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The physicochemical, pasting, thermal, viscoelastic, and syneresis properties of nine formulations prepared with wheat starch, potato starch, and hydrocolloids (pectin, HPMC, arabic gum, and konjac glucomannan (KG)) were assessed. The addition of the hydrocolloids decreased the water solubility index and water absorption capacity but did not modify the swelling power of starch granules. The starch gelatinization temperature decreased in the presence of the hydrocolloids, while the enthalpy of gelatinization and gelatinization range temperature increased. Pectin and HPMC addition decreased the paste viscosity whereas KG increased and arabic gum had no effect. On the other hand, the pasting temperature was not modified by the presence of hydrocolloids. All the blends behaved as solid as the storage modulus was higher than the viscous modulus within all the frequency range assayed. Viscous characteristics were improved with the addition of pectin and HPMC. The presence of hydrocolloids increased the stability of the gelled starch mixtures to freeze-thaw cycle and no syneresis was observed in these gels stored at 4°C.

Gels combined with honey might generate new possibilities of textures in food development. This work explores the structural and functional properties of gelatin (5 g/100 g), pectin (1 g/100 g), and carrageenan (1 g/100 g) gels with different content of honey (0–50 g/100 g). Honey decreased the transparency of gels and made them more yellow‐greenish; all of them were firm and uniform, especially at the highest honey content. The water holding capacity increased (63.30–97.90 g/100 g) and moisture content, water activity (0.987–0.884) and syneresis (36.03–1.30 g/100 g) decreased with the addition of honey. This ingredient modified mainly the textural parameters of gelatin (Hardness: 0.82–1.35 N) and carrageenan gels (Hardness: 2.46–2.81 N), whereas only the adhesiveness and the liquid like‐behavior were increased in the pectin gels. Honey increased the solid behavior of gelatin gels (G': 54.64–173.37 Pa) but did not modify the rheological parameters of the carrageenan ones. Honey also had a smoothing effect on the microstructure of gels as observed in the scanning electron microscopy micrographs. This effect was also confirmed by the results of the gray level co‐occurrence matrix and fractal model's analysis (fractal dimension: 1.797–1.527; lacunarity: 1.687–0.322). The principal component and cluster analysis classified samples by the hydrocolloid used, except the gelatin gel with the highest content of honey, which was differentiated as a separate group. Honey modified the texture, rheology, and microstructure of gels indicating that it is possible to generate new products to be used in other food matrices as texturizers.