The Science of Jello Shots

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

I’m a sucker for applying a scientific look to unscientific things, which is why the art of Jello shots is ripe for the picking. Here’s a guy who experimented with crazy concoctions to answer the timeless qustion: just how much vodka can you add to powdered gelatin before it refuses to gel? And yes, this is not for minors or irresponsible people. Jello shots can kill you.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the highest possible concentration of alcohol attainable in a Jell-O shot, while still maintaining the structural integrity (i.e., the gelling properties) of the gelatin. For the purposes of our study, structural integrity was defined as the ability of the gelatin to hold its shape when removed from its container. Recipes for Jell-O shots are often accompanied by the explanation that only a certain amount of liquor can be added to Jell-O shots, the reason being that a minimum amount of water is necessary to enable the gelatin to gel, and too much alcohol will prevent this. How much water is enough? Or more to the point, how much alcohol is too much? As you will see, too much is much, much more than we would have guessed.

Read the Entire Findings Here via Fark