When you are working with gelatin in a recipe, the directions will typically ask you to “bloom” the gelatin before using it. Blooming is the process of soaking gelatin in cold water before using it. The water serves to soften the gelatin, whether you are using gelatin sheets or powdered gelatin, and prepare it to dissolve easily when combined with the rest of your ingredients. If it isn’t bloomed, the gelatin can leave you with lumps in your recipe, or even with clumps of undissolved gelatin. After the gelatin has bloomed, you can melt it over a water bath or in the microwave before incorporating it with the rest of your ingredients.