Why do gelatin snacks wiggle so much? |
by Mya Kagan (whyzz writer) >> more about the author


Homemade Jell-o!
Many people make Jell-o by purchasing the flavored package in the store and following the instructions on the box, but did you know that you could make your own Jell-o from scratch, too?
All you need is two envelopes of unflavored gelatin (which you can buy at the supermarket) and two cups of your favorite kind of fruit juice!
With help from an adult, heat ¾ of the juice on the stovetop. Add the remaining cold juice to the hot juice, and then the gelatin. Stir the mixture until the gelatin dissolves.
Put the bowl in the fridge and allow it to chill for 1-2 hours. Then, just serve and enjoy!
YUM!!
Have you ever noticed that foods made with gelatin, like puddings and Jell-o, are really wiggly? The reason why Jell-o and other gelatin foods are so wiggly and jiggly and delicious is because of what gelatin is and how it works.
In the body of many animals such as humans, cows, and pigs there is a special protein called “collagen.” Collagen is a cool type of protein because it’s both strong and flexible.
Most gelatin is made when collagen from animals like cows and pigs is treated and processed into powder by machines in special factories. It’s then usually flavored and sold in grocery stores, so people can buy it and made yummy desserts like puddings and Jell-o! Just like the collagen they’re made from, gelatin foods are both strong and flexible! – Wiggle away!
In the body of many animals such as humans, cows, and pigs there is a special protein called “collagen.” Collagen is a cool type of protein because it’s both strong and flexible.
Most gelatin is made when collagen from animals like cows and pigs is treated and processed into powder by machines in special factories. It’s then usually flavored and sold in grocery stores, so people can buy it and made yummy desserts like puddings and Jell-o! Just like the collagen they’re made from, gelatin foods are both strong and flexible! – Wiggle away!

Homemade Jell-o!
Many people make Jell-o by purchasing the flavored package in the store and following the instructions on the box, but did you know that you could make your own Jell-o from scratch, too?
All you need is two envelopes of unflavored gelatin (which you can buy at the supermarket) and two cups of your favorite kind of fruit juice!
With help from an adult, heat ¾ of the juice on the stovetop. Add the remaining cold juice to the hot juice, and then the gelatin. Stir the mixture until the gelatin dissolves.
Put the bowl in the fridge and allow it to chill for 1-2 hours. Then, just serve and enjoy!
YUM!!

- “Apple Juice Homemade Jello.” 12 Feb. 2010. Yummy Tummy Cooking. 08 Aug. 2011
- "collagen." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 08 Aug. 2011. Dictionary.com
- Binns, Corey. “Why Does Jell-O Jiggle?” 25 Mar. 2010. Life’s Little Mysteries. 08 Aug. 2011
- “What is Jell-O? How does it turn from a liquid to a solid when it cools?” Ask the Experts. 21 Oct. 1999. Scientific American. 08 Aug. 2011







