We Ranked the Best and Worst Jell-O Flavors of All Time
The only thing harder than nailing Jell-O to the wall is ranking Jell-O flavors from worst to best. The brand Jell-O has been around for so long—since the 1800s, believe it or not—it became a household name that almost entirely replaced the word "gelatin" when referring to any food with a gelatinous consistency (kind of like how we call all bandages Band-Aids). After all, it's a Jell-O shot, not a gelatin shot.
If you loved our rankings of the best Capri-Sun flavors and all the Jolly Rancher flavors, then keep scrolling for answers to frequently-asked Jell-O questions, plus each flavor ranked worst to best.
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What were the 7 original flavors of Jell-O?
Even though it's been around for over a century, Jell-O is often associated with the baby boom of the 1950s. At the time, it was heralded as an inexpensive, versatile ingredient for cash-strapped families to buy in a post-WWII world experiencing an economic recession. But the Jell-O dynasty goes back much further than that...all the way to 1897.
In 1897, Jell-O was officially introduced in the US in four original flavors, including lemon, orange, raspberry and strawberry.
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While there were only four original flavors, the next three that followed are sometimes considered part of the original lineup: cherry and chocolate joined the list in 1904 and in 1907, the introduction of peach marked the seventh Jell-O flavor ever released.
Perhaps one of the most iconic Jell-O flavors of all, lime was not only not an original flavor, but it also didn't come around until 1930 when it was first released along with a recipe book. It's been a staple ever since.
What flavor is the red Jell-O?
There are several different red Jell-O flavors, but the original red was raspberry. Strawberry is an original flavor too, and while it can easily be confused for the Raspberry flavor (since it does look very similar), it's more of a pink than a red color.
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Other red flavors of Jell-O also include Cherry, Black Cherry, Tropical Fusion, Cranberry and Strawberry Banana. You may also confuse a red Jell-O flavor for Watermelon, too, but like strawberry, it's a little pinker.
Is there pineapple Jell-O?
The current pineapple flavor of Jell-O is called "Island Pineapple," and it only exists in powder form. If you want pre-made pineapple gelatin in a cup, you're going to have to go to another brand like SnackPack x Fanta.
For a brief period of time in the 1950s and 60s, there was a Pineapple-Grapefruit flavor (although only in instant packet form).
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Pineapple is a tricky fruit when it comes to Jell-O—not because of the flavor but because of the enzyme bromolain, which breaks down protein molecules like gelatin. Though you shouldn't incorporate fresh pineapple into your Island Pineapple Instant Gelatin Mix, you can, however, use canned pineapple since canned is pasteurized.
What flavor is purple Jell-O?
Unlike red Jell-O, which has several different flavor options, purple Jell-O has only ever been one flavor: Grape. Purple, grape-flavored Jell-O was first introduced in 1956 alongside Black Cherry and Black Raspberry. Grape went off the market at some point, but it made a re-introduction in 1994.
What are some discontinued Jell-O flavors?
The list of discontinued Jell-O flavors is unhinged! It's hard to believe that now-discontinued flavors like Mixed Vegetable, Maple Syrup, Plain (???), Seasoned Tomato, Sparkling White Grape and Triple Chocolate.
Other discontinued flavors include lots of hybrid flavors like Orange-Banana, Orange-Pineapple, Passion Fruit, Pineapple-Grapefruit, Raspberry Mango, Sparkling Berry, Sparkling Mandarin Orange, Sparkling White Grape, Strawberry Punch, Strawberry-Kiwi and Tropical Fruit.
Wild Raspberry, Wild Strawberry and Watermelon Candy are also discontinued.
Related: How to Make Easy Cherry Lime Jell-O Cake
22 Jell-O Flavors, Ranked
Disclaimer: This list does not include sugar-free or Jell-O Sours flavors.
22. Strawberry Banana Jell-O
Like a smoothie but in gelatin form, the Strawberry Banana flavor of Jell-O tastes like an explosion of tropical flavors. It's good, but if you're craving this flavor, making a strawberry and banana smoothie might be the quicker option.
JELL-O Strawberry Banana Gelatin Dessert Mix (3 oz Boxes, Pack of 6)
21. Melon Fusion Jell-O
Sadly, Melon Fusion promises more melon flavoring than it really provides. We'll stick to straight-up watermelon Jell-O.
20. Fruit Punch Jell-O
Fruit punch is a flavor that makes great sense for some food products like Gatorade or Vitaminwater, but when it comes to Jell-O, it's subpar at best and reminiscent of cough syrup at its worst.
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19. Blackberry Fusion Jell-O
A hybrid of raspberry and blackberry, Blackberry Fusion was part of a years-long launch from 1961 to 1964 in which Jell-O introduced a variety of berry and mixed fruit flavors.
Royal Gelatin Blackberry, 1.4-Ounce (Pack of 6)
18. Cranberry Jell-O
Yikes! The thought of cranberry-flavored Jell-O might make you nervous at first (us, too), but it wasn't the worst tasting of all. While you probably won't reach for it often throughout the year, it does come in handy during the holidays as plenty of people use it as an alternative to cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving.
Jell-O Gelatin Dessert, Cranberry, 3-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)
17. Blueberry Pomegranate Jell-O
The Blueberry Pomegranate flavor seems like it's Jell-O's response to the discontinuation of other berry-esque flavors like Raspberry Mango, Sparkling Berry, Strawberry Punch, Passion Fruit or Tropical Fruit.
