Gummy Manufacturing: Pour and Scrape / Flood Pour Tutorial

The gummy candy trend shows no sign of stopping, and many new gummy manufacturers are exploring gummy production techniques.

The confectionery landscape has many depositing methods for gummy production, but in the end, all of them are variants of hand pouring or machine depositing. For small to medium-sized manufacturers, the pour and scrape method, also known as flood pouring, stands out as a particularly effective option for new gummy makers. This method balances efficiency with simplicity, offering an ideal solution for businesses seeking quick start production without major investments in complex machinery. This informative tutorial focuses on the pour and scrape method and explains the pros and cons of the technique, what types of molds are best, and provides tips on how to optimize the pour and scrape process. We also list the equipment needed, and share best practices for quality and consistency.

What is Pour & Scrape Gummy Depositing?

Pour & Scrape gummy depositing is a hand pouring process used to make gummy candies with a precise shape and size, without the need for machines like a candy depositor. The process involves pouring the gummy mixture into a silicone mold and then using a scraper to remove any excess from the top, ensuring a smooth and consistent surface. This method allows for a relatively high-speed production of gummy candies with minimal waste, making it a cost-effective and efficient option for small and medium scale gummy manufacturers. 

Video courtesy of Vector Molds, custom silicone gummy molds manufacturer.

What is the Flood Scrape Method for Making Gummies?

The "flood scrape" technique for gummies and "flood pour" filling of gummy molds are alternate terms for pour and scrape. All of these are the same technique.

Step-by-Step Guide to Pour and Scrape Depositing

Preparation

• Surface Preparation: Ensure a completely flat surface for arranging the molds without gaps.
• Mold Treatment: Apply an anti-stick or release agent to the molds to ease the removal of gummies.
• Work Surface: Use a sturdy steel surface to prevent heat related deformation or buckling.

Cooking the Gummy Formula

• Formula Preparation: Follow your recipe to cook the gummy formula. For larger batches, transfer the cooked formula into a pot for easy handling.
• Depositing the Slurry: Pour the gummy slurry onto the prepared molds starting in the center.

Scraping Technique

• Using a Scraper: Spread the gummy mixture across the molds, filling each cavity. Rapid movement is crucial, especially with quick-setting pectin-based formulas.

Setting and Unmolding

• Allow to Set: After deposition, allow the gummies to set for the required duration.
• Unmolding: Once set, gently remove the gummies from the molds.

Quality Control

• Consistency Check: Regularly check for uniformity in size, shape, and texture.
• Taste Testing: Ensure the flavor profile matches the desired standards.

 

The Pros and Cons of Pour and Scrape Gummy Manufacturing

Pros of Pour and Scrape

1. Quick Start: One of the significant upsides of using the hand pouring method is the ability to kickstart gummy manufacturing very quickly with minimum cost.
2. Cost-Effectiveness: This method requires minimal initial investment, making it a budget-friendly choice.
3. Simplicity of Tools: Basic tools are sufficient, ensuring accessibility and ease of implementation.
4. Efficient Mold Utilization: Molds are designed to maximize cavity space, reducing the total number of molds needed.

Cons of Pour and Scrape

1. Skill-Dependent Process: Mastering this method requires a certain level of skill to make high quality gummies, so it can be somewhat challenging for beginners.
2. Potential for Inconsistency: Improper technique can lead to uneven product quality.
3. Extra Material on Mold Walls: The process often leaves a small amount of extra material on the walls between cavities, complicating the popping process and potentially affecting the aesthetics of the finished gummies.
4. Labor-Intensive: Being manual, it is labor-intensive and may require multiple personnel for efficient operation.

Comparing Flood Scrape with a Gummy Machine Depositor

Pros of Candy Depositor Method

1. Precision in Depositing: A depositor nozzle allows for precise transfer of the gummy mix into molds, facilitating a quick and easy popping process.
2. Professional Finish: Results in polished, professionally-looking gummies.
3. Less staff and greater consistency: A gummy production line can delivery high volume production and very consistent products with less staff.
4. More product variation: Dual hopper machines allow for multi color gummies, liquid centers and other filled candy options.

Cons of Candy Depositor Method

1. Financial Investment: Requires a significant financial outlay, with costs starting from at least $13,000 for an entry level machine.
2. Line Waste: For small batch sizes, this method can result in a high percentage of material loss compared to hand pouring.

