Gelatin is made by extracting collagen from animal skin and bones. The materials are cleaned and soaked in a solution using one of three methods. The collagen is then extracted using water and turned into gelatin through a process that varies based on previous steps. Most gelatin in the Western world comes from pig skin.
Gelatin is the end product of a series of steps that extract collagen from the skin and bones of animals. There are several ways to make gelatin, mostly based on the animal materials used, but they all follow a basic set of steps. Making gelatin is a complex and time-consuming process, but it’s surprisingly easy to make with just a few simple tools and ingredients.
In the Western world, most of the gelatin production comes from pig skin, but cow skin and different types of animal bones are also used. The high level of pork products derives more from the availability of material than from the quality or methodology. These materials are extracted from by-products from the meatpacking and leather processing fields, but are first inspected and cleared for human consumption.
The material that actually becomes gelatin is collagen. This is only found in high enough concentrations to be useful within the skin and bones. Consequently, the first step in gelatin production is the cleaning of the starting materials. Any residues, such as fat, hair or meat, are carefully removed from the skin and bones. This reduces the possibility of contaminants, which creates a purer product and easier extraction.
This later part of jelly making is where methods start to diverge. The base material is soaked in a solution, which begins to break the bonds between the collagen and other materials using one of three basic soaking methods: acidic, alkaline, and enzymatic. Acidic methods of making gelatin typically take a day or two and work best on pig skin. Alkaline methods can take weeks, but will work on almost any good material. Finally, enzymatic processes are somewhat new but they work very fast and produce high purity in the few places equipped to use them.
The rest of the gelatin production process is done quite quickly. After soaking, the collagen is extracted from the base material using water. Alkaline water will pull the material faster, but it will also damage the gelatin, so neutral or acidic water is generally used. The heat will also damage the collagen, but will generally pull out more material, so washing is done in waves. The process starts with cold water, but gradually gets hotter to get as much as possible.
The last step turns the collagen into full-fledged gelatin. This part of gelatin production varies greatly based on the previous steps, but typically involves cold temperatures, filtration systems, and air drying. Different pH levels and ambient temperatures during soaking have a big impact on the solidity and quantity of the final product.
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