The Quick-Setting Method That Will Have Your Jell-O Ready In A Jiff

The only downside of Jell-O, apart from how it always seems to finish too quickly, is the time it takes to set, which can be anywhere from two to four hours (and generally closer to four if you're waiting for, say, Jell-O shots to set). Fortunately, impatient Jell-O fans have several little tricks for getting this classic dessert at its quivering best much faster. The key lies in lowering the temperature of the Jell-O mixture as soon as possible.

Gelatin gives it that signature jiggly texture, which also makes Jell-O a delicious add-in to cake mix. However, gelatin, which comes from collagen, is also responsible for the sweet treat's long prep time. Collagen requires hot water to dissolve, which is why most jelly mixtures need to be added to boiling water. Time is then spent cooling down this large mass of water, and this is where things can be sped up. Once the mixture is dissolved, instead of adding plain water as the recipe generally requires, add a mixture of ice cubes and water. The melting ice cubes rapidly lower the mixture's temperature, essentially starting to do the job even before it's put in the fridge. Remember to spoon out any bits of ice left in the mixture before refrigerating. 

Another way to speed up the process is portioning the mixture into smaller servings before refrigerating. Multiple small containers mean more of the Jell-O mixture is in contact with the cold surface of the container, resulting in faster setting. With just these two simple hacks, you can get the wait time down to a mere 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how firm you want the texture to be.

To speed the process up a little more, consider prepping your fridge by lowering its temperature to the minimum a few hours before you plan on chilling the Jello-O mixture. Place the liquid Jell-O in the back of the fridge (so it's furthest away from the door) and in the lowest compartment, which is usually the coldest spot. When making Jell-O cubes, you can have an empty sheet tray already chilling in the freezer while you mix the Jell-O ingredients. Once ready, pour the cooled Jell-O liquid on the chilled tray and place it back in the fridge. For the most efficient cooling, use a metal sheet tray.

In case you're wondering why one can't just place the mixture in the freezer if the objective is faster cooling, the answer lies, once again, in gelatin's fickle nature. In order for it to set and retain its jelly texture, it must cool slowly. That said, frozen Jell-O is also quite a treat, especially if you're looking for a different Jell-O experience. This mix of jiggly, chewy, and crisp icy textures makes for a fun eating experience, but does require slightly longer the 30 minutes to make. However, it is still faster than the four hours you might have to wait when using the regular Jell-O making method.