Glycerin

Decorating By Mariajo Updated 1 Apr 2007 , 3:42pm by cake-angel

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Mariajo Posted 29 Mar 2007 , 5:40pm
post #1 of 15

Hello everyone
Have you ever used glycerin? I went to the pharmacy to buy glycerin to add to Royal icing but the chemist said that it wouldn't be edible, because the label says "in the event of intoxication..." and because it is scented.
Have you ever bought gliceryn in a pharmacy?


Thank you

14 replies
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LucyintheSky Posted 29 Mar 2007 , 5:56pm
post #2 of 15

I'm not sure about that... I have glycerine but it's Wilton brand that I bought at Joann's... and it is edible, so maybe it's something different that's sold in the pharmacy?

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ShirleyW Posted 29 Mar 2007 , 5:56pm
post #3 of 15

I buy the small bottle of Wilton glycerin in the cake decorating section of Michaels. But I also bought some glycerin at the drugstore/pharmacy and I was afraid to use it for the same reason.

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GIAcakes Posted 29 Mar 2007 , 5:57pm
post #4 of 15

Yeah, mine is from the cake supply store. They must be different.

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nutcase68 Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 2:28pm
post #5 of 15

I have chronic dry mouth and glycerine is one of the ingredients in the expensive throught sprays. I will get the small bottles and just take a sip out of them, even though they say do not take internally. I just ordered a pint thru my pharmacy to use in my fondant. $12. It is the same stuff. I have been sipping it for years and it has not killed me yet. And yes, it has all the warnings about not drinking it on it. One TBS in one pound of sugar is not going to hurt a thing in my opinion.

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cake-angel Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 2:40pm
post #6 of 15

Here is what my doctor and pharmacist told me. Glycerin is sold on the pharmacy shelf as a topical ointment. It is however edible and used as a laxitive for infants (orally) -- The reason it is labled not to consume is because if you drink enough of it - it will have the same effect on an adult as it does on the infant. They both said that it was fine to buy and use in recipes as it is the same glycerin used often to flavor foods and drinks just bottled differently.
Just be sure what you are buying is Glycerin only with no additives.

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kakeladee Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 2:42pm
post #7 of 15

This has nothing to do with the topic - directly, but what is glycerin used for. I have some but I don't remember why I bought it? Could someone please help this old lady? Thank you so much.

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cake-angel Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 2:47pm
post #8 of 15

It is often used in fondant recipes to add elasticity and if you use wilton colors you can use it to revive dried out colors.

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kakeladee Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 2:55pm
post #9 of 15

Thank you so much. What a great site this truly is. There is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS some one there to help you out. And if they can't help, they direct you in the right direction.

Thank you.

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julzs71 Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 3:00pm
post #10 of 15

i think the pharmacy and the cake supply are differect glycerines

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Mariajo Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 3:02pm
post #11 of 15

Thank you all for your opinions
thanks to nutcase 68 for the info. (sorry about your problem, I hope it helps). I agree with you, even if it were toxic, you would have to drink 2 litres. The chemist said that the worst thing that could happen is that you have to go to the toilet straight away.
Cake -angel, you are right about that. The stuff the chemist told me about yesterday had some additives because it was for external use as moisturizing. He got me "pure glycerin" today and he said there is no problem with that.
So I will try to use as soon as I can
Thank you all for your help
Cheers!

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koolaidstains Posted 30 Mar 2007 , 4:04pm
post #12 of 15

If you make home made bubble solution for your kids, you can add glycerin too. Makes for better bubbles.

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Mariajo Posted 1 Apr 2007 , 12:15pm
post #13 of 15

I have read that if you add a few drops of glycerin to royal icing it prevents it from drying too hard. I have also read somewhere else that it makes royal icing more shiny, but I haven't tried it yet.
Cake-angel, you said you add it to fondant too. The only one I have tried is MMF. Have you ever added glycerin to MMF?

P.S. Cakeladee, your scarecrow is just sooo beautiful! hard work

Thank you all

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cake-angel Posted 1 Apr 2007 , 3:42pm
post #15 of 15

Mariajo--I actually have never tried adding it to MMF. The recipe I use is Toba Garrett's fondant recipe. I have tried MMF but not with glycerin. I imagine you could add it at the melted marshmallow stage. My recipe makes about 2lbs of fondant at a time and uses 1tbsp of glycerin. It might be worth a try for MMF. I don't think it would hurt it at all since it still is a gelatin base.

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