gelatine

Everyday

1. Gelatine is a clear substance with no taste, made by boiling animal bones and skin, which makes liquids set into a wobbly solid when they cool. tree →
2. (science) Gelatine is used to make jelly, sweets, glue, capsules for medicine and photographic film. tree →

In the lessons

In cooking and science lessons pupils make jelly with gelatine and learn how a liquid sets into a gel. Many gummy sweets contain gelatine, so they are not suitable for vegetarians, and some religions avoid it unless it comes from an allowed animal (halal or kosher gelatine). Vegetarian versions use agar from seaweed. Phrases: «a sheet of gelatine», «gelatine-free».

Examples

• Jelly sets because of the gelatine. tree →
• Gummy bears are made with gelatine. tree →
• These sweets are gelatine-free, so they are vegetarian. tree →
• Soak the gelatine sheets in cold water first. tree →
• Medicine capsules are often made of gelatine. tree →
• Agar is a plant-based swap for gelatine. tree →
• The gelatine made the dessert wobble. tree →

Note

Uncountable. UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ: gelatine; USA and Canada: gelatin. Pronounced «JEL-uh-teen». In the USA, «Jell-O» is a brand of jelly; in the USA «jelly» means jam. Gelatine comes from animals, which matters for vegetarians, vegans and some faiths.