Why did the Jello still set once papaya was added?

[blucrew]

I did Which Fruits Can Ruin your desert. We tested 5 fruits. The fresh pineapple and kiwi did not set but the papaya did. We made 2 cups of jello with cooked papaya and 2 cups with fresh papaya and all 4 of them set. We were under the impression that the one with the fresh papaya would not set. The papaya was hard and not ripe. Could this be why the fresh papaya set? Should we do it again? Thanks.

[EmilyDolson]

Hi,

This is a very interesting issue. You are correct in thinking that papaya should have prevented the jello from setting, as it includes papain. Did you run a positive control, using papain tablets? The results of that test could shed some light on why the Jello with papaya set.

If papain tablets prevented the Jello from setting, it would suggest that there was some problem with the papya you used. Your theory about it not being ripe enough is a good one. I am not sure whether it is correct, but it would be a very interesting topic to do some further research on.

If Jello with papain tablets did set, it would suggest some sort of error in experimental set-up, and you would need to closely review your procedures.

I hope that helped, and feel free to ask more questions! Science projects are often even more interesting when they don't work as planned than when they do.

- Emily Dolson

[Taytay16815]

If you have saliva (spit) your jello wont set so don't lick the spoon and put it back in or lick your finger then touch the jello and most importantly don't put ice while setting it in ...icky.