Powdered gelatin was invented in 1682 by a French physicist named Denis Papin.

For centuries, making jelly meant boiling bones and feet from scratch. That changed in 1682 when French scientist Denis Papin figured out how to make powdered gelatin. This new method made stiffening food much easier and paved the way for modern desserts. Later on, in 1845, an American industrialist named Peter Cooper patented the very first commercial gelatin powder, which he called 'Portable Gelatin,' making the process even simpler for everyday home cooks.