Best Alum Thickeners of 2025

Ashley Abels Avatar
Ashley Abels
Last Updated: Jan 16, 2025

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Alum thickeners are an essential ingredient in the world of textile printing. They are commonly used to thicken dye solutions and create a more viscous consistency, which helps to prevent the dye from running or bleeding. Alum thickeners are typically made from a combination of aluminum sulfate and sodium bicarbonate, and they are available in both liquid and powder forms. They are highly effective at producing vibrant and long-lasting prints, and they are also non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Whether you're a professional textile printer or a hobbyist, alum thickeners are a must-have tool for achieving beautiful and consistent results.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

MB Herbals Granulated Alum Powder Cover #TOP 1
MB Herbals Granulated Alum Powder
ftb score rating icon 9.8
McCormick Alum Cover #TOP 2
McCormick Alum
ftb score rating icon 9.7
AYURVEDASHREE Alum Powder 200 Gm Cover #TOP 3
AYURVEDASHREE Alum Powder 200 Gm
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Alum Thickeners

#TOP 1

MB Herbals Granulated Alum Powder

PA100G
MB Herbals Granulated Alum Powder Cover
MB Herbals Alum Powder 100 Gram (3.5 oz) | Granulated Potassium Alum Powder | Purified Through Shodhan Process | Granulated Powder

MB Herbals Alum Powder is a food-grade potassium alum that comes in a convenient granulated form. This high-quality powder is perfect for preserving your favorite foods like pickles, cucumbers, and tomatoes, ensuring they maintain their crispiness. It's also effective as a natural food preservative, helping you keep your vegetables and processed items fresh longer. Additionally, this alum powder serves multiple purposes, including water purification and reducing foot and body odor. You can even use it in cosmetics as a preservative, making it a versatile addition to your home.

What We Like
Effective for mouth sores
Old remedy for sore throat
Useful for art projects
Helps with gum soreness
Tart flavor aids in treatment
What We Don't Like
Smaller package than expected
Higher price compared to local stores
#TOP 2

McCormick Alum

052100002149
Multicolor
McCormick Alum Cover
McCormick Alum, 1.9 oz

McCormick Alum is a premium quality alum that guarantees a fresh flavor and keeps pickles, fruits, and vegetables firm and crispy. It belongs to the Alum Thickeners category.

What We Like
Versatile uses
Effective for mouth sores
Helps prolong flower freshness
Works well for aquarium plants
What We Don't Like
Lid glued shut
#TOP 3

AYURVEDASHREE Alum Powder 200 Gm

AYURVEDASHREE Alum Powder 200 Gm Cover
AYURVEDASHREE Alum Powder 200 Gm | Food Grade | Granulated Powdered Alum | Food Preservative Preserving Pickles | phitkari | Fitkari | 100% Only Alum powder | Potassium Alum Powder | Nothing Added

AYURVEDASHREE Alum Powder 200 Gm is a natural and food grade potassium alum powder that is perfect for preserving pickles and maintaining crispiness of vegetables and processed food items. It is also used as a water purifier and fabric mordant, and can help relieve canker sores and reduce foot and body odor. This high quality purified alum powder is made in India and can also be used as a skin firmer and shaving alum.

What We Like
Color sets brilliantly
Vibrant after laundering
Good quality and packaging
Effective for wound healing
Prolongs freshness of cut flowers
#TOP 4

MB Herbals 5 lb Alum Powder

ALUM5LB
MB Herbals 5 lb Alum Powder Cover
MB Herbals Alum Powder 5 lb Bulk Pack | Purified Food Grade Granulated Potassium Alum Powder | Phitkari Powder | for Preserving Pickles Fabric Mordant

MB Herbals Alum Powder is a versatile 5 lb bulk pack of food-grade potassium alum. This granulated powder is perfect for preserving pickles, cucumbers, and tomatoes, helping you maintain the crispiness of your favorite foods. Additionally, it serves as a natural food preservative, ensuring your vegetables and processed items stay fresh longer. Beyond food preservation, this alum powder can purify water and reduce body odor, making it a handy addition to your household. With its high-quality, purified formulation, you can also use it as a fabric mordant for dyeing projects.