3. Requires more space and power: A production line takes a lot of space and requires industrial power.

How to Optimize the Pour and Scrape (Flood Pour) Process for Gummy Production

 The pour and scrape method involves filling the candy mold cavities with a gummy slurry and then scraping off the excess. There are several optimizations to the pour and scrape technique that can be helpful:

• Heating your molds prior to use decrease the amount of material that accumulates on top of the mold (between the cavities).
• Using more molds with fewer cavities make demolding (releasing the candy from the mold) easier.
• Using molds made to fit standard sheet pans allows you to lower your equipment cost by buying standard sheet pans and racks for cooling.
• Calculating the quantity of gummy base necessary to fill your cavities and measuring that amount when pouring  (perhaps with 5-15ml extra depending on mold size) minimizes waste and prevents overflow.
• Filling molds from the center and using you scraper to fill to the edges works best.
• Reserve a small portion of your liquid gummy slurry and hand pour or use a cake depositor to fill corners and edges as needed. This is most useful for beginners until they get comfortable with the technique, and can increases waste slightly as some gummy slurry sticks to the cake depositor.

Essential Equipment for Gummy Manufacturing Using Flood Pour and Scrape

In the flood pour and scrape method of gummy manufacturing, having the right equipment is key to ensuring a smooth and efficient production process. This method, favored for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, still requires specific tools and apparatus to produce high-quality gummies. Here’s a rundown of the essential equipment needed:

• High-Quality Stainless Steel Cooking Pots: For preparing and heating the gummy slurry. It’s crucial that these pots can distribute heat evenly to ensure consistent cooking of the gummy mixture. Make sure you use steel pots if you are using an induction burner.

• Induction Burner: Induction burners are strongly preferred because they allow for very precise temperature control. 

•  Large Pouring Containers: These are used to transfer the cooked gummy mixture from the cooking pots to the molds. Containers with spouts are preferable for controlled pouring.

• Gummy Candy Molds: Available in various shapes and sizes, these are essential for forming the gummies. They should be made Silicone, a material that withstands the gummy mixture’s temperature and allows for easy removal of the set gummies. 

• Anti-Stick or Release Agent: This is applied to the molds to ensure the gummies can be removed easily without damage.

• Scraping Tools: Including an icing spatula, steel dough scraper, silicone bowl scraper, and silicone squeegee (see below). Each offers different advantages for spreading the gummy slurry across the molds and into each cavity.

• Thermometer: Essential for monitoring the temperature of the gummy mixture during cooking to achieve the perfect consistency.

•  Brix refractometer: Brix refractometers measure the sugar content in a solution, which is crucial for gummies since their texture and sweetness depend heavily on the precise sugar levels.

• Large, Flat Surface: A work area where the molds can be laid out and filled. This should be heat-resistant and spacious enough to accommodate multiple molds.

• Heavy Duty Steel Sheet Pans (recommend):  Sheet pans are recommend, but not strictly required, as they make it easy to move gummies to a rack for cooling and you can buy molds sized to fit them.

• Refrigeration Equipment: For cooling and setting the gummies once they have been deposited into the molds.

• Quality Control Tools: Including scales for precise ingredient measurements and tools for consistency and texture checks.

• Packaging Equipment: For wrapping and packaging the finished gummies, especially if they are being prepared for commercial sale.

• Cleaning Supplies: Due to the sticky nature of the gummy mixture, having the right cleaning supplies is essential for maintaining hygiene and equipment longevity.

This setup, while relatively straightforward, is highly effective for small to medium-sized gummy production runs and has become very popular in recent years. The choice of specific tools, such as the type of scraper, can be tailored based on the manufacturer's preferences and the specifics of the gummy recipe being used.

What are the Best Scrapers for a Pour & Scrape Gummy Maker?

In the pour and scrape gummy production method, selecting the right tool for scraping the gummy slurry into molds is essential for efficiency and product quality. 8-12" steel dough scrapers are the most common choice, but you'll want to experiment to see what is easiest for you to avoid a skin on top of your gummies to make the most professional gummy candy. Here is comparison of different scraping tools with their specific advantages:

Scraping with stainless steel scrapers

• 

  Steel Dough Scraper:

  • Material: Sturdy steel.
  • Advantages: Provides precision and clean spread, especially for thicker slurries.
  • Limitations: Its rigidity takes more skill to use properly.

• Icing Spatula:

  • Material: Use only metal, not plastic.
  • Advantages: Offers flexibility and a broad surface for even spreading.
  • Limitations: May not efficiently clear mixture from mold edges.

