Steady shear viscosity, first normal stress difference and recoverable strain in carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and guar gum were studied. A master curve was obtained for the viscosity of sodium alginate and guar gum. The data for sodium carboxymethyl cellulose deviated from that of guar gum and sodium alginate. Superposition principles for the normal stress coefficient with a reduced shear rate have been attempted. Superposition was obtained for all three hydrocolloids. Additionally, the first normal stress difference appeared to be highly related to shear stress for sodium alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose at all concentrations studied. Guar gum did not follow this behavior.