I've done it a bunch of times now and each time I had doubts about its efficacy. So after making some fried chicken I did a test: it was 2 quarts of corn oil that I (very roughly) divided in half.
One batch I clarified as per the instructions; the other I poured through a paper towel-lined colander. The next day, after removing the gelatin disk, I poured each back into the original bottles.
The first picture is the result: the paper towel-strained batch is on the left, the gelatin-clarified one is on the right.That's how it always looks after using gelatin, the weird cloudy look. Presuming that it's residual water not captured by the gelatin I poured it back into a pot and heated to a little above boiling–enough to evaporate the water without (I hoped) degrading the oil. Once it hit the upper 230s F I cut the heat and allowed it to cool; pic #2 is the result.
I couldn't get a good picture, but the gelatin-clarified one still has tiny bits of something in it, though it's hard to say what.
I think for now on I'll still with using a paper towel to strain the oil; it's certainly at least as effective but with much less effort.
by Scott_A_R
4 Comments
I have used a method of frying oil clarification I saw in a YouTube comment to good effect.
It was something like 2 tbsp cornstarch per 500 mL oil, make into a slurry, heat gently while stirring. Eventually the trash globs up til it can’t glob further. You can strain out the big glob of trash. The oil afterwards smells and looks cleaner.
Pretty happy with it.. was gonna throw out that oil.
What did you collect the oil in after the paper lined colander? Was it just a big bowl that you poured into the bottle via a funnel? Or do you have a more elegant solution?
So I only have experience with gelatin fining in the beer brewing context, so excuse my ignorance here – can you confirm that the gelatin one was held in the refrigerator overnight? I only ask that because gelatin is absolutely reliable in clearing homebrewed beer, but it does need to be “cold crashed” to work.
If so, I’ve got nothing. Either way, really interesting results and thanks for posting them.
Edit: I see you mentioned removing the gelatin disk-that must mean refrigeration. Never mind, carry on
I like using coffee filters in a strainer. It’s easy enough.
I’ve tried the gelatin thing once and didn’t think it was worth it.