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Thick & Easy
Thick & Easy Thickened Beverage Mildly Thick 46 oz Ready to Use
Thick & Easy thickened clear drink meets the special needs of individuals with swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.Mildly thick or nectar consistency (IDDSI-2) as rated by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative Fortified with...
As low as $11.97 -
SimplyThick
SimplyThick Easy Mix Unflavored Food & Drink Thickener Moderately Thick 96 Gram Gel Packet
Package Count: 25. This SimplyThick Easy Mix food and beverage thickener helps make your favorite beverages thicker and gives them a high viscosity. Each 96-gram bulk serving packet is designed to thicken 32 ounces of beverage at one time. Two packets...
$106.24 -
Resource Thickenup
Resource Thickenup Unflavored Instant Food & Drink Thickener 8 oz Powder
An instant food and drink thickener for the nutritional management of dysphagia, Resource ThickenUp Clear is a powder thickener used to modify the consistency of food and drink, both hot and cold, without changing the flavor or color.Viscosity is...
As low as $12.21 -
SimplyThick
SimplyThick Easy Mix Unflavored Food & Drink Thickener Mildly Thick 1.6 Liter Gel Bottle
Thicken soups, sauces and puddings conveniently with this SimplyThick EasyMix bottle and pump. Can be used to achieve nectar, honey and pudding consistencies and is suitable in situations that demand flexibility. SimplyThick EasyMix instant food...
$95.08 -
SimplyThick
SimplyThick Easy Mix Unflavored Food & Drink Thickener Mildly Thick 6 Gram Gel Packet
Package Count: 200. Achieve your desired nectar consistency in your favorite dishes and drinks with SimplyThick EasyMix Thickener. Designed to achieve mild thickness without clumping or changing the flavor, SimplyThick EasyMix nectar consistency...
$81.10 -
Thick & Easy
Thick & Easy Dairy Nectar Consistency Milk Thickened Beverage 8 oz Carton
Thickening dairy products can be difficult but Thick & Easy Thickened Dairy Drink is a reduced fat thickened milk with real dairy taste. Thick & Easy Thickened Dairy Drink is thickened so it meets the needs of individuals with swallowing difficulties, i...
As low as $55.20 -
Thick & Easy
Thick & Easy Purees Microwave Meal Mildly Thick 7 oz Ready to Use
Thick & Easy Pureed Meals offer a pureed meal solution for those with swallowing difficulties in nutritious and delicious flavor varieties for all meals of the day.There is no refrigeration required for storage The pureed meals require a microwave for...
As low as $39.84 -
SimplyThick
SimplyThick Easy Mix Unflavored Food & Drink Thickener Moderately Thick 12 Gram Gel Packet
Package Count: 100. Make food and beverages easy to swallow, whether hot or cold, with EasyMix SimplyThick Thickener. Preparation is simple and straight-forward because the gel thickens most beverages without clumping, and does not require special...
$71.51 -
Thick-It
Thick-It Original Concentrated Unflavored Food & Drink Thickener 36 oz Ready to Use
Thick-It Original Concentrated Thickener lets people who have trouble swallowing more safely enjoy a variety of hot or cold foods, beverages and supplements. Concentrated formula requires less thickener to achieve desired consistency. By reducing the...
As low as $34.65
Thickeners
Thickeners
Food thickeners are food additives — usually starch- or gum-based — that increase food consistency and make it easier to consume for people with swallowing issues, a condition known as dysphagia. Thickening decreases the likelihood of choking on or inhaling food or beverages.
While there are a variety of pre-thickened products such as nutritionals on the market, thickeners will work with any food or beverage. Food thickeners are available in powder and liquid form, both of which have unique pros and cons. What type of thickener you should choose depends on what you will thicken and your desired result.
Powder Thickeners
Powder thickeners may be starch- or gum-based and made from modified vegetable starch or methylcellulose gum. Powder products are more budget-friendly than liquid thickeners. These starch-based thickeners can change some foods and beverages' appearance and/or texture, though.
