Whether it is for the production of gummy bears or capsules, fruit yogurts, photographic paper, aspic products or plasma expanders, it is always very important to dissolve the gelatine in the correct way.

such a process depends on the particle size of the gelatine used:

Apart from particle size, the properties of the water used influence both swelling and the time involved:

It also has to be taken into account in the subsequent dissolution process that the properties of gelatine tend to change under the influence of heat and degree of acidity involved; viscosity and gellation power decrease whilst the color intensifies. The extent of these effects depends on temperature, acid concentration and time. In other words, gelatine loses quality when exposed to heat or acid dependent on the exposure time involved. For this reason, it is good to know that well-swollen gelatine dissolves easily and completely at temperatures as low as 50-60°C. Gelatine solutions can be kept at such temperatures for several hours without loss of gelling power; after 2 hours e.g. at 60°C, 95% of the gelling power remains. Heating to higher temperatures, e.g. 80-100°C, can take place without much loss of gelling power if such temperatures are limited to a few minutes only. Temperatures in excess of 100°C, as e.g. in an autoclave or highly concentrated sugar solutions, should if possible be avoided as, even if the times involved are short, gelling power can be substantially affected.

Even greater losses in quality can occur if, in addition to high temperature, the pH of the hot solution is strongly acidic or alkaline. For this reason, addition of acid or alkali should be made only when the dissolution process with appropriate standing time has been completed. It is even better if the acid or alkali is added just before completion of the finished product.