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candy gems are sticky now!

post #1 of 20
7/1/11 at 3:08pm
Thread Starter 
I made some candy gems and now they are sticky. How do I store them so they stay dry?
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post #2 of 20
7/2/11 at 7:25pm
Thread Starter 
anyone?? icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif
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post #3 of 20
7/2/11 at 7:42pm
You need to store them with packets of silica gel, like they pack in shoe boxes etc. I also read if you put vegetable oil on them it will keep them shiny and protect from humidity...But, I have not tried the vegetable oil yet.

I know the first one works.. But, if you try the vegetable oil. Let me know how it works. Maybe try it on a few!!!

However, I dont know if you can bring them back wonce they are sticky and humid
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post #4 of 20
7/2/11 at 7:42pm
You need to store them with packets of silica gel, like they pack in shoe boxes etc. I also read if you put vegetable oil on them it will keep them shiny and protect from humidity...But, I have not tried the vegetable oil yet.

I know the first one works.. But, if you try the vegetable oil. Let me know how it works. Maybe try it on a few!!!

However, I dont know if you can bring them back wonce they are sticky and humid
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post #5 of 20
7/2/11 at 7:43pm
You need to store them with packets of silica gel, like they pack in shoe boxes etc. I also read if you put vegetable oil on them it will keep them shiny and protect from humidity...But, I have not tried the vegetable oil yet.

I know the first one works.. But, if you try the vegetable oil. Let me know how it works. Maybe try it on a few!!!

However, I dont know if you can bring them back wonce they are sticky and humid
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post #6 of 20
7/2/11 at 9:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nancyg

You need to store them with packets of silica gel, like they pack in shoe boxes etc. I also read if you put vegetable oil on them it will keep them shiny and protect from humidity...But, I have not tried the vegetable oil yet.

I know the first one works.. But, if you try the vegetable oil. Let me know how it works. Maybe try it on a few!!!

However, I dont know if you can bring them back wonce they are sticky and humid



Mine kept well for a year in a sealed tupperware container on a sheet of parchment paper, in a cool, dry spot. But it is VERY dry here. They were really dull looking and I tried the vegetable oil- it works great!
Edible art is the best kind of art!
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Edible art is the best kind of art!
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post #7 of 20
7/5/11 at 8:31am
Confectioner's glaze will also keep them shiny and prevent their getting sticky.
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post #8 of 20
11/23/11 at 10:44am
My gems went sticky too, and I used the silica packs. Are they ruined or can they be saved somehow? Most are stuck together.

Thanks!
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post #9 of 20
11/26/11 at 5:31pm
I tried to make my own gems last week for a cake and after several attempts, I realized it really is best for me to just buy them already made icon_wink.gif I know they sell them on Country Kitchen website.

Not sure how you can "save" them, but I think the only thing you can do is try to pull them apart with the least amount of damage! GL
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post #10 of 20
11/26/11 at 5:45pm
I agree. I tried pulling them apart and the goo was just too much. And here I though I was so ahead of the game with getting them out of the way and now I have to start all over!
Do the ready made ones stay nice? They're just so expensive for so little.
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post #11 of 20
11/26/11 at 9:39pm
I've never bought them before, but I imagine they are made with additives that we wouldn't have to make them stay dry.

I wonder if boiling your sugar/isomalt to a higher temp would make them drier or less gooey? Or if it's just the moisture in the atmosphere only. . . you'll have to search more. I found quite a bit here on isomalt gems/diamonds. Sorry I can't help more!
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post #12 of 20
11/27/11 at 5:03am
Well I definitely did something wrong. This morning when I got up, the few I saved and tried out on the cake, where melted all down the side of it! It isn't very warm in my house at all and it's actually quite dry. I did color them black, but didn't use much gel color at all. Wonder if the color is the problem....

I'll see what I can find about isomalt. Thanks for your help.
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post #13 of 20
11/27/11 at 7:47am
I think you're not supposed to put them on until last minute, because they will melt from any moisture contained in whatever they are touching.

I also read somewhere about coating with chocolate the part that will be touching the cake, so it acts as a barrier to the moisture in the cake/icing/surface. But you should find something about that in your research. I'll see if I can find some of the links to the info I found when searching.
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post #14 of 20
11/27/11 at 8:05am
kello: did you make yours with regular sugar, versus isomalt?

I'm going to post my thread I started when I was trying this out--maybe you can just email the posters who were helping me and ask them.

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-735165-0-days0-orderasc-isomalt.html

Also, SugarCraft has great info on making isomalt gems and using them. Also, I've read others who have simply melted Jolly Ranchers and used that in molds. I'm not sure what your time line is, but I'm just throwing everything out there that I remember coming across in my search.

And by the way, after two attempts, I didn't even use them! I just moistened the gum paste number and coated it in colored sugar crystals icon_smile.gif I needed to make the tiniest jewels in the molds I had, so maybe that made it that much harder to accomplish. Maybe I'll try again next time, but only if I need the larger jewels. icon_smile.gif
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post #15 of 20
11/27/11 at 8:09am
Sorry, the link is working for me, but it's not letting me post it here properly. If you do a search with my screen name and "isomalt" in the search term area, it should come up with my "Help: edible jewels on gum paste" thread.
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