The present invention provides a humectant and a softener that are safe and capable of being stably supplied, and that, by being added to or immersed in a generic food product in which syneresis occurs during cooking or over a period of storage, exhibit strong water retention and softening effects. The present invention yields a humectant and a softener in which yeast-cell-wall digesting enzymes are reacted to a suitable extent with a yeast cell residue obtained by extracting yeast extract and the like is extracted from a yeast cell, the solid content is 10% by mass, the viscosity at 25 DEG C is 2000 mPa.s or more, the protein content per unit of solid content is 20% or more by weight, and the dietary fiber content is 20% or more by weight.提供一種保水劑、軟化劑，藉由對在調理時或保存期間中會產生離水之一般食物添加或浸漬該保水劑、軟化劑，可展現高保水性、軟化效果，且為安全、可安定供給者。將從酵母菌體經萃取酵母萃取物等而得之酵母菌體殘渣與酵母細胞壁溶解酵素適量地反應，獲得固體成分10重量%，25℃之黏度為2000mPa・s以上，每單位固體成分之蛋白質含量為20重量%以上，食物纖維含量為20重量%以上之保水劑、軟化劑。
