How to cook kelp to make it soft? 6 tips to remember

Kelp is a common food in daily life. Eating kelp regularly can not only supplement the iodine that the human body lacks, but it also has many benefits for pregnant women. However, many people complain that kelp will not be softened no matter how they cook it, which makes people particularly troubled. So how do you cook kelp so that it will be softened easily? In fact, there are 6 little tips that can help you in daily life. Let’s take a look at them together!

Kelp contains alginate and alginic acid. These substances are insoluble in water, but have extremely strong water absorption and swelling properties. Once they absorb water, a sticky colloid will appear on the surface of the kelp, which can prevent water from further penetrating. Therefore, it is difficult to soak the kelp. At the same time, most of the iodine contained in kelp is on the surface, and soaking it for too long will cause the iodine to be lost.

The general practice of ordinary people is to soak dried kelp in clean water before boiling it. In fact, this practice is wrong. No matter how or how long the kelp treated in this way is stewed, it will still not taste rotten. So how does kelp become rotten as soon as it is boiled? A few simple and easy-to-operate tips can make the kelp you cook easier to cook. Keep a note of them.

1. Rice washing water method: Use rice washing water when soaking kelp. The kelp is easy to soak and clean, and it is also easy to soften when cooked.

2. The rule of moderation: When cooking kelp, you can pick up a piece with chopsticks and pinch it with your hand. If it is soft, immediately remove the remaining kelp, because kelp will become hard if cooked for too long.

3. Tips for adding alkali: Add a little (not too much) edible alkali or baking soda when cooking kelp, and it will become soft, tender and more delicious.

4. Tips for adding vinegar: Adding an appropriate amount of white vinegar when cooking kelp shreds can not only remove the unique fishy smell of kelp shreds, but also make the kelp easier to cook and soften, and the color will also look good. If you like a softer taste, you can extend the cooking time appropriately. If you put a few spinach leaves, the kelp will easily rot.

5. Tips for dry steaming: Unwrap the dried kelp and place it in a steamer and dry steam it for about half an hour, then soak it in clean water overnight. The kelp processed in this way is crispy and tender. It is soft and delicious whether stewed, fried or served cold.

6. Boiling water method: If the kelp knots are needed for making soup, you can blanch them in boiling water before cooking. After removing the fishy smell, the soup will taste more delicious.

When eating kelp, it should be cleaned, soaked in water according to the actual situation, and the water should be changed continuously. Generally, it should be soaked for more than 6 hours. If the kelp becomes not tough after being soaked in water, as if it has been boiled, it means it has gone bad and cannot be eaten.