What You Need to Know
Protein denaturation and subsequent gelation in sous‑vide occurs most efficiently at 55–60 °C, where myosin and collagen unfold and form a stable network; temperatures above 70 °C accelerate over‑cooking, causing a rubbery texture and loss of gel strength. The gelation process is governed by the unfolding of protein secondary structures (α‑helices to random coils) and the subsequent formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds, which stabilize the matrix.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Protein denaturation and network formation via unfolding of myosin and collagen and formation of disulfide/hydrogen bonds