What is gelatin?

Are you someone who loves Jello, gummy bears or marshmallows? If yes, then this article about gelatin will be a treat for you! This wiggly substance has been around since the 15th century and can be found in all sorts of foods. But what exactly is gelatin? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of gelatin – from its origins to how it’s made to its many uses.

Origins of Gelatin

Gelatin has an interesting origin story that goes way back. It was first discovered by accident during the medieval period when animal bones were boiled down to make broth. Back then, people found out that if they boiled the mixture long enough it would become a thick, jiggly substance that could be molded into various shapes.

Fast forward several centuries later, and in 1845 a man named Peter Cooper revolutionized the production process by creating gelatin powder from cattle hooves.

How is Gelatin Made?

Now onto something meatier (pun intended): how exactly is gelatin made?

First off, it’s important to note that most commercially-available gelatins are derived from cows or pigs – so if you’re looking for a vegetarian option then sorry not sorry but this ain’t it!

The process starts with boiling animal hides/bones/cartilage/hooves/pigskin/etc which releases collagen protein into water. After boiling some more to break down any remaining tissue/cell walls/fascia/etc., impurities are removed through filtration leaving behind aqueous solution containing collagen peptides & amino acids + others compounds like glycosaminoglycanes and minerals.

From here things get pretty sciency: The liquid gets mixed with hydrochloric acid /calcium oxide/sodium carbonate/enzyme/acidified alum/rasped ossein/bone ash etc.,which changes pH of the mixture and causes collagen fibers to unravel form helical coils which then cross link to each other forming one giant structure that can mimic liquid. After this process is complete, it’s usually dehydrated into powder or sheet form.

Fun fact: Gelatin production was once such big business in America that it was even a top 20 Fortune 500 company in the early 1900s!

The Many Uses of Gelatin

Now that we know how gelatin is made, let’s talk about what we can do with it! Here are some ways you might recognize gelatin:

In Food

Clearly, food products such as jelly beans and Jello-O come immediately to mind when thinking of uses for gelatins. Without them these treats would not be possible (Okay maybe they could still be possible but considerably less fun). The wiggly texture of gummy bears? Yup – gelatin again! It’s also used as a stabilizer and thickener in desserts like mousse cakes & fondants + as an emulsifier/solvent/mouthfeel improver/surface active agent/flavor carrying ingredient/food color carrier etc.,(I mean seriously who knew there were so many uses for one substance?).

In Other Applications

But wait – there’s more! Beyond its role in food, here are some non-food applications where you may have encountered gelatins:

  • Photography: Photographic film historically required coating with silver halide crystals suspended within a layer of light-sensitive gel.

  • Pharmaceuticals: Capsules/shells/coatings-tablets/pills/capsules/etc all require something called a hard-side-walled-gel capsule which relies on basic formulation principles rooted largely from protein-based capsules/gelatins.

  • Cosmetics–Cream foundations/lipstick/balms/hair sprays/shampoos/toothpastes/osmetics use superficial layers built from crosslinked gelatin microspheres in emulsion or across physical systems.

  • Industrial uses: Microcapsule coatings on paper, plastics and even fabrics used for clothing (because let’s face it – we all need a little bit of that jiggly goodness in our lives!)

Nutritional Benefits of Gelatin

Apart from its usefulness in various applications, consuming gelatins can apparently provide some health benefits too thanks to the fact that it’s high in collagen protein! Some potential health advantages include better skin elasticity/wrinkle prevention/weight loss/improved gut function/etc., It’s also shown promise as a complementary therapy to traditional treatments for joint pain/liver damage/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

A Gelativelyyyy Speaking Conclusion

So there you have it – now you know all about gelatin, from its humble beginnings to its many uses! It’s time for us humans to appreciate this fascinating substance more since clearly other species have already figured out how amazing Jello is (side eyes cats licking plates clean) So go ahead – embrace your inner kid and indulge in some nice wobbly Jellos (or not, no pressure!).

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