How long do you need to boil kelp and dried kelp until they are cooked?

How long does kelp take to cook? What about dried kelp? We all know that dried kelp is made by drying fresh kelp directly in the sun or by salting it and then drying it in the sun. Therefore, it needs to be processed before it can be eaten. Let's learn about it together below.

Fresh kelp

Fresh kelp is rich in nutrients, so it should not be boiled for too long; if boiled too long, a chemical reaction occurs, causing a waste of nutrients. Generally, [it should not exceed 15 minutes].

Kelp is rich in nutrients, but unfortunately it is not easy to boil soft, because its main component, algin, is not easily soluble in water; however, algin is easily soluble in alkali. When the water contains alkali, algin absorbs water, swells, and becomes soft. Based on this characteristic, rice-washing water can be used to soak and expand kelp, making it easy to expand, easy to wash, and easy to soften when boiled. Some people also add a small amount of edible alkali or baking soda when boiling kelp, but be careful not to add too much alkali, and do not boil it for too long. While boiling, you can pinch it with your hand to test its softness; once it is soft, stop the heat immediately.

Dried kelp

First, if it is dried kelp that has not yet been soaked and expanded, place it in a pressure cooker, add water, bring it up to full steam, remove it from the heat, and then let it steep for 15 minutes; if the kelp can be bitten through or has a suitable texture, it is cooked.

Second, if it is kelp that has already been soaked in water and expanded, boil it for 5 minutes and it is ready to eat.