Sous Vide Gelatin?

Jack Blair

Hello, this is my first post.  I was wondering if I could use a sous vide, which can maintain water at a constantly moving, very accurate and consistent temperature, to melt gelatin and hold it in that state until needed?   I am thinking around 130°F.   Do you think staying in a prolonged melted state would impact the integrity?   Thank you so much.

Chris Ellerby

I've never heard of anyone doing that, but I imagine it would work great.  That said, I don't know of any possible issues with keeping it in a melted state for a prolonged time.  I say give it a shot... for science!

I normally keep mine melted for an hour or two in a wax melting pot (designed for folks that do hair waxing) which is much like sous vide, just lower tech.  The gelatin is kept in plastic bottles that float in the small metal dish filled with water.  Google wax heater and you'll see them... kinda like low tech sous vide.

/Chris

Jack Blair

Thanks Chris!  I'll give it a try and report back. Cheers! 

Jack Blair

It worked.  I set my sous vide for 158°F, put the gelatin in a zip-lock freezer bag and once the temperature was reached, submerged the bag, letting the air escape before sealing it and let it heat.  I let it sit in the bath for around 30 minutes (it was never going to burn or boil) and when I was ready (and using an oven mitt) I removed the bag, cut the tip off the corner and squeezed it in the gelatin into the negative mold.  I am very happy with the results, especially since this is my first appliance.

Chris Ellerby

Fantastic!  Glad you had such good results, and that appliance looks awesome!

/Chris