Homemade jelly should take around 4 hours to set in the fridge. However, it is possible to get jelly to set in as little as 15 minutes if you use a freezer.
Read on to find out how to set your jelly using a fridge or freezer.
Almost all make-at-home jelly contains gelatine. This powerful protein has long strands which when cold enough, twist tightly around each other, sucking in water in the process.
These strands become harder to pull apart as jelly cools, eventually setting into the wibbly, wobbly dessert we know and love.
Not all make-at-home jellies take the same time to set. Take a look at the brands below. Each one has a slightly different guideline setting time.
- Hartley’s Jelly Cubes (all flavours) – Sets (in fridge) in around 4 hours
- Hartley’s Jelly Crystals (sugar free, all flavours) – Sets (in fridge) in around 4 hours
- Hartley’s Glitter Jelly – Sets (in fridge) in around 2 hours
- Jell-o Powders (all flavours) – Sets (in fridge) in between 2 and 4 hours
- Moir’s Jelly Powder – Sets (in fridge) for at least 4 hours
What Temperature Does Jelly Set At?
Most homemade jellies, made from scratch or using a store-bought product, will set completely at around 4°C, as this is gelatine’s preferred setting temperature.
At temperatures closer to freezing (0°C), any gelatine in your jelly will permanently de-activate. This means your jelly will freeze solid, but will not regain its gel-like texture. Put simply, cooling jelly below about 2°C will ruin it.
An (Almost) Instant Way to Set Jelly Using a Freezer
Sending your jelly for a quick icy blast in the freezer will help the gelatine in your jelly to firm up. But be warned; freeze for too long and you’ll be left with hard, inedible jelly that will not wobble.
Here’s an almost instant way to set jelly using a freezer.
- Locate the largest baking tray or dish you have, ideally non-stick and in good condition. Metal trays are your best bet; glass dishes can crack if their temperature changes too quickly. The larger the surface area, the quicker your jelly can set.
- Place your chosen jelly-holder in a freezer for as long as possible. Even a quick 15-minute chill should cut down the time it takes your jelly to set.
- In a measuring jug, dissolve your jelly in just enough boiling hot water to fully dissolve the jelly. Don’t worry if there are some stubborn lumps remaining; these are perfectly safe and won’t affect how long it takes your jelly to set.
- Top up the jug with very, very cold water, with the suggested amount of water. This step is crucial as it rapidly cools our jelly mixture down. You can use ice cubes in this step instead of cold water (scroll up to read our tips).
- Pour a thin layer of the cold jelly-and-water mixture into your cold tray or dish. Return this to the freezer as quickly as possible.
- A jelly that is only a few mm thick will set in as little as 5 mins.
- Eat as soon as your jelly has set to your taste
How Long Does Vegan, Vegetarian and Gelatine-Free Jelly Take to Set?
Gelatine is a natural gelling agent found in many different foods, including marshmallows, margarine and gummy sweets.
It’s derived from animal fat, so isn’t included in vegetarian or vegan jelly products.
Vegan substitutions for gelatine including agar-agar and Vege-Gel.
Agar-agar sets at 35-45°C. It sets quickly at room temperature, unlike regular jelly.
Vege-Gel needs to be heated above room temperature to set, which takes about an hour.
Adding Pectin to Jelly for a Quicker, Firmer Set
Pectin, available in liquid and powdered forms, is a cheap, easy-to-find gelling agent made from fruit. It helps jellies and jams to set firm.
You could experiment with adding pectin to your jelly, as it will speed up setting times. It may need to be activated by heating to a rolling boil. If you’re craving a quicker jelly and don’t mind experimenting in the kitchen, consider adding pectin to your future jellies!
Making Jelly with Ice Cubes
One age-old trick to set jelly faster is to add ice cubes to the jelly-water mixture. This does work, if the mixture is hot enough to melt the ice cubes before gelatine gets to work.
Large chunks of ice in your mixture can create clumps, as the jelly around each ice cube sets much faster than the liquid surrounding it.
As the jelly continues to cool, these ice patches will melt back to water, which will sit in and around your jelly.
To make jelly with ice cubes: fully dissolve your jelly first in a small amount of boiling hot water, then top up to completion with the cold water, ice cubes or both. This may take a bit of trial-and-error to perfect, so we suggest using cold water instead of ice cubes.
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FAQs
In most cases, the standard jelly will take between 3 & 4 hours to set in a fridge with the temperature set to 5C. Now this will vary depending on how cold your fridge and the amount of jelly you are making but this time frame is usually how long it takes.
