What is the Difference Between Gelatin and Pectin

The main difference between gelatin and pectin is that gelatin has an animal origin whereas pectin has a plant origin.

Gelatin and pectin are two types of ingredients that provide similar gelatinous texture to food items. Usually, gelatin is more common than pectin. Both are colorless and soluble. In addition, gelatin is the product remaining after the hydrolyzation of collagen, a protein that provides amino acids while pectin is a polysaccharide. In general, both gelatin and pectin have lots of health benefits.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Gelatin
   • Definition, Nutrients, Health Benefits
2. What is Pectin
   • Definition, Nutrients, Health Benefits
3. Similarities Between Gelatin and Pectin
   • Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Gelatin and Pectin
   • Comparison with Key Differences

Key Terms

Food, Gelatin, Pectin

What is Gelatin

Gelatin is a common ingredient that provides gelatinous texture to food items. Generally, it is natural, colorless, translucent, and flavorless. Gelatin is brittle when dry or wet. More importantly, gelatin is made up of animal body parts, mainly collagen. It is also vital in health benefits and contains 18 amino acids. The hydrolysis of collagen, which produces amino acids, is responsible for most of the health benefits of gelatin.

Figure 1: Gelatin

Furthermore, gelatin is important in improving sleep quality, protecting joints from pain, improving digestion and gut health, lifting mood, and maintaining heart health, strong bones, and healthy skin.

What is Pectin

Pectin is a less common ingredient that is important in thickening food items. It is derived from citrus fruits. in non-woody parts of the terrestrial plants; the pectin is most abundant in most primary cell walls. Hence, it has a plant origin. Basically, pectin is a starch: a heteropolysaccharide. It is also produced commercially as a light brown powder. Usually, in high temperatures, pectin produces a gel in combination with acid and sugar. Food items that are semi-solid when cool such as jellies and jams normally contain pectin.

Figure 2: Apples

Moreover, pectin is beneficial for high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, diabetes, heartburn, and metabolic syndrome.

Similarities Between Gelatin and Pectin

• Both gelatin and pectin are ingredients in food items that provide thickness.
• Both are colorless and soluble.
• They provide different health benefits according to their composition.

Difference Between Gelatin and Pectin

Definition

Gelatin refers to a virtually colorless and water-soluble protein prepared from collagen and used in food preparation, photographic processes, and glue, whereas pectin refers to a soluble gelatinous polysaccharide that is present in ripe fruits and is used as a setting agent in jams and jellies.

Chemistry

Gelatin contains amino acids while pectin contains heteropolysaccharides.

Origin

While gelatin has an animal origin, pectin has a plant origin.

Health Benefits

Gelatin is important in improving sleep quality, protecting joints from pain, improving digestion and gut health, lifting mood, and maintaining heart health, strong bones, and healthy skin, while pectin is beneficial for high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, diabetes, heartburn, and metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion

Gelatin is one of the more commonly used ingredients that gives thickness to food items. However, it is a product of the hydrolysis of collagen. Therefore, gelatin contains amino acids and it is important for bone health. On the other hand, pectin is a similar ingredient in food that thickens the food. It is a starch product good for diarrhea and constipation. Although both gelatin and pectin are components of food, they have a number of health benefits to humans. However, the main difference between gelatin and pectin is their origin.

References:

1. Learn about pectin: Definition, origins, and how it is used in cooking – 2022. MasterClass. (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Congealed salad cranberry” By Shadle – Own Work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Apples” Own Work (Public Domain) via Pxhere