There is white sticky stuff in the kelp

Many people find white sticky substances on dried kelp when they see it in the market, and they think it is moldy. Actually, it is not. The white substance on kelp is actually sea salt. The water on the kelp evaporates and turns into white crystals, which is the white substance we commonly see. This article also introduces in detail the white sticky substance on kelp. Let’s read this article to learn more about it.

What is the white mucus in kelp?

The white sticky substance between the two layers of kelp is dew alcohol. White needle-shaped crystals. Melting point 166, relative density 1.52, 1.489 (20°C), boiling point 290-295°C (467kPa). 1g of this product can be dissolved in about 5.5ml water (about 18%, 25℃), 83ml alcohol, more soluble in hot water, soluble in pyridine and aniline, insoluble in ether. The aqueous solution is acidic. This product is an isomer of sorbitol. Sorbitol is highly hygroscopic, while this product is completely non-hygroscopic. Mannitol has a sweet taste, and its sweetness is equivalent to 70% of sucrose. When washing, just wash away the dirty parts of the kelp mucus. There is no need to wash off the mucus specifically. Mucus is good for the human body.

How to remove mucus from kelp

You can use salt water or pickle soup to clean it. Just soak the kelp in these liquids and rub it slowly, the effect will be very obvious! Before eating kelp, it is best to wash the mucus on the surface with a clean towel, so that the fishy smell of the kelp will not be too heavy, and it is also beneficial to your health.

What is the white frost on kelp?

People often think that the white stuff on kelp is moldy, but this is actually a misunderstanding. The white powder on kelp is called mannitol. After the kelp is taken out of the water, dried and sun-dried, mannitol will precipitate and adhere to the surface of the kelp, forming white frost. Can kelp with white frost be eaten? Can kelp with white frost be eaten? The white frost on kelp - mannitol has the effects of lowering blood pressure, diuresis and reducing swelling. This substance dissolves in water, so if dried kelp is soaked in water for too long, most of the mannitol will be dissolved, which will reduce the nutritional value of the kelp.

How to choose kelp

Normal kelp is dark brown in color. After being pickled or dried, it becomes a natural dark green or dark green in color. The best quality kelp has broad and thick leaves, dark green or purple with yellow, and no withered or yellow leaves. In addition to being high in iodine, this type of kelp also contains mannitol, also known as "white frost", and has a high nutritional value.

Tips:

After buying dried kelp and bringing it home, try to eat it as soon as possible and do not store it indefinitely. Because the nutritional content of kelp will be reduced due to the influence of temperature, light and other factors during storage after it is unpacked, and microorganisms will continue to multiply, leading to spoilage.