What causes kelp to form knots? What is the function of kelp knots?

We all know that kelp is a common food. It has a variety of ways to eat, tastes good, and has high nutritional value. Many people often use kelp to stew soup. When buying kelp, many people will find that the kelp is knotted. So why does kelp get knotted? Let's take a closer look!

What is the use of kelp knots

Vegetable Market

There are not many people selling kelp buckles in the vegetable markets in the north. Most of them tie a large piece of kelp into a big knot and let the consumers take it home to deal with it by themselves, whether cutting into strips, cubes, or tying knots. The large pieces of kelp in the vegetable market are tied in knots because the kelp is easily messy after drying, so it is necessary to tie the kelp into a knot, which makes it convenient to store and transport.

The southern vegetable market is different. Buying vegetables is a delicate job. To exaggerate a little, you can buy coriander one by one in the south. And some people who sell kelp in the southern vegetable market are patient enough to make kelp buckles to sell. Therefore, it is more common to sell kelp buckles in the south, but it is rare to sell large pieces of kelp. This is also a big difference between the southern and northern vegetable markets.

In the hotel

Now that we have talked about the kelp buckles in the market, let's talk about the kelp buckles sold in restaurants. Generally, only hot pot restaurants sell kelp buckles. The important purpose is to make it easier for diners to pick up the kelp buckles (there is oil in the hot pot, and it is really difficult to pick up the flakes of kelp), and the appearance is good, and the price of the kelp can also be increased.

In fact, if you pay attention, you will find that the price of kelp buckles in two hot pot restaurants with the same consumption level is higher than that of kelp shreds or kelp slices. This is because there is an additional labor cost. The kitchen staff have to cut the kelp into small pieces and then tie them into knots.

Why is kelp tied in knots?

1: The main reason is that it is beneficial for cooking, because the flaky kelp will stick to the pot immediately once it is put into the pot. The kelp that is not knotted will stick to the bottom of the pot when it is cooked and cause it to become mushy, so the kelp must be knotted.

2: The surface of kelp is relatively slippery and difficult to pick up. Tying a knot increases the friction with the chopsticks. After tying a knot, it will be easy to pick up the kelp.

3: After boiling kelp in water, its surface becomes slippery and difficult to separate with chopsticks. Kelp piled together will also affect the taste.

4: Easy to preserve iodine.

5: The kelp should be dried after soaking. The "disheveled" dried kelp is easy to break, so it is better to tie a knot for easy transportation and storage.

6: Another saying is that tying it into a knot after guests arrive is a sign of welcome and respect for the guests, and it also looks more beautiful.

How to choose kelp

In fact, it is also very simple, you can start from the following four aspects:

Look at the color

The kelp on the plate is green in color, but the dried kelp is not green.

When buying dried kelp, we should choose dark kelp that is yellowish brown or greenish brown. This kind of kelp has not been chemically added. After soaking it, it will show the common green color.

If the dried kelp is green and brightly colored, don't buy it. It is likely that the kelp has been soaked in chemicals, which is why it has this color.

Look at the white frost

The surface of some dried kelp is covered with many white particles, like a layer of white frost.

This white frost is neither dirt nor salt. In fact, it is mannitol produced by the weathering of plant alkaloids, which is rich in nutrients. If you see white frost on the surface of kelp, it proves that it is high-quality kelp.

Smell

Whether it is kelp or other seafood, their taste is similar, all have a salty and fresh taste of the ocean, and a faint fishy smell.

When choosing kelp, smell it. If in addition to the normal smell mentioned above, you can smell other pungent smells, it means that the kelp has been chemically added.

Check quality

When purchasing, don't just look at the surface of the kelp, it's best to turn it over and check it carefully.

Some kelp looks shiny on the surface, but when you turn it inside, it is small and broken, with many holes, mud, sand and mold. Don't buy such kelp.

How to soak dried kelp

How to soak dried kelp: dry steaming.

Usually when we soak dried food, we soak it directly in clean water. However, you should never do this when soaking kelp.

Because kelp is rich in nutrients such as alginate and alginic acid. After absorbing water, these substances will cause a layer of sticky colloid to appear on the surface of the kelp, which will hinder the further absorption of water. In this case, the kelp will not be cooked thoroughly, affecting the taste. In addition, water-soluble vitamins, iodoacetic acid, mannitol and other nutrients in kelp are easily lost in water. Therefore, dried kelp is not suitable for soaking in clean water.

So, how to make the kelp dry steamed and soaked? It's actually very simple. Steam the kelp for 30 minutes, then wash it with clean water. The kelp is very tender and delicious, and it tastes crispy. It is delicious whether it is served cold or in soup!