Process for producing a water-absorbing polymer, comprising the steps of (i) mixing (α1) 0.1 to 99.999% by weight, preferably 20 to 98.99% by weight and more preferably 30 to 98.95% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, or salts thereof, or polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers including a protonated or quaternized nitrogen, or mixtures thereof, particular preference being given to mixtures including at least ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, preferably acrylic acid, (α2) 0 to 70% by weight, preferably 1 to 60% by weight and more preferably 1 to 40% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (α1), (α3) 0.001 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 7% by weight and more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight of one or more crosslinkers, (α4) 0 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight and more preferably 5 to 10% by weight of water-soluble polymers, (α5) 0-80% by weight, preferably 2.5-70% by weight and more preferably 5-60% by weight of water, and (α6) 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 7% by weight and more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight of one or more assistants, where the sum of the weights of (α1) to (α5) is 100% by weight, (ii) free-radical polymerization with crosslinking to form a water-insoluble, aqueous untreated hydrogel polymer, (iii) drying the hydrogel polymer, (iv) grinding and sieving the hydrogel polymer to size, (v) surface postcrosslinking the ground and sieved hydrogel polymer and (vi) finishing the water-absorbing polymer, whereas an anti-stick processing aid is utilized alone or in mixtures before and/or during step (iii), characterized in that the anti-stick processing aid is added before step (iii) to the apparatus used subsequent to step (ii), wherein drying plates, belts, trays or other receptacles coming into contact with the hydrogel polymer are coated, jetted, sprayed, painted, or brushed with a non permanent anti-stick processing aid. (i) mixing (α1) 0.1 to 99.999% by weight, preferably 20 to 98.99% by weight and more preferably 30 to 98.95% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, or salts thereof, or polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers including a protonated or quaternized nitrogen, or mixtures thereof, particular preference being given to mixtures including at least ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, preferably acrylic acid, (α2) 0 to 70% by weight, preferably 1 to 60% by weight and more preferably 1 to 40% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (α1), (α3) 0.001 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 7% by weight and more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight of one or more crosslinkers, (α4) 0 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight and more preferably 5 to 10% by weight of water-soluble polymers, (α5) 0-80% by weight, preferably 2.5-70% by weight and more preferably 5-60% by weight of water, and (α6) 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 7% by weight and more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight of one or more assistants, where the sum of the weights of (α1) to (α5) is 100% by weight, (α1) 0.1 to 99.999% by weight, preferably 20 to 98.99% by weight and more preferably 30 to 98.95% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, or salts thereof, or polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers including a protonated or quaternized nitrogen, or mixtures thereof, particular preference being given to mixtures including at least ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing acid groups, preferably acrylic acid, (α2) 0 to 70% by weight, preferably 1 to 60% by weight and more preferably 1 to 40% by weight of polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with (α1), (α3) 0.001 to 10% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 7% by weight and more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight of one or more crosslinkers, (α4) 0 to 30% by weight, preferably 1 to 20% by weight and more preferably 5 to 10% by weight of water-soluble polymers, (α5) 0-80% by weight, preferably 2.5-70% by weight and more preferably 5-60% by weight of water, and (α6) 0 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 7% by weight and more preferably 0.05 to 5% by weight of one or more assistants, where the sum of the weights of (α1) to (α5) is 100% by weight, (ii) free-radical polymerization with crosslinking to form a water-insoluble, aqueous untreated hydrogel polymer, (iii) drying the hydrogel polymer, (iv) grinding and sieving the hydrogel polymer to size, (v) surface postcrosslinking the ground and sieved hydrogel polymer and (vi) finishing the water-absorbing polymer,