Gummy bears are tiny, squishy multi-coloured candies that are a favourite treat for a lot of children and even adults too. Gummy bears can be eaten on their own or they can be used as a dessert. Gummy bears are a popular topping for ice cream and melted gummy bears can be put into cookies and cakes or even poured over a dessert. Melted gummy bears add a fun and unique touch to dessert.
Making gummy bears from scratch can be a cumbersome job which is why many people are now resorting to buying pre-made gummy bears and then melting, re-flavoring and re-molding them to form their own gummy bears. While this might seem like a hard task, it’s actually pretty easy. Checkout the article below in order to gain better insights on how to melt gummy bears.
Contents
The Microwave Method
What You Need
Your gummy bears
Microwave safe dish
Steps To Melting Gummy Bears Using The Microwave Method
- First determine the number of gummy bears you want to melt before you melt them. The number of gummy bears on your recipe should be written down if you are following one or you can just estimate how many gummy bears you need.
- The next thing you need to do is to find a large, microwave safe dish or container that can hold all the gummy bears easily without spilling.
- Keep in mind that gummy bear liquid will harden quickly, so make sure that you prepare your dish or desert first then melt your gummy bears last for best results.
- Place your gummy bears in bowl and place the bowl in microwave.
- Set your microwave to medium or low heat so that your gummy bears can melt evenly.
- Let your gummy bears melt for 5 minutes or so and take them out
- Do not leave the gummy bears for too long inside the microwave
- If you do not get the desired results, repeat the process
- Continue doing this until your gummy bears have completely melted and use them as desired.
- If you do not want to mix the gummy bears together for the melted liquid sort your gummy bears by colour before you melt them.
- Makes sure you select the colours you need if you want your gummy bear liquid to be a certain colour
- Apply normal cooking safety precautions when performing this task
Disadvantages Of Using The Microwave
The microwave produces a lot of heat and as a result your gummy bears can end up burning if you leave them unattended. Therefore, always melt your gummy bears at 30 second intervals making sure to stir them after every interval.
The Stovetop Method
Another effective way to melt gummy bears is on the stovetop. The stovetop method is not the most effective because if you do not do it properly you risk burning your gummy bears.
What You Need
A saucepan/pot
Your gummy bears
Non-metallic spatula
Steps For Melting Gummy Bears On The Stovetop
- First determine the number of gummy bears you want to melt before you melt them. The number of gummy bears on your recipe should be written down if you are following one or you can just estimate how many gummy bears you need.
- The next thing you need to do is to find a large saucepan, or pot that can hold all the gummy bears easily without spilling.
- Place your gummy bears in the saucepan or pot and put the pan on the stovetop
- Set your stove on low heat so that your gummy bears can melt evenly without burning.
- Let your gummy bears melt for 5 minutes or so and remove the saucepan from the stove
- Do not leave the gummy bears for too long on the stovetop
- Use as desired
- Remember that gummy bears will harden so make sure that your dish or desert is ready prior to melting your gummy bears
Disadvantages Of Using The Stovetop-Saucepan Method
While melting gummy bears on the stovetop might seem like an easy task, they are actually some disadvantages associated with this method. For starters, there is a risk that the gummy bears might stick to the bottom of the pan and eventually burn which can cause a serious mess in your kitchen. Therefore, always keep a close eye on you saucepan when melting gummy bears.
The Oven Method
Another great way of melting gummy bears is to use the oven. This method is not time consuming and will melt your gummy bears within 3 minutes.
What You Will Need
Oven
Non-stick baking pan/ heat proof silicon mold
Gummy bears
Steps For Melting Gummy Bears In The Oven
- Start by preheating the oven to 122F.
- Place your gummy bears in a non-stick baking pan or a heat proof silicon mold.
- Place the pan or silicon mold into the oven and let the gummy bears melt for about 2 to 3 minutes. Avoid keeping then in the oven for a long time as they will start to burn.
Disadvantages Of Using The Oven
While the oven might seem like an ideal appliance for melting gummy bears, it has its shortfalls. For starters, it’s very messy to melt gummy bears in the oven considering you will have to transfer them into a new mold. Furthermore, there is a risk that the gummy bears might get burnt and stick to the bottom of the baking pan.
The Stove Method-Using A Double Boiler
A double boiler can also be used to melt gummy bears and it gives you the opportunity to apply low heat which does not scorch the gummy bears.
What You Will Need
Double boiler (if you don’t have one you can use a heat proof glass bowl and a small saucepan).
Spatula
Gummy Bears
Steps For Melting Gummy Bears Using A Double Boiler
- Start by switching on the stove to medium heat and then fill the saucepan with an inch of water. Place the saucepan onto the stove and leave it until it starts simmering.
- Take your gummy bears and place them in the heat proof glass bowl.
- Once the water starts to simmer, place the glass bowl on top of the saucepan and let the gummy bears melt.
