Can jello be frozen?

Jelly is such a fun and tasty treat, especially if you have hungry kids to indulge. You can also use the gelatin to make 7-layer salads, fruit salads, pie layers or fillings, and much more!

But can gelatin be frozen? Yes, you can freeze the gelatin, but it is not recommended to thaw it afterwards. The gelatin will undergo large texture changes once thawed. The thawed gelatin ingredients will separate, leaving you with a watery, lumpy mass.

We understand why you want to stick your jello in the freezer. Maybe you want it to turn into a frozen treat, or maybe you don’t want to wait 4 hours for it to set. Read on to better understand why you shouldn’t freeze gelatin.

freeze the jelly

So, you can put the gelatin in the freezer, but the question really is: should you put the gelatin in the freezer? The answer to this question is no.

Due to its ingredients, the gelatin will not freeze completely, and when it thaws it will be a totally different substance.

The same components that give gelatin its wavy texture will eventually turn into a watery mass when the gelatin thaws. Freezing them basically undoes what was accomplished by using boiling water to make the gelatin in the first place.

There are a few reasons why you may want to freeze your gelatin. You can try to make it last longer, turn it into a gelatin sundae, or reduce the waiting time for it to set.

Using the freezer to speed up the curdling time has some advantages, but it’s also risky, and there is a better way to speed up the curdling time. Later we will talk about it.

In any case, there are a few things you should know about how gelatin and the freezer get along. In this article, I’ll simplify that complex relationship, as well as give tips on storing and preserving gelatin.

Why is it bad to freeze gelatin?

The main component that gives gelatin its characteristic wiggles and texture is gelatin , which is animal collagen. It is similar in many ways to fat.

When combined with hot water, the compounds in the gelatin come together to create the unique gelatin texture. Two compounds that do not like to be frozen are involved in this process: polymers and colloids.

When polymers and colloids get too cold, they start to separate from each other. This reaction means that when the frozen jello thaws, it also separates.

This significantly changes the texture of your jelly. The flavor won’t change much, but you’ll be left with a mush that no longer holds its shape the way jelly is supposed to.

So yes, you can freeze the jello and it might turn into a popsicle for a short time, but you better eat it fast, or it will melt and separate.

With that in mind, there really isn’t a good reason to stick your gelatin in the freezer.

Can the freezer be used to make the jello set faster?

The next big question about gelatin freezer compatibility has to do with curing time. According to the recipe, the gelatin must remain in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to set.

Whether you start the gelatin too late or just don’t have the patience to wait, you may think you can speed up the setting time simply by popping the gelatin in the freezer for a warm second. You are not totally wrong.

You can put the gelatin in the freezer to make it set faster, but the risk may not be worth it. If you leave the jello on for too long, you’ll end up with mush.

It is not easy to calculate how long you should leave the gelatin in the freezer to prevent it from freezing and at the same time reduce the healing time.

If it is absolutely necessary to reduce the curdling time, you can put the gelatin in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.

Don’t let it sit there any longer, as some parts will freeze while others are still hot. This can change the texture and reduce the shelf life of your gelatin.

There is a better way to speed up the curdling process, and we’ve included a tip in the related questions section at the end of this article, just for you.

How long does the jelly last?

Legal warning. This entire article refers to prepared gelatin. Not the prepackaged jello cups that may be sitting in your pantry for eons.

Those, like Twinkies and cockroaches, could probably withstand a nuclear attack. Prepared gelatin has a shorter life and must be refrigerated.

Due to the amount of sugar in gelatin, it can go rancid over time. It is not a good fermentation, like that of wine.

It’s all about bad rancidity, of the “why does my Jello taste like it has rotten sour jelly beans” type. Not a flavor profile that you or your loved ones will enjoy.

Jello prepared without additional fruit can last 7-10 days in the fridge. It’s easier to get to that 10-day mark if you store your gelatin properly. If your jelly contains fresh fruit, wait 2-3 days at best. Thereafter, the fruit will begin to decompose.

If the gelatin contains fresh fruit, use the fruit to determine when the gelatin has expired. It will start to break down and become translucent.

There aren’t many visual cues to tell when non-fruit gelatin has gone rancid. It may start to separate a bit and change color.

Remember that since gelatin never fully freezes, the rancidity process is not slowed down by storing it in the freezer. In fact, you could end up reducing the shelf life of your gelatin. The fridge is the only place to safely store gelatin.

How should you store the gelatin?

Gelatin should be stored in the refrigerator. It won’t last more than a few hours if left out. At the very least, be sure to cover the gelatin with plastic wrap or a lid.

If you really want to keep your jello fresh for the full 10 days, follow these steps:

1. If you can’t make the gelatin in a container with a tight-fitting lid, transfer it to one once you’re done mixing it.
2. Once the gelatin has cooled down a bit, take a piece of plastic wrap and place it directly on top of the gelatin, leaving no air between the plastic and the gelatin.
3. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate.

The combined method of plastic wrap and lid protects the gelatin from moisture and air, the two great enemies of food preservation. Even a little bit of air between the container and the lid could change the flavor of your jelly.

Try to avoid leaving the gelatin uncovered in the fridge. Not only could it go bad faster, but it will start to pick up that fridge flavor from the air. If you can’t find an airtight container for the gelatin, at least use plastic wrap.

Or just eat it all, we won’t judge you.

Related questions

Here are some quick answers to other questions you may have. Including that free cooking tip to get gelatin to set faster that I mentioned earlier.

Is there a way to cool down the jello more quickly, without the freezer?

Yes, there is. This way is much more effective than the freezer method and is risk-free. If you really need to speed up the setting time of your gelatin, especially if you’re layering, then you’ll want to use a method known as an “ice bath.”

For this you do not need the bathtub, but a bowl or container larger than the container in which the gelatin is. You can even use the sink if you want.

Fill the bowl with an even ratio of ice and water. Ideally, you should be able to place the bowl of gelatin inside the ice bath without it tipping over.

Place the bowl of gelatin in the ice bath, making sure not to spill the water, and shake the mixture occasionally for 20-30 minutes.

Then, stop beating and transfer the gelatin to the fridge. You will probably have cut between 90 and 120 minutes from the allotted time.

When do you put the plastic wrap on the gelatin?

This is a great question, especially since we have already talked about humidity and air in the refrigerator.

In the ideal world, where time doesn’t matter, you’ll want to leave the gelatin out for about 30 minutes after mixing. This allows it to cool enough so that steam does not collect on the lid.

This way, you can cover the jelly immediately when you put it in the fridge. If you want to put the gelatin directly in the fridge, leave it uncovered for about 30 minutes.

Steam from the cooking process will build up if you don’t. This means humidity, and humidity is bad.

After 30 minutes, go ahead and cover your jello. Remember that the best method is to use plastic wrap directly over the gelatin and a tight-fitting lid on top.

If for some unfathomable reason you haven’t eaten all of the jelly the first day, you want it to last as long as possible.