Gelatin also known as gelatine is a brittle, transparent, colorless food that has no flavor that has been derived from collagen that has been taken from various body parts of animals. It is used commonly as a stiffing agent in foods, manufacturing of cosmetics, vitamin capsules, photography and pharmaceutical drugs. Materials that function similarly like gelatin or have gelatin are referred to as "gelatinous". Gelatin is a hydrolyzed type of collagen which cannot be reversed. It is commonly present in products like yogurts, marshmallows, ice creams, gelatin desserts, dips and gummy candy. Gelatin that is used to add in recipes is available inform of powder, granules or sheets. While some need to be soaked in water before use, the instant ones can be directly added to the food.
Components
Gelatin is a combination of proteins and peptides which is made by sectional hydrolysis of collagen that derived from connective tissues, bones and skin of animals like fish, chicken, pigs and cattle that is domesticated. At the time of hydrolysis the bonds of natural molecules between the strands of the collagen are broken down in a form that rearranges easily. In various aspects the chemical components are identical to the parent collagen. The gelatin that is sued for pharmaceutical and photography is mostly derived from cattle bones and the skin of pigs.
Gelatin is easily dissolved in water and turns into a gel once it cools down, however, it does not dissolve completely if it is added to cold water. The solubility of gelatin also depends on the procedure manufacturing. Generally, gelatin can be dissolved in comparably concentrated acids and can remain stable for period of 10-15 days. The mechanical properties present in the gel are extremely sensitive to temperature.
Post preparation of the raw materials like decreasing the links of the elements of collagen an eliminating the impurities like salts and fat, the sectional purified collagen is turned into gelatin and is extracted with solutions of acid or water at the suitable temperatures. All the industrial procedures are done on the basis of neutral acid or pH levels as the treatments of alkali may help to speed up the conversions but it also encourages the degradation process.
Uses
Gelatin in cooking is widely known as a gelling agent. Various types of gelatin are used widely in food or non-food products. The food product in which gelatin is useful is aspic, candy corn,trifles, gelatin desserts and marshmallows. Gelatin is also used in confectionary for products like jelly babies, Peeps, fruit snacks and gummy bears. Gelatin is widely used a thickener or stabilizer or a component used to add texture in foods like margarine, cream cheese and yoghurt.
Crystal Market Research published a report on “Gelatin Market by Raw Material, Function, and Application - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast to 2025” released and accessible at