Disadvantages Of Using A Double Boiler
Using a double boiler to melt gummy bears can a bit time consuming. Furthermore, there is a chance that heat will escape especially when your glass proof bowl does not fit perfectly on top of the saucepan.
The Stove Method-Using Boiling Water
Boiling water can also be used to melt gummy bears. Here is a list of what you will need and the steps to follow.
What You Will Need
Gummy bears
Heat-proof plastic bag
Bowl of boiling water
Steps For Melting Gummy Bears With Boiling Water
- Start by boiling water and then transferring it into a bowl.
- Put your gummy bears in a heat-proof plastic bag and then seal it.
- Submerge the plastic bag into the bowl of hot water and allow the gummy bears to melt. Make sure that water does not get inside.
Disadvantages Of Using Boiling Water
If you use boiling water to melt your gummy bears, there is a chance that water will penetrate inside the bag which can affect the texture of the melted gummy bears.
Liquids Used To Dissolve Gummy Bears
Apart from the methods above there are other ways you can melt or dissolve gummy bears. Below are some of the liquids or solvents that you can use to melt gummy bears.
Water
It is not surprise that water is the common liquid that most people use in order to dissolve gummy bears. If you decide to use water to melt gummy bears then try hot water because it is more effective. Because gummy bears are a product of gelatin, a substance that derives from boiling animal bones and skin they can easily be dissolved in water. Gelatin is water-soluble, meaning that it can melt and make a solution if you deep it inside hot water. That is why gummy bears often dissolve when you put them inside hot water.
Vinegar
Besides water, there are other liquids that can be used to melt gummy bears. However, you must use it properly to melt your candy. Vinegar has a low pH and has the ability to melt gummy bears. Other liquids with a low pH that can also melt gummy bears include acetone, and toluene among others.
Pepsin
Another liquid that you can use to melt gummy bears is pepsin. You can mix water with pepsin in order to increase the rate of gummy bear dissolution. Pepsin can break the collagen in gummy bears into amino acids which will easily melt in water.
Tips For Melting Gummy Bears
- Use low heat when melting gummy bears so that they do not crystalize or stick to the bottom of your pan.
- Use silicon equipment to stir the gummy bears. If you use metal equipment, the gummy bears will stick there and they can be very hard to remove.
- Separate gummy bears according to color. This is because if you melt different colors at once they will produce a weird color which is not appetizing at all.
- Do not taste melted gummy bears when they are hot as they can cause severe tongue burns.
What You Can Do With Gummy Bears
There are a lot of creative things you can do with gummy bears. Below are some of the things you can do with gummy bears.
Make Lollipops
Making lollipops is one simple hack you can do with gummy bears. Simply arrange your gummy bears in a pattern of your choice on a sheet pan or baking tray lined with parchment paper. Put the pan in your oven and bake for 2 or so minutes at 360°F. When the baking is done the gummy bears will soften. Make sure that you do not leave the gummy bears in the oven for too long otherwise they will burn. Remove your pan from the oven and put a lollipop stick in the middle of each gummy bear mass before it hardens. Do this quickly so that your gummy bears do not harden. Let your gummy bears cool and once they are cool your lollipops will be ready to go.
Cake Decorations
Another hack you can try with gummy bears is to use them for cake decorations. This is a fun way to spend time with your kids in the kitchen. You will need a lot of gummy bears depending on the size of your cake and the way you want to decorate your cake. You can put some gummy bears inside your cake, at the centre or outside your cakes. There are a lot of cake recipes that you can try with gummy bears.
Do Gummies Melt In Hot Water?
Yes, gummies can melt in hot water. In order to melt gummies in hot water, make sure that you seal them in a heat-proof plastic bag and then submerge them in water.
How Do You Melt Store Bought Gummies?
The best way to melt store bought gummies is to either use an oven, the stove or the microwave. You can follow any of the steps highlighted in this article to melt gummy bears. It is worth noting that gummy bears are made of sugar therefore, you should always melt them at low heat or else they will crystalize or burn.
What Temperature Will Gummies Melt?
Gummies will melt when they are exposed to a temperature of 95F which is 35 degrees. So if you are planning on using any method make sure that the appliance you are using is able to reach 95F so that your gummies can start to melt. Avoid using temperatures that are higher than 95F as they tend to burn the gummies.
What Happens To Gummies In Heat?
When gummies are exposed to heat they melt. So it’s always advisable to keep your gummies in a cool environment so that they do not melt.
What Does Vinegar Do To Gummy Bear?
Vinegar dissolves gummy bears. So if you are looking to dissolve gummy bears you can also resort to using vinegar.
Conclusion
Gummy bears can be melted using any of the above stated methods. It is worth remembering that gummy bears can burn when exposed to extreme heat so always make sure you melt them on low heat.
