Diagnosis · Gel too soft — remaining causes
Work through the four remaining variables in order
Ions and pH are ruled out, so the cause is one of four things — and they are worth checking in this order because it is the cheapest first.
What to do
- Dosage. Weigh it. Eyeballing a small dose of a fine powder is a real source of error, and a 20% shortfall is enough to lose a gel.
- Ion availability, as distinct from ion presence. Calcium bound to protein or to a phosphate is not available to the polymer. A sequestrant releases it — check whether the recipe contains one.
- Hydration completeness. If the powder was added below 80 °C, part of it never dissolved and is not contributing.
- Shear after setting. A gel that is pumped after it sets is broken, and broken gels do not re-form.
The reading behind this
How this conclusion was reached
What is actually going wrong?
The gel is too soft, or will not set at all
Does the formula contain free calcium or magnesium — milk, mineral water, an added calcium salt, or hard tap water?
Yes, there is a clear divalent source
Are you using a high acyl grade?
No, low acyl
Is the finished pH below about 3.5?
No, pH 3.5 or above
Check this against your own system
This describes the usual cause. What actually fixes it depends on your water hardness, total solids and fill temperature — send those three numbers and we will come back with a starting point, or with a bench sample of the grade this points to.
Ask about this diagnosisOther conclusions
Everything else the tree can land on
- Gel too soft — no calcium present
- Gel too soft — water hardness unknown
- Gel too soft — high acyl grade
- Gel too soft — low pH hydrolysis
- Lumps — powder not dry blended
- Lumps — hydration window missed
- Lumps — process details to check
- Pre-gelation — in the line
- Pre-gelation — free calcium
- Pre-gelation — cold tank
- Syneresis — water weeping
- Gel cloudy or dull
- Gel melts when warm
- Particles settle
- Slimy mouthfeel or off flavour
Other tools
Keep going
Three more decision aids for the same problem set.