is quite easy but it carries along with it certain considerations that must be followed. Similarly, employing right gummy manufacturing equipment can transform your production. So, if you are in need of a sophisticated gummy making machine, Allpack is offering latest equipment with one year of warranty. For further information just leave a comment and we will contact you ASAP!