As far as snacks go, gummy bears are undoubtedly the cream of the crop. Tasty and incredibly delicious, these bears make for the perfect home snack at every point. And, they’re pretty easy to eat as well, so you don’t have much to worry about when it comes to these treats.
That said, there are some instances when you might need to give gummy bears a little softening. Whether as an additional processing step or just something to make them more palatable, softening can come in handy a few times when dealing with gummy bears. This article will explain how to go about the process.
Methods for Softening Gummy Bears
Without further ado, let’s get into the softening process and the methods that can be used to accomplish this:
The Microwave Method
When you engage a microwave for softening gummy bears, you essentially do this the same way you’d use a microwave to warm food or accomplish some other task. That said, you’d also need a damp paper towel, which will come in handy down the line.
Here’s a simple workflow for how that is done:
- First, you’ve got to get all of the things you need – the microwave, the towel, the gummy bears, everything
- Prepare your bears and unwrap them out of their packaging if the need arises
- Remember to put the bears in a dish that is safe for microwave use and can easily accommodate the number of bears you’ll be working with
- Artrange the bears in the dish, then put them into the microwave to begin the softening. You can microwave them in intervals, switching between 10 and 15 minutes depending on what you’re trying to achieve.
- Keep an eye on the bears as they get softer. You’ll notice that they start to expand as they get softer, and that should tell you that you’re making progress
- If you notice that the bears aren’t being evenly softened, then you can stir them together with a spatula or a wooden spoon
- When they’re soft enough, remove the bears from the microwave and let them cool off
- You can start to use them directly or store them, but also remember to clean your work environment so you don’t breed any germs or dirt
The Soaking Method
If you don’t have any equipment – or maybe you’d prefer to do things more naturally – then soaking just might be the perfect method for you to engage. The process of soaking is actually rather simple – all you have to do is go through the following process:
- Get the things you need – the gummy bears, the container you’d put them in, and warm water or juice. Note that the juice is only for flavor, so it might not be necessary if you don’t need it
- Prepare the bears the same way you would normally. Also, remember that you need a large enough container that allows you to soak the bears in your liquid
- Put the bears in the container, then you can pour your water or juice in the mix – depending on the flavor you’re trying to achieve
- Leave the mix and allow it to soak. In most cases, you’d need to let the soaking work for about an hour or two – sometimes, it could be even longer if you want a really soft texture
- If you’re using juice, then you might need to stir the mixture so that it all gets properly submerged and mixed together
- Keep an eye on the bears to see how soft they become, then you can strain them with a sieve or a colander when you’re done to remove any excess liquid.
- Store your softened bears or use them immediately, but don’t forget to clean your work area
The Steam Method
Finally, we have a method that doesn’t get enough credit – steam application. Despite not necessarily being popular, using steam actually can provide some solid results if you know how to work with it. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to do:
- Get your gummy bears, as well as a steaming tray or steamer basket. Don’t forget to have an appropriate pot, complete with a lid
- Prepare your bears, then get some water into the pot. It’s important to ensure that the water level isn’t up to the steamer basket or steamer tray when you place it in the pot
- Then, put the basket or tray in the pot as well
- Carefully arrange the bears in a single layer on the basket or tray, and make sure to space them out so steam circulation can be optimal
- Cover the pot tightly, then apply heat to it. We recommend that you leave things on medium heat just in case, so you can control the boiling and steaming properly
- As steam starts forming in the pot, leave it to interact with the bears for 5 to 10 minutes. This exact time will generally vary based on how manybears you’re working with and the strength of the heat itself.
- Keep checking to see how soft the bears have gotten, and keep steaming if the need arises
- Once you’re satisfied, take your bears from the basket or tray then let them cool a bit
- From there, you can use or store the bears depending on what you need. Clean your workspace, and you’re good to go!
Tips for Preventing Hardening
The steps we’ve outlined are relatively simple. And if you follow them properly, the chances of having any issues are quite slim. That said, you also need to be very careful to prevent your bears from hardening. This way, you go a long way in improving their ability to be chewed.
So in general, you can follow these steps to achieve that:
- Be careful with storing the bears when you’re done. Keep them in a sealed, airtight container to make sure they don’t get exposed to air.
- Storage should also be done at room temperature, where everywhere is cool and dry and there is no risk of sunlight exposure
- It goes without saying, but we’ll say it anyways – moisture should have no place around the bears
- The bears themselves need to be fresh when you’re working with melting. There’s a chance for older gummy bears to get harder over time, and they could even become sticky. So, be careful and guard against moisture
- Don’t refrigerate the bears once they get soft. Freezing can preserve them, but it only makes them harden and lose their texture
- As much as possible, you might want to consume the soft gummy bears immediately. This way, you get to preserve and enjoy their texture as much as possible.
Conclusion
For all the benefits and juiciness that they provide, gummy bears could need a little softening from time to time. Fortunately,. There are several ways to achieve this, so you can just engage them and enjoy your soft bears.
If you want to learn more about how to get this process done, we at Sainty Tec are always here to help out.
