A starch mogul is a machine that makes shaped
candies or candy centers from syrups or gels, such as
gummi candy
Gummies, gummi candies, gummy candies, or jelly sweets are a broad category of gelatin-based chewable sweets. Gummi bears, Sour Patch Kids, and Jelly Babies are widely popular and are a well-known part of the sweets industry. Gummies are availab ...
.
These softer candies and centers are made by filling a tray with
cornstarch
Corn starch, maize starch, or cornflour (British English) is the starch derived from corn ( maize) grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the kernel. Corn starch is a common food ingredient, often used to thicken sauces or ...
, stamping the desired shape into the starch, and then pouring the filling or gel into the holes made by the stamp. When the candies have set, they are removed from the trays and the starch is recycled.
Starch moguls were invented around 1899 and were in common use within a decade or two.
Early ones were built from wood, but later ones were made of steel.
Effects
Starch moguls reduced the number of jobs in candy factories and thereby lowered production costs for candies.
All of the steps were previously performed by hand.
Starch moguls also improved worker safety. Previously, starch rooms tended to have dangerously high levels of starch in the air. Workers would breathe this and develop respiratory illnesses. By reducing the amount of combustible starch in the air, the machines also significantly reduced the risk of
dust explosions
A dust explosion is the rapid combustion of fine particles suspended in the air within an enclosed location. Dust explosions can occur where any dispersed powdered combustible material is present in high-enough concentrations in the atmosphere o ...
and fire.
Method
The starch mogul system is a method of molding candy that allows runnier materials to be used than normal processes. It is used in the manufacture of
jelly bean
Jelly beans are small bean shaped sugar candies with soft candy shells and thick gel interiors (see gelatin and jelly). The confection is primarily made of sugar and sold in a wide variety of colors and flavors.
History
It has been claim ...
s
and
gummy bear
Gummy bears (German: ''Gummibär'') are small, fruit gum candies, similar to a jelly baby in some English-speaking countries. The candy is roughly long and shaped in the form of a bear. The gummy bear is one of many gummies, popular gelatin ...
s, and was formerly used in the manufacture of
marshmallow
Marshmallow (, ) is a type of confectionery that is typically made from sugar, water and gelatin whipped to a solid-but-soft consistency. It is used as a filling in baking or normally molded into shapes and coated with corn starch. The sugar c ...
s before the advent of the extrusion process.
The starch mogul system uses a machine with trays of starch. Each tray has a mold firmly pushed down in it to create cavities in the starch. The cavities are then filled with the candy material, and allowed to cool or harden as necessary. During this time, the starch helps absorb excess water, making the candy moldings handleable.
Finally, the trays are dumped and the candy is separated from the starch, which is then reused by the machine.
Hans Arthur Faerber, founder of NID Pty Ltd, created the current form of the starch mogul system
in 1952.
References
{{reflist
External links
YouTube video showing the operation of a starch mogul(3 min)
Gummi candies
Food processing
Confectionery industry
Industrial equipment
Food preparation appliances
1899 introductions
Starch