Tag: Gelation

Methylcellulose, a plant-derived compound, has been used in the food industry since the 1950s, first appearing in products like canned soups and salad dressings. It is now a ubiquitous additive praised for its functional properties that enhance texture, stability, and mouthfeel in a wide range of products.

The perfect jam set is not a matter of luck but of precise chemistry, where a delicate balance of ingredients is key. Understanding what strengthens pectin is crucial for any home preserver looking to create delicious, firm, and stable fruit preserves without guessing.

Proteins are the workhorses of food science, influencing the texture, stability, and sensory attributes of countless products. This versatility depends on understanding and manipulating the functional properties of proteins, which dictate their behavior during processing and consumption.

Milk is a complex colloidal dispersion of fat, protein, lactose, and soluble salts. A deep understanding of what are the functional properties of milk is essential for dairy manufacturing, influencing everything from the texture of cheese to the froth on a cappuccino.

Over 500 different amino acids exist in nature, yet in gels, these organic compounds perform an incredibly diverse and specialized set of functions, ranging from building new proteins to forming complex structural networks. Far from being a simple additive, what do amino acids in gels do depends heavily on the gel's intended application, from nutritional supplements to advanced biomedical materials.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals, constituting about 30% of their total protein mass and providing structural integrity to skin, bones, and tendons. This tough, fibrous protein, however, is not inherently gelatinous; its transformation into a gel-like substance only occurs after a specific process called denaturation. This article explores the scientific reasons behind why is collagen gelatinous, revealing the intricate molecular dance that turns a rigid protein into a culinary and medical marvel.