Why do we need gelatin in our stocks?
I make chicken stock fairly regularly. I know it's supposed to look like jello when chilled. My question is: why? Mouthfeel? Body? Why do we want a gelatinous blob of delicious bone juice?
Best Answer
Gelatin is naturally occurring in meat and poultry, it's broken down collagen, which is the material that distributes force throughout the muscle. You couldn't actually get rid of it easily even if you wanted to, so it isn't necessarily that you want it, but that it is there. Reducing the stock until it is gelatinous simply means that you've gotten rid of most of the water, concentrating the stock so it takes less space, which is generally desirable.
Gelatine and other thickeners increase a liquid's viscosity, making it coat things better, which is good for mouth feel. Most of the time that's what you want for a good dish.
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Why is gelatin important in stocks?
If you've ever made a long-cooking stew or stock and found the liquid all jellied after a night in the fridge, that's gelatin at work. In its natural form, it gives stocks and sauces a thicker body and lip-smacking richness.Should stocks be gelatinous?
This collagen in the bones is what is causing your soup to gel. It's completely natural, and it only happens in rich, well-made chicken stock. It can be a little freaky, though, if you're not expecting it! The good news is that this thick, gelled stock is extra-rich.What does gelatin in a stock mean?
Reducing the stock until it is gelatinous simply means that you've gotten rid of most of the water, concentrating the stock so it takes less space, which is generally desirable. Gelatine and other thickeners increase a liquid's viscosity, making it coat things better, which is good for mouth feel.Why do we use gelatin?
Gelatin is a protein made from animal collagen, usually from cows and pigs. It's commonly used to make capsules, cosmetics, ointments, and foods. Collagen is one of the materials that make up cartilage, bone, and skin. Taking gelatin might increase the production of collagen in the body.The Difference Between Collagen and Gelatin
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