How long does it take for jelly to harden? ›
Your jelly should set in the fridge in around 4 hours. Note: you can add fruit or juice, but avoid fresh pineapple, kiwi or papaya as these fruits will stop your jelly from setting.
Can you put jelly in freezer? ›
Freezing prepared Jell-O gives it a totally new texture that makes it even more fun to eat. The clear, jiggly gel transforms into a cloudy neon color that's almost entirely opaque. The texture is still soft and chewy, but it's lighter and more airy, even when completely frozen.
Why is my homemade jelly not setting? ›
Making too large of a batch, or doubling a recipe, takes longer for the mixture to heat and can affect the gelling ability of the pectin. Moving the jelly, after it has been processed, weakens the pectin linkage that holds the gel together. Do not move the jars for 12 hours after they have been made.
Can I put jelly in the freezer to set quicker? ›
Alternatively, you could place the prepared jello in a sink/basin/bowl filled with ice cubes to speed up the process. At some point you will need to put this in the fridge. You may certainly put the mixture in the freezer but make certain to check frequently to avoid freezing.
Why is my jelly not hardening? ›
If there isn't enough pectin in the fruit itself and you don't add extra pectin, the result is runny jelly or jam. Additionally, if the fruit is overripe, its pectin levels are lower. Added pectin comes in a couple of forms. You can find powdered pectin and liquid pectin at grocery stores and online.
Will jelly thicken as it cools? ›
You do not need to reach a specific temperature beyond a “full boil” (a boil you can't stir down). Jam/jelly will be runny when you put it in the jars, and will jell when completely cool.
Can you boil jelly too long? ›
If, on the other hand, the jam is rock solid, that means you've gone too far and cooked it too long. You can try adding a little water to thin it out, but bear in mind that after overcooking a jam, you can't really get those fresh fruit flavors back.
Is it safe to eat runny jelly? ›
If the jar was sealed, and there is no mold, it's probably fine. If it's a fruit jam, there should be enough acid in it to keep it safe.
How long does it take jelly to gel? ›
If you pour it into individual bowls, it will set in a couple of hours. If it is all in one mould/bowl, you need at least overnight and make sure it is in the fridge.
If you are using the stuff in one small package, it normally takes around 2–4 hours to freeze (become gelatinous), or until you can eat it. However, if you used some sort of alcohol in it, it will never freeze because the freezing temperature of spirits is so low.
Why can't you freeze jelly? ›
Sadly, however, you can't freeze jelly. We won't go into the scientific specifics of it all, but essentially the chemical bonds that make gelatin are broken when you freeze jelly, meaning it becomes a liquid mess when you defrost it.
Can I fix jelly that didn't set? ›
There are a few ways to thicken jelly that didn't set. You can add more sugar, cook it for longer, or add pectin. How do you thicken pudding that won't set? There are different ways of setting the pudding and achieving the right consistency.
Does lemon juice thicken jam? ›
Lemon juice contains natural pectin, a substance found in the cell walls of fruits that helps to thicken and set the jam or jelly. Pectin is crucial for achieving the desired consistency and texture in jams and jellies.
How do you know when jelly is set? ›
1) The Saucer Test
If it runs slow, it's set! You can also let the spoonful of jam sit on the cold plate for 30 seconds and then push it with your spoon or finger. If it wrinkles up, you've reached your setting point.
Can I dissolve jelly in a microwave? ›
So easy by microwave put jelly in jug just cover with cold water micro for 1.5 mins give a quick stir and add up to 1pt of cold water... I use less for a trifle just under the pint.
How can I thicken jelly that didn't set? ›
If your liquid amounts to 4 cups, take half cup of that liquid (COLD) and mix with 4 tbs cornstarch in a small container. If you mix it with warm liquid it will be lumpy. Then as the pudding cooks, you whisk in the cornstarch mix, and it will thicken up when the pudding comes to a boil.
How do you make jelly dissolve faster? ›
The conclusion is that if you want to dissolve jelly, do it with boiling water while stirring hard because the prediction was accurate and the hotter the water the quicker the jelly cubes dissolved. Get your team fired up with an engaging and compelling SKO presentation. This Prezi sales kickoff template…
Can you put warm jelly in the fridge? ›
If you are preparing the Jello with hot water, the water needs to cool down before you put it in the fridge. If you put it in too soon, you're putting the other food in the fridge at risk because it will no longer be properly cooled if you put in something hot.