Scraping with Silicone scrapers

• Silicone Squeegee:

  • Material: Flexible silicone with a flat edge.
  • Advantages: Balances precision and adaptability, effective for maneuvering through molds. Using silicone extends the life of the mold.
  • Limitations: May not be suitable for very thick or sticky mixtures.

• Silicone Bowl Scraper:

  • Material: Flexible silicone.
  • Advantages: Adapts well to mold shapes, ensuring minimal waste and uniform distribution. Using silicone extends the life of the mold.
  • Limitations: Might lack the precision in leveling the mixture.

Each tool has distinct features that can influence the production process and the final appearance of the gummies. Your choice will depend on the consistency of the gummy mixture and your preference for handling and final product aesthetics.

What are the Best Types of Gummy Molds for Pour & Scrape as a Gummy Manufacturer?

Molds are essential in gummy production, they determine the size, shape, and final look of gummies, but they can also impact the cost and production speed. There are many different types of molds on the market. Which molds can be used depends on you production technique. For hand pouring gummy candy, including all pour and scrape methods silicone molds are recommended. 

For brand new manufacturers we recommend half sheet platinum silicone gummy molds with high cavity density. These are easy to work with, fill baking sheets nicely and the half sheets make the gummy demolding much easier.

Finding the right gummy mold: Cavity count

Choosing a suitable mold for the pour and scrape method depends on factors like design, gummy recipe, and desired output quantity. Silicone molds are generally the best choice.  Molds can vary widely with number of cavities, design patterns and different cavity sizes as well as in cost, but you want to focus on the cost per cavity, since this it the metric most closely tied to your production cost.

Benefits of using platinum silicone molds in gummy manufacturing

BPA free platinum silicone molds (rather than Peroxide-cured silicone) are known for their quality, safety, finish,  flexibility and durability. They are also resistant to temperature variations, making them ideal for gummy manufacturing. Further, they are non-reactive and don't impart any unpleasant taste to the gummies.

Custom gummy molds for specific flavors and shapes

Custom gummy molds can be developed to represent specific flavors or themes. Whether it's a brand logo or a character-based design, customization enables manufacturers to offer novelty to their customers, just make sure the layout is cavity dense.

Read our complete guide to Gummy Molds

What are the Key Ingredients for Pour and Scrape Gummies?

Gelatin has long been the favorite gelling agent but pectin is emerging as a viable alternative. You can make pour and scrape gummies with a wide variety of gummy recipes, but the fastest and easiest way to get started, and often the lowest cost choice for small and mid sized manufacturers is to buy the Candy Pros Easy Melt Gummy Base, available in 9 flavors. Of course if you want to make your own custom flavored gummy bears  you'll love the Candy Pros Naked Gold Unflavored Gummy Bears. Both products are are made to melt and make in to your own custom gummies, without the need for any special skill or recipe tweaking.

If you'd like to perfect your own recipe with cover all the gummy bear ingredients in several detailed gummy ingredients articles.

Adjusting the recipe for gummy slurry pouring and scraping

Perfecting the gummy recipe with the right concentrate of gelatin and pectin, and the right flavoring is critical. This can significantly enhance the pouring and scraping process by ensuring that the gummy slurry has an ideal consistency and doesn't stick to the molds. of course you can avoid these challenges with Candy Pros made to melt gummy candy.

Top 3 gummy flavors for flood pouring

Blue Raspberry (bulk gummy candy)

Green Apple (bulk gummy candy)

Strawberry (bulk gummy candy)

Tips for Enhancing Efficiency and Quality

• Temperature Control: Maintain an optimal temperature during the cooking and setting phases to ensure product consistency.
• Batch Management: Organize production into manageable batches to maintain quality control.
• Skill Development: Train staff in the nuances of the pour and scrape method to enhance efficiency and consistency.
• Innovative Molding: Experiment with various mold designs to diversify product offerings.

Conclusion

The main hesitations with pour and scrape gummy production have been challenges like skill dependency and potential inconsistency. While machines deposit an exact amount of slurry in your molds to make perfectly consistent gummies, flood pouring is a a cost-effective and accessible method for small to medium-sized manufacturers. When balanced against methods like using a depositor, it offers a lower-cost entry point into gummy production, and means you can launch your unique gummy quickly, albeit with a need for skill development and careful handling. With proper technique and quality control, this method can produce delightful gummy candies that are both appealing and profitable.