why do we have to cook fruit before we can put it in Jello?

Question

i was told that i had to cook kiwi, pineapple and papaya before mixing into jello...

yes, sorry for confusion, jello is the same as jelly. :)

Answer 1

I/m guessing that by Jello (USA) you mean Jam (UK)?

If the fruit was not boiled with the sugar, it would not set and be spreadable, but the sugar (if dissolved in water, first) would separate from the uncooked fruit. In order not to form bacteria the fruit and sugar must reach (jam) boiling point before putting in jars and sealing.

Answer 2

actually if you put raw kiwi fruit into jelly (jello) the acids in the fruit will prevent the gelatine working and the jelly wont set. Not sure about the other two fruits but I know this to be true of kiwi.

Answer 3

The only fruits you have to cook before putting in Jell-O are ones which are high in acid, like papaya and pineapple. Canned fruits are cooked as part of the canning process.

If they aren't cooked, the acid can keep the jello from setting. Gelatin is a protein and I think the acid breaks down the protein, keeping it from jelling.

Answer 4

You don't. Fresh bananas, pineapple, and grapes work very well. Most people used canned fruits because they are convenient, but fresh is just fine.

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jello isn't jelly. You DO need to cook fruit for jelly. It releases the pectin.

Answer 5

These fruits have a higher acidic content than other fruit and can prevent it from setting assuming that jello is the same as jelly,but i didn't know that you could cook it first,i will have to try that.

Answer 6

Are you talking about fresh fruit????? I have never heard of having to cook fruit before putting it in Jello and have been doing it for years.

Answer 7

The fruits you mentioned have a naturally occurring enzyme which will prevent the jello from setting up. Heating the fruit breaks down the enzyme.

Since the canning process involved heating the fruit, canned fruit is OK.

Answer 8

you mean to tell me i have been doing it wrong for 40 years. i have never cooked my fruit before adding it to jello. who told you that?lol

Answer 9

No, as soon as you start to cook something, you start losing nutrients. I've made a canny few trifles in my time and have never cooked any of the fruit I've put in them. No-one's died yet.

Answer 10

You have to cook pineapple and certain other fruits. Most you do not. But pineapple will cause the jell to break if not cooked first.