DIY Creatine Gummies Gone Wrong - Need Help! (gelatin + creatine monohydrate)
Hey everyone! I'm trying to make my own creatine gummies at home because store-bought are too pricey. I used unflavored gelatin, water, a little sugar, and creatine monohydrate powder. But my first batch turned out like rubbery rocks and the creatine didn't dissolve right - there were gritty bits everywhere. I'm a retired nurse so I'm used to precise measurements, but this has me stumped. Any tips? I used 1 tbsp gelatin to 1/2 cup water and 5g creatine per gummy (I wanted them potent). Did I overdo the gelatin? Also, will the creatine even survive the heating? Thanks in advance!
Oh man, I tried this last month and it was a disaster too! My gummies turned into a sticky mess. I think the issue is that creatine doesn't like heat - it degrades into creatinine. I read somewhere that you should add the creatine after the gelatin mixture has cooled down a bit, but not so cool that it sets. I used agar once and it was even worse - super brittle. Maybe try less gelatin? Like 1 tsp per cup of liquid? Also, are you using a mold? I found silicone molds work best. Good luck! And hey, at least you're not alone in this DIY fail club lol.
Interesting project! I'm a gadget geek, so I've been experimenting with a sous-vide setup to keep the temp low and consistent. Creatine monohydrate starts degrading around 60°C (140°F), so you want to keep it below that. What I do: dissolve gelatin in warm water (not boiling), let it cool to about 50°C, then whisk in the creatine. Also, use a fine-mesh strainer to get rid of clumps. And a tip: add a little citric acid or fruit puree to mask the taste - creatine is bitter! My last batch with strawberry puree was actually edible. But yeah, texture is tricky. Maybe try adding a bit of glycerin to keep them soft? Let me know if you want my exact recipe.
Med student here with some biochem knowledge. A few things: First, creatine monohydrate is pretty stable in dry form but degrades in solution, especially with heat and acid. So your heating step is likely destroying some of it. Second, the gritty bits are probably undissolved creatine - it's not super soluble in cold water, but it does dissolve better in warm water. However, if you heat it too much, it converts to creatinine, which is useless for muscle. My advice: dissolve creatine in a small amount of warm (not hot) water first, then mix into your gelatin base once it's cooled to lukewarm. Also, your ratio of 5g per gummy is insane - that's like a full dose in one gummy! Most commercial gummies have 1-2g. No wonder they're rock hard. Try 1g per gummy and adjust gelatin to 1 tbsp per 1/2 cup should be okay, but maybe use less if you want softer texture. And definitely let them set in the fridge, not room temp. Good luck!
Thanks everyone! Wow, lots of good info. I didn't realize creatine degrades with heat - that explains a lot. I'll try cooling the mixture before adding the creatine and reduce the amount per gummy. Also, I'll look into silicone molds and maybe add some flavoring. I'll report back on my next attempt! Fingers crossed.