What We Like
Great for pickling
Good for natural dyeing
Versatile uses
Quality packaging
Effective in recipes
What We Don't Like
Bag reseal quality could improve
#TOP 5

Medley Hills Farm Food Grade Alum Powder

Medley Hills Farm Food Grade Alum Powder Cover
Alum Powder Granulated Food Grade 2 lbs. - by Medley Hills Farm in Reusable Container - Granulated Potassium Alum Powder - Made in The USA

Medley Hills Farm Alum Powder is a versatile food-grade potassium alum that serves multiple purposes. If you enjoy pickling, this powder can enhance the crunch and flavor of your homemade pickles. For those interested in skincare, it offers antiseptic benefits and can be used to soothe canker sores, making it a valuable addition to your beauty routine. Additionally, if you're into fabric dyeing, this product acts as a reliable mordant, ensuring bright and long-lasting colors. Its broad usability makes it a convenient choice for various applications, from gardening to culinary needs.

What We Like
Good value for dye projects
Versatile for pickling
Large quantity for low price
Food-grade quality
Long-lasting container size
What We Don't Like
Low grade, not pure
Impurities affect crystal growing
#TOP 6

Medley Hills Farm Alum Granulated Powder (Food Grade) 3.5 lbs.

Medley Hills Farm Alum Granulated Powder (Food Grade) 3.5 lbs. Cover
Medley Hills Farm Alum Granulated Powder (Food Grade) 3.5 lbs.

Medley Hills Farm Alum Granulated Powder is a 3.5 lbs. pack of food grade powder that is packaged in a sealed and resealable Ziploc bag. It is made in the USA and traditionally called for in old pickle recipes. This powder is often used to firm and crispen pickles by letting them soak in a sealed brine solution of water, vinegar, salt, spices, and alum powder for several weeks. Cucumbers should be pickled at the peak of freshness and the powder should be stored at room temperature for up to 1 year.

What We Like
Effective for pest control
Safe for plants
Easy to use
Good for tanning hides
Economical bulk packaging
What We Don't Like
Needs careful post-treatment soaking
#TOP 7

ALEBRIXES Alum Powder 100g

ALEBRIXES
ALEBRIXES Alum Powder 100g Cover
Alebrixes - Alum Powder 100 gr (3.5 oz) | Polvo de Alumbre - Polvo para encurtidos | Granulated Potassium Alum powder - Pickling Powder | Imported from Mexico

ALEBRIXES Alum Powder is a versatile addition to your kitchen and personal care routine. This all-natural granulated potassium alum is perfect for pickling, ensuring your vegetables maintain their crunch and flavor. You can also use it to create homemade deodorants, allowing you to control what goes on your skin. Its applications extend beyond food preservation; it’s great for various household tasks and artisanal crafts. By choosing this premium product, you bring the authentic quality and tradition from Mexico into your home, enhancing your DIY projects and culinary creations.

What We Like
Food preservation
DIY personal care
Multi-purpose use
#TOP 8

Tone's Alum, 1.30 oz

2002760
Tone's Alum, 1.30 oz Cover
Tone's Alum, 1.30 Ounce

Tone's Alum is a versatile ingredient for your kitchen. You can use it in pickling recipes to enhance the flavor and ensure your fruits and vegetables stay crisp. This natural preservative helps maintain the texture of your produce, making your pickled items more enjoyable. Additionally, it can be a handy tool for those who want to extend the shelf life of their fruits and veggies. With Tone's Alum, you can create delicious pickles while keeping your ingredients fresh and crunchy, adding both taste and quality to your meals.

What We Like
Enhances pickling flavor
Maintains produce crispness
Natural preservative
Extends shelf life
#TOP 9

Hoosier Hill Farm Alum Powder

Hoosier Hill Farm Alum Powder Cover
Hoosier Hill Farm Alum Granulated Pickle Powder, 1LB (Pack of 1)

Hoosier Hill Alum Powder is a versatile ingredient that can enhance your cooking and DIY projects. It helps keep fruits and vegetables crisp during pickling, ensuring they maintain their texture. You can also use it for baking, as it aids in leavening, giving your baked goods a delightful rise. Additionally, this pure, granulated powder is perfect for making homemade toothpaste or even play dough, adding convenience to your daily routines. For those looking for a soothing aftershave, alum powder can be applied topically to help refresh and calm the skin.