Starch-based thickeners
Gum-Based Thickeners - Xanthan or Cellulose Gums
Gel Type Thickeners
Xanthan gum is usually the core ingredient in gel thickeners, and the properties are similar to gum-type powders. They require whisking into liquid, and they will not continue to thicken when sitting. Unlike starch-based thickeners, they don't change the flavor of foods and beverages.
Liquid Thickeners and Pre-Thickened Products
Liquid food thickeners are more expensive than their powder cousins but are easier to use and are more versatile (they’re a better option for carbonated beverages, for example). Liquid thickeners will not affect the appearance of foods and beverages and will not impart a grainy texture. While pre-thickened products are more expensive than making your own, their sheer convenience can make them the best option for many people. In addition, pre-thickened products will be more consistent in quality than their homemade counterparts.
Benefits of ready-to-drink products
Drawbacks of ready-to-drink products
Food thickeners are food additives — usually starch- or gum-based — that increase food consistency and make it easier to consume for people with swallowing issues, a condition known as dysphagia. Thickening decreases the likelihood of choking on or inhaling food or beverages.
While there are a variety of pre-thickened products such as nutritionals on the market, thickeners will work with any food or beverage. Food thickeners are available in powder and liquid form, both of which have unique pros and cons. What type of thickener you should choose depends on what you will thicken and your desired result.
Powder Thickeners
Powder thickeners may be starch- or gum-based and made from modified vegetable starch or methylcellulose gum. Powder products are more budget-friendly than liquid thickeners. These starch-based thickeners can change some foods and beverages' appearance and/or texture, though.
Starch-based thickeners
- Mix them into virtually any liquid, though they will cause carbonated liquids such as soft drinks to lose their fizz
- May form lumps if not immediately and thoroughly mixed in
- It can be more difficult than liquid thickeners to mix into high-protein shakes or hot drinks
- May cause clear liquids to appear cloudy
- Can cause a slightly grainy texture when added to some liquids
- Most products take 1-3 minutes to reach desired consistency; check the manufacturer's instructions for your product
- May thicken more over time and are best when consumed right away
- Least expensive type of thickener
- Most products have a shelf life of up to 36 months if unopened; check the labeling for specifics.
- Safe for diabetics
- Modified corn starch is usually the thickening agent
- Can thicken foods; check manufacturer’s recipe
Gum-Based Thickeners - Xanthan or Cellulose Gums
- Xanthan gum is likely to form lumps when properly used
- It can be more difficult than liquid thickeners to mix into high-protein shakes or hot drinks
- May take up to 5 minutes to reach desired consistency
- Do not generally continue to thicken after 5 minutes, so it is possible to thicken liquids ahead of time
- Slightly more expensive than starch-based thickeners but more versatile
- Most products have a shelf life of up to 36 months if unopened (there may be some variation; check the specifics of the product you're considering)
- Safe for diabetics
Gel Type Thickeners
Xanthan gum is usually the core ingredient in gel thickeners, and the properties are similar to gum-type powders. They require whisking into liquid, and they will not continue to thicken when sitting. Unlike starch-based thickeners, they don't change the flavor of foods and beverages.
Liquid Thickeners and Pre-Thickened Products
Liquid food thickeners are more expensive than their powder cousins but are easier to use and are more versatile (they’re a better option for carbonated beverages, for example). Liquid thickeners will not affect the appearance of foods and beverages and will not impart a grainy texture. While pre-thickened products are more expensive than making your own, their sheer convenience can make them the best option for many people. In addition, pre-thickened products will be more consistent in quality than their homemade counterparts.
Benefits of ready-to-drink products
- Extremely convenient
- Do not require mixing — open and use
- Do not require time to thicken; pre-thickened products are advertised consistently right out of the box
- Will not change consistency over time
- Many popular products such as juices, milk, and even water available
- Options for pureed heat-and-eat meals and individual foods available
Drawbacks of ready-to-drink products
- Are more expensive than powder, gel, or liquids used to thicken your own foods
- Many products are not reheatable — heat may change the consistency
- Clear liquids may appear cloudy
- Consistency may be slightly thicker chilled than at room temperature