FoodNet

Principles of food preparation

1914

Page 22

Presented as published in 1914. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
To the Student. In this work the class should be organ- ized into as many groups as there are brands of commercial gelatine to be studied. The groups may consist of two or more students. A table should be framed by each group, and filled out under the following heads after its particu- lar brand of gelatine has been studied: (1) Name, of commercial variety. (2) Description — color, light or darker; texture, whether finely or coarsely granulated, shredded, in sheets, etc. (3) Price per box. (4) Volume in box. (5) Yield in jelly. (6) General Characteristics, e. g., easy or difficult of hydration, easily or difficultly soluble, yielding a clear or a dull jelly, possessing or not possessing an acid reaction, having or not having a strong odor or flavor, and being easily affected by acid. In order to test the gelatine four kinds of jelly should be made from each box, namely, milk, lemon, orange, and coffee. At the close of the lesson the work of all the groups should be compared, and a complete table framed. (See table on page 47.) GELATINE 47 o H GO 2 u H O •< K < m o >j •< » ;? w O '.'.'.'. \ : ^ (N CO -^ lO O ^ (M 00 ■* lO o r-( (M CO r}< lO CO --H (M CO rt< lO O H '-5 H 0 0- z o M DS o go 0 48 PRINCIPLES OF FOOD PREPARATION Experiments to Aid or Confirm Inferences I Comparison of Gelatine and Albumin 1. Compare the appearance of commercial gelatine with that of dried egg albumin. Of thoroughly hydrated gelatine with that of fresh white of egg. 2. Treat about 4 grams of hydrated gelatine and of fresh white of egg with 15-20 cc. cold water in test tubes, and allow to stand 10-15 m. Note solubility in each case. 3. Apply heat (water bath) to test tubes from 2. Note result. 4. Divide the gelatine from 3 into two equal parts, A and B. To A add enough cold water to bring up the total volume of water used to 56 cc. To B add a similar volume of a mixture of water and vinegar in equal parts. Stand both A and B in a cool place until no further change takes place. 5. Recall the effect of acid on albumin (see page 36). 6. Recall the effect of beating on both albumin (page 36) and gelatine (page 42). 7. Arrange in tabular form the effects of water, heat, acid, and manipulation on albumin and gelatine re- spectively. Consult instructor before framing your table. II Chemical Tests for Protein 1. Make a solution of egg albumin, by vigorously shaking a few cc. of white of egg in 15-20 times its volume of water. Divide into four parts — A, B, C, and D. GELATINE 49 To A add concentrated nitric acid. Note precipitate, and its color. Boil; note change in color. After cooling add ammonia water; note further color change. Note. This is known as the xanthoproteic test for albumin and other "simple proteins," and its characteristic color reactions indicate the presence of these bodies. 2. To B add a few drops of Millons reagent. Note precipitate, and its color change when boiled. Note. This is the most delicate test for protein, and will indicate the presence of even a trace of this substance by the characteristic color reaction, though no precipitate will be formed when only a mi- nute quantity of protein is present. 3. To C add a saturated solution of magnesium sul- phate.