What We Like
Great price
Top-notch quality
Effective for pickling
Excellent customer service
What We Don't Like
Large jar for small needs
Poor packaging
#TOP 10

Herbs Botanica Potassium Alum Powder

8 Ounce (Pack of 1)
Herbs Botanica Potassium Alum Powder Cover
Herbs Botanica Alum Powder phitkari Granulated Potassium Alumbre Potassium Alum Fitkari Fatkari Alum Powder Cruelty Free Nothing Added 8 Oz

Herbs Botanica Alum Powder offers a range of benefits for everyday use. Its water purification properties make it an excellent choice for ensuring clean drinking water. As a food-grade product, it’s perfect for preserving pickles and other vegetables, helping you maintain their crispiness and freshness. Additionally, this granulated potassium alum serves as a natural food preservative, extending the shelf life of your favorite foods. You can also use it to reduce foot and body odor, making it a versatile addition to your personal care routine.

What We Like
Effective for cold sores
Food grade quality
Large quantity, good value
Useful for pickling and canning
Versatile applications (deodorant, pool)
What We Don't Like
Package does not seal
Minor quality concerns in sealing
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is alum safe for food?

Alum is generally safe for consumption in small quantities. However, consuming large amounts, such as an ounce or more, can be toxic to humans. It is important to use alum in food in moderation and follow recommended guidelines.

2. Why is alum used in food?

Alum powder, which is crystallized potassium aluminum sulfate, is commonly used in pickling recipes to retain crispness. It acts as an astringent and helps maintain the texture of pickles. Additionally, alum is also an ingredient in baking powder and provides a faintly metallic taste.

3. What is alum powder for pickles?

Alum powder is a key component in pickling recipes. It is added to a gallon of water, boiled, and then poured over pickles. After letting it stand overnight, the pickles are drained, rinsed, and prepared according to the pickle recipe.

4. What are the side effects of alum in food?

The side effects of consuming alum in food can include dry skin, skin irritation, burns, dizziness, throat tightness, fluid accumulation around the eye, hives, hypersensitivity reactions, allergic reactions, puffy face from water retention, skin ulcers, and throat swelling. It is important to be cautious when using alum in food and to monitor any adverse reactions.

5. Is alum FDA approved?

Potassium alum, which is an inorganic salt, is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. It is commonly used in various applications, including food. Potassium alum is predominantly produced in the dodecahydrate form and is considered safe when used according to recommended guidelines.

Alum is no longer recommended for consumption in pickles because the aluminum in the product may be unsafe to consume. Excess consumption of aluminum can have negative health effects. Therefore, other alternatives, such as pickling lime, are preferred for pickling processes.

7. What does alum do to your body?

Alum has astringent properties and can cause cells to shrink. This makes it effective for reducing acne scars and pigmentation marks on the skin. It is also known for its strong healing activity and is sometimes used topically for mouth ulcers. However, it is important to use alum in moderation and follow recommended usage guidelines.

Alum is no longer recommended for pickles because the aluminum in the product may be unsafe to consume. Additionally, pickles made with alum that are stored for too long may not maintain quality and could harbor bacteria, which can cause softening in the pickles. As a result, other alternatives, like pickling lime, are preferred for pickling processes.

Editor's Notes

During our alum thickener research, we found 24 alum thickener products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 26,815 customer reviews through our big data system to write the alum thickeners list. We found that most customers choose alum thickeners with an average price of $9.58.

The alum thickeners are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of alum thickeners, including MB Herbals, McCormick, AYURVEDASHREE, Medley Hills Farm, ALEBRIXES. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 396 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Ashley Abels Avatar

Ashley Abels is a former restaurant executive and has worked in the restaurant industry for 15 years. She is also a gourmet who loves tasting different cuisines and trying out all kinds of cooking methods. The food she writes about will make you want to try it!

Alum Thickeners Comparison Table

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Brand MB Herbals McCormick AYURVEDASHREE MB Herbals Medley Hills Farm Medley Hills Farm ALEBRIXES Tone's Hoosier Hill Farm Herbs Botanica
Unit Count 3.5 Ounce 1.9 Ounce - 80.0 Ounce 32.0 Ounce 56.0 Ounce 3.5 Ounce 1.3 Ounce 16.0 Ounce 8.0 Ounce
Item Weight 100 Grams - 224 Grams - 2 Pounds 3.5 Pounds 3.5 Ounces - 1 Pounds -
Item Form Powder Solid - Powder - - - Powder - Powder
FTB Score
ftb score rating icon 9.8
ftb score rating icon 9.7
ftb score rating icon 9.5
ftb score rating icon 9.4
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.2
ftb score rating icon 9.0
ftb score rating icon 8.8
ftb score rating icon 8.6
ftb score rating icon 8.6
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