How to remove the fishy smell of kelp

Step 1: Wash the kelp thoroughly

There is a lot of dirt on kelp, so it must be carefully scrubbed clean before eating. First soak the harder dried kelp in clean water. After soaking for a while, the kelp will become soft. Then you can wash the kelp with your hands or with a clean brush until the water becomes clear.

Step 2: Soak the kelp in rice water

Soak the washed kelp in rice washing water to allow it to swell fully. This can reduce the time for steaming the kelp later. The reason why people are asked to use rice washing water to soak kelp is because the kelp soaked in rice washing water tastes better and soaks faster, and the rice washing water can also further clean the tiny dirt on the surface of the kelp.

Tips: Friends who don’t have rice washing water can also soak it in clean water, or add a little salt or dry starch to the clean water used to soak kelp. The effect is much better than soaking it in clean water. The soaking step can actually be omitted, but if it is not done, the steaming time of the kelp will have to be extended appropriately.

Step 3: Steam or boil the kelp

The soaked kelp needs to be steamed or boiled, either of which can be chosen.

(1) Cooking kelp:

Put the soaked kelp into a pot with cold water and add a little edible alkali or baking soda. After the water boils, cook it over high heat for about 10 minutes. When the kelp is soft, you can take it out. Remember to use cold water when cooking kelp, so that the kelp will have a lighter fishy smell. When cooking kelp, add a little edible alkali or baking soda, which can cook the kelp quickly and make the cooked kelp more delicious.

However, since edible alkali or baking soda will destroy some proteins, it is recommended that you use a little vinegar instead of edible alkali or baking soda. Vinegar can also make the kelp cook quickly, and at the same time make the kelp taste better and without fishy smell. Adding some vinegar when cooking kelp can also make the nutrients in the kelp easier to be absorbed by the body. It is worth recommending! But remember, a little vinegar is enough, don't add too much. In addition, some places like to add a small amount of rice wine or cooking wine when cooking kelp, which can also remove the fishy smell of kelp and enhance the freshness of kelp.

(2) Steamed kelp:

Put the soaked kelp into a steamer and steam it for about half an hour, until the kelp is soft. The effect will be better if you use a pressure cooker, but the time it takes to steam kelp in a pressure cooker will be shortened by half.

4. Soak the kelp again

Whether the kelp is steamed or boiled, it must be soaked in clean water for a while after being taken out of the pot. It is better to soak it overnight, and then wash the kelp again. After soaking overnight, the kelp will become more crispy and refreshing. It is delicious whether it is eaten as a cold salad, or stewed or cooked with kelp.

If the kelp is steamed, it is best to add a little vinegar to the clean water when soaking it to remove the fishy smell of the kelp, because no vinegar is added during steaming. Some netizens also recommended a better method, which is to soak the steamed or boiled kelp in clean water for half a day, wash it and put it in the refrigerator to freeze it. When you need to eat it, take it out and thaw it. It is convenient to use and has the effect of removing the fishy smell.