How long does it take to soak kelp

Dried kelp is a product sold in many seafood stores. Such seafood is easier and more convenient to preserve. The shelf life of dried kelp is generally half a year to one year, so friends need to pay attention to the shelf life after purchase and consume it as soon as possible. Dried kelp needs to be soaked before eating, usually in cold water for about thirty minutes.

How long does it take to soak dried kelp before eating it?

Submerge the dried kelp in cold water and soak it for about 30 minutes until it swells. Wash off the dirt on the surface of the kelp and change the water before soaking it again. Change the water again after 20 minutes and soak it for 20 minutes. However, it also depends on the quality of the kelp. If the kelp is thick and hard, it can be soaked longer, otherwise it can be soaked for a shorter time.

How long should I soak dried kelp?

Generally speaking, the soaking time of kelp is determined by the texture of the kelp and the arsenic content. If the kelp is tender and has a low arsenic content, then the soaking time does not need to be too long. However, if the kelp is hard and has a high arsenic content, it needs to be soaked longer.

After soaking in water for 5 to 10 hours, the arsenic content in dried kelp is still as high as 5 mg/kg; after soaking in water for 24 hours, the arsenic content can reach the safety standard for consumption. Therefore, it is best to soak dried kelp for a longer time before eating it.

Nutritional value of kelp

Kelp is rich in carbohydrates and various trace elements, especially iodine. In addition, kelp also contains more than 40 active ingredients such as crude protein, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, mannitol, amino acids, gelatin, vitamin A/D/C/B1/B2/B5/B6, and is known as "sea vegetables". Kelp and tofu are the most common dishes prepared by the Japanese and are considered a panacea for immortality. According to statistics from the World Health Organization, Japanese women almost never suffer from breast cancer, while American women have a very high chance of getting breast cancer. This is because Japanese actresses often eat kelp, while American women eat it very little.

How to select dried kelp

1. Check whether there is white frost

Kelp is high in iodine and contains a substance called mannitol. These two substances will appear in the form of white powder and adhere to the surface of dried kelp. Therefore, it is better to choose dark brown dried kelp with white frost on the surface. If the dried kelp is partially red or partially yellow, do not choose it. Such kelp may be contaminated and its quality and nutritional value will be lower. In addition, dried kelp also has a strong seafood flavor. If other strange smells appear, it means that the quality of the kelp is also compromised.

2. Look at the color of kelp

Dried kelp that is darker, gray-green and natural in color is good kelp. Don't choose green.

3. Observe the appearance and texture

The leaves of good kelp are broad and thick, dark green or purple with a slight yellow tint, and there are no dead leaves.

Check whether the kelp is complete, thick, and has small holes. If the kelp is small and broken, or has large areas of damage and small holes, do not buy it.

The surface is non-sticky when touched by hand.

4. Smell

The kelp that has not been bleached and dyed has a stronger seafood flavor, while the kelp that has been bleached and dyed has a lesser seafood flavor.

How to choose salted kelp

Salted kelp is made by boiling fresh kelp and then cooling, salting, and dehydrating it. The color of salted kelp is dark green, and the ones with thick walls are better. It is generally used as a cold dish. Soaking it in warm water before eating can increase its weight by about 3 times.

The above content is the answer to the question of how long dried kelp should be soaked. In fact, the method of stewing kelp with cabbage is very simple, because first of all, it is a kind of seafood. We all know that the nutritional value of seafood is very high. Eating more kelp can supplement our body's qi and blood.