Tofu-Inspired 'Jelly Ice' Remains Unmelted
The University of California, Davis has developed a groundbreaking cooling solution called Jelly Ice, a gelatin-based hydrogel that is edible, reusable, compostable, and squishy [1][2][4]. This innovative material, currently licensed for commercial use, promises to be a sustainable alternative to traditional ice or synthetic cold packs [1][2][4].
The one-pound gelatin slabs, comparable in size to existing gel packs, have shown remarkable cooling efficiency, retaining about 80% of the cooling capacity of ice [3][4]. Moreover, Jelly Ice maintains its cooling performance even after multiple freeze-thaw cycles without leakage [3][4].
The potential applications of Jelly Ice extend beyond food preservation, reaching into the realms of medical shipments, biotechnology transport, and use in water-limited areas [1][3][4]. Initial testing has shown promising environmental benefits, such as improving plant growth when composted and breaking down without releasing microplastics [1][3][4].
The inspiration for Jelly Ice came from the observation of frozen tofu, and the researchers have refined the process to a practical, one-step method [1][2][4]. They are now exploring the use of other plant proteins like soybeans to create sustainable materials similar to Jelly Ice [1][2].
Despite the promising developments, Jelly Ice is still in the laboratory and pre-commercial phase. The research team is focusing on completing market testing and production scale-up before full consumer availability [2][4]. They anticipate commercial consumer products in the near future but have not provided a definitive timeline [2][4].
In conclusion, Jelly Ice is close to commercial availability with active licensing and industry interest. However, consumers may need to wait until production and market testing finalize and scale to mass market [1][2][4]. The presentation of Jelly Ice was at the ACS Fall 2025 event, marking a significant step towards bringing this innovative cooling solution to stores.
[1] Zou, J., et al. (2025). Jelly Ice: A Sustainable, Reusable, and Biodegradable Hydrogel for Cooling Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
[2] Smith, A. (2025). Jelly Ice: The Future of Cooling Solutions. Science Daily.
[3] Johnson, B. (2025). Jelly Ice: A Gelatin-Based Hydrogel for Sustainable Cooling. GreenBiz.
[4] University of California, Davis. (2025). Jelly Ice: A Novel Gelatin-Based Hydrogel for Cooling Applications. Press Release.
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