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16. Island Pineapple Jell-O
It may not contain chunks of fresh pineapple fruit in it, but Island Pineapple Jell-O tastes absolutely perfect on a hot summer day. It's not a flavor you'd likely want 24/7, but it certainly has its time and place.
Jell-O Island Pineapple Gelatin Mix, 3 oz Boxes (Pack of 4)
15. Apricot Jell-O
Apricot Jell-O came on the market alongside its flavor counterparts, peach and blackberry. Some people stan apricot-flavored Jell-O exclusively, but it's not for everyone.
Jell-O Gelatin Dessert, Apricot, 3-ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)
14. Mango Jell-O
Usually, mango is a tough flavor to mess up, but Jell-O's take on the tropical flavor leaves something to be desired. But if you top it with a whole lot of whipped cream, its ranking goes up a few notches.
Jell-o Gelatin Dessert, Mango, 3-ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)
13. Berry Blue Jell-O
Blue Jell-O might be the dream of every child under 10, but for a grown-up's palette, Berry Blue Jell-O should only be reserved for the quintessential red, white and blue Jell-O dessert for the Fourth of July (see below). But beware, your tongue will turn blue.
Jello Berry Blue Gelatin Dessert Jell-O 3oz 85g (2 packs) by Jell-O
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12. Tropical Fusion Jell-O
Though not specified on the box, Tropical Fusion Jell-O gives notes of cherry, pineapple and orange. It's executed better than the Fruit Punch Jell-O though it does have a very similar flavor profile.
Gelatin Variety Pack, 15 Different Flavors, 3 Ounce, 1 Box per Flavor
11. Lemon Jell-O
It's as good as a glass of lemonade, which just about says it all.
Jell-O Lemon Gelatin Dessert Mix, 3 oz Box
10. Cherry Lemonade Jell-O
A classic! With a bright taste and bold color, Cherry Lemonade evokes a summery flavor that's hard to resist. While it's definitely delicious enough to make our top 10, it's hard to imagine anyone buying Cherry Lemonade Jell-O that often. You'd probably only pick it up from the store if you had a specific dessert recipe that called for it and if you can't find it, you could always create a mashup of your own with cherry and lemon flavors.
Starburst Gelatin Variety Pack of 10 | 2 Box Each - Watermelon, Blue Raspberry, All Pink Strawberry, Lemon and Cherry | Bundled with Ballard Jello Shot Recipe Card and Ballard Cold Treats Recipe Card
9. Lime Jell-O
It may have taken several years for Jell-O to unveil the deliciousness that is lime-flavored Jell-O, but we'll always think of it as an original flavor (even though it's technically not). Lime Jell-O is synonymous with Jell-O shots and Green Jello Salad, so it's hard to overlook this universal flavor.
Jell-O Lime Sugar-Free Gelatin Mix (0.3 oz Boxes, Pack of 6)
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8. Peach Jell-O
Nothing splits a room like peach-flavored Jell-O—or really, anything peach-flavored at all. You either love peach or hate it—no in between—but we've found that peach has more fans than it does dissenters. It's sweet AF and bright, but it tends to taste more like actual sugar than it does peach.
Jell-o, Gelatin Dessert, Peach (Pack of 4)
7. Black Cherry Jell-O
Black Cherry Jell-O takes any dessert and raises it to about five more levels. It gels well with just about everything—whipped cream, ice cream, pie, cheesecake. You name it! If you're going to keep one box of Instant Jell-O in your pantry at all times, make sure it's this one.
Jell-O Black Cherry Gelatin Mix (6 oz Boxes, Pack of 6)
6. Grape Jell-O
Grape tends to be a polarizing flavor but since it's one of the more popular ones amongst kids (who go absolutely ham for Jell-O), this flavor deserves to be up there with the best of the best. It's Kool-Aid meets gelatin.
Jell-O Grape Gelatin Dessert Mix (24 ct Pack, 6 oz Boxes)
5. Strawberry Jell-O
Strawberry Jell-O might just be the most quintessential Jell-O flavor there is, especially when it comes to on-the-go Jell-O cups. Chances are you took a Strawberry Jell-O to lunch almost every day of your elementary school career and with a rep like that, a bite of Strawberry Jell-O instantly tastes nostalgic.
Jell-O Gelatin Dessert, Strawberry Flavor, 3-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 3) by Jell-O
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4. Watermelon Jell-O
Some watermelon flavors can skew so sweet that they taste nothing but a bag of artificial sugar. The Watermelon Jell-O flavor, however, does not have that problem and instead, is a prime example of how to nail the watermelon flavor profile. If you really want to go next level, pair it with Lime Jell-O.
Jell-O Watermelon Flavor Gelatin Dessert, 3 Ounce Box (4-Pack)
3. Cherry Jell-O
A classic! With a bright taste and bold color, Cherry Jell-O tastes just as good in the wintertime as it does on a hot summer day. Cherry-flavored Jell-O gets a standing ovation in our book.
Jello Cherry Gelatin 6oz Box
2. Raspberry Jell-O
Raspberry Jell-O is always a good idea! It's got a classic flavor that's vibrant enough to be eaten on its own but matches heavenly with a dollop of whipped cream.
Jell-O Raspberry Gelatin Mix (6 oz Box)
1. Orange Jell-O
There was a tight gap between Raspberry and Orange Jell-O as far as who should be ranked first vs. second, but at the end of the day, Orange has a little edge. Orange Jell-O will never go out of style and Jell-O fans agree, it's the flavor everyone's most likely to reach for at the grocery store. Orange Jell-O is Jell-O and as such, it's best served in a cup.
Jell-o, Gelatin Dessert, Orange (Pack of 2)
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