Help! My homemade NAC gummies turned into a sticky mess!
Hey everyone! I've been making my own gummy vitamins for a while, but I just tried to add NAC to the mix and it totally failed. The mixture turned into a gooey, rubbery blob that wouldn't set properly. I used gelatin and tried to dissolve the NAC powder in warm water before adding it to the gummy base, but it clumped up. Any tips?
I'm not a fan of NAC supplements, tbh. Why not just eat some glutathione-rich foods? But to answer your question, NAC is notoriously finicky because it's acidic and can break down gelatin's structure. Maybe try using agar agar instead? Or reduce the acid by buffering with a bit of baking soda. Also, make sure your gelatin is fully bloomed before adding the NAC.
Oh boy, I tried making something similar for my grandkids (they love gummies!), but I used a recipe from a blog that said to mix the NAC with a bit of citric acid first to prevent clumping. That didn't work either. The whole batch was a sticky disaster. I ended up buying commercial NAC gummies. But if you figure it out, let us know! Maybe try adding the NAC to the liquid after it's off the heat, and stir really fast? And lower the sugar content? Sugar can interfere with setting too.
I've had luck with using less gelatin and adding a bit of agar agar to the mix. Also, I dissolve the NAC in a tiny bit of water with a pinch of vitamin C powder (which is also acidic, but for some reason it works). Then I mix it into the gummy base at the very end before pouring into molds. Mine set fine, but they do have a slightly bitter aftertaste. Maybe add some fruit juice to mask it? Good luck!
Thanks for the tips! I'll try the agar agar combo and maybe lower the temperature. I'll report back if I get it right. Appreciate the help!