Frequently Asked Questions
- What are gums?
- The gum is lumping when I add it to my formulation. What can I do?
- How do I use Pre-Hydrated® Gums?
- Can Pre-Hydrated® Gums be used in any application without reformulating?
- At what level should I use gums in my formulation?
- What tips can you offer for using gums?
- What is the GMO status of gums?
What are gums?
Gums are thickeners that are used extensively in a wide variety of foods including salad dressings, sauces, ice cream, confections, processed meats, veggie burgers and beverages. Gums find many uses in industrial applications as diverse as inks, cleaners, cements, carpet backing, bandages, defoamers, and lithography. Gums can be either natural or synthetic. Natural gums can be derived from seaweed, plant exudates or seeds.
The gum is lumping when I add it to my formulation. What can I do?
All gums (except our exclusive line of Pre-Hydrated®) have a tendency to form lumps when added to water.
To avoid lumping, use Pre-Hydrated® Gums or one of the following methods:
- Slowly sift or sprinkle into vortex of liquid when using a blender or high shear mixer.
- Add 1 part gum to at least 10 parts sugar or other dry ingredients in your existing formula. Mix well and sprinkle into rapidly mixing water.
- Dissolve 1 part gum in 5 parts organic solvent (soybean oil, propylene glycol, etc.) in your existing formula. Add this slurry to rapidly mixing water.
- Use an eductor or aspirator in your water inlet. A production size aspirator is available from TIC Gums.
Watch our video demonstrations.
How do I use Pre-Hydrated® Gums?
Pre-Hydrated® Gums are easy to incorporate into your production process.
- Agitate the water.
- Sprinkle the gum slowly into the water.
- Allow three to five minutes for hydration.
It's that easy! No dust, no "fish-eyes," no problems!
Can Pre-Hydrated® Gums be used in any application without reformulating?
Pre-Hydrated® Gums are a 1:1 replacement for powdered gums. They find their best application in wet systems rather than dry systems. There are few instances where Pre-Hydrated® Gums will not perform as well as powdered gums --- call us today to see if Pre-Hydrated® Gums will make a difference for your operations!
At what level should I use gums in my formulation?
Usage levels are generally included with product samples and they are available from our GumGuru® online. Any recommended usage levels are provided only as an approximate guideline. We strongly encourage you to experiment with different levels in your product to "fine tune" the percentage of gum required.
What tips can you offer for using gums?
The most common problem users encounter is improper hydration. Where possible expose the gum to water for a sufficient amount of time to allow for initial hydration before acids and salts are added.
Other processing conditions such as high temperatures or mechanical stress must be accounted for when selecting a usage level.