14 Old-School Jell-O Salads That No One Eats Anymore

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14 Old-School Jell-O Salads That No One Eats Anymore By Holly Riddle Dec. 14, 2025 7:40 am EST

When you look at a Jell-O salad, as a modern home cook, your first question might just be, "Why?" Or perhaps even, "How dare you?" Who in the world decided that it was a grand idea to shove as many odd ingredients as possible, along with instant gelatin, into a mold, and then present it to your dinner party guests as though it were some great culinary achievement? However, when you begin to look at all the societal forces at play during the rise of the Jell-O salad, those questions may just shift to understanding.

Instant gelatin was a product of the Industrial Revolution. It came about during a time when homemakers were beginning to rethink the idea of domestic bliss.