Pineapple Jelly

[madbadger]

They say you learn something every day. Today I have been learning about Pineapple Jelly.

Jelly seemed very slow to set yesterday, but I thought it would be ok by this morning, but no - all still runny. I have made Pineapple Jelly before, but with a tin of fruit rather than a fresh pineapple.

the internet said:

"The reason a pineapple gelatin won't set with fresh pineapple is due to an enzyme - bromelain. It's called that because pineapple belongs to a group of plants called bromelaids. This enzyme, like all enzymes, can be inactivated with the application of heat. Bromelain breaks down the amino acids (proteins) in the gelatin. Tinned pineapple has been heated to a high enough temperature to inactivate the enzyme. You can inactivate the enzyme by boiling the fresh pineapple in some of its own juice or a small amount of water for a few minutes."

There you go. I should have killed the enzyme first. Think of this as a public information post!

Those of you who knew all about bromelain, do you think if I fish out the chunks of fruit and boil them will the jelly now set - or will all the gelatin have been digested? I know I could buy some new packets of Jelly, but salvaging it would be more satisfying.

[sgrimshaw]

Had exactly the same problem, didn't know why !

Thanks for the info.

We made sorbet out of ours

[Mobile Chicane]

Kiwi fruit and papaya have these protein-digesting enzymes too, so don't try adding them to jelly.

Papaya/pineapple enzymes are used to tenderise meat, and also in face masks. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel is a fantastic product, but at £28.60 a tube?

I mix fresh crushed pineapple with fine oatmeal and make my own.

[madbadger]

I have attempted a salvage.

Boiled it all up to kill the enzyme and on the assumption that all the chains in the glycerin have been shagged I have added some leaf gelatin back in. In the fridge now.

The blender, rum and cream are on standby. 3 pints of Pina Colada anyone?

[madbadger]

Worked perfectly!

No issue with the flavour of the pineapple chunks. You can't tell they have been boiled. Gelatin sheets have done the job setting it all. Not sure if it would have worked without the gelatin. It's pretty solid as it is so it may have done.