Sea moss is a new superfood creating a massive buzz around the health and wellness community. It became popular after Dr Sebi's teachings on its healing properties and nutritional value that are helpful to overall health.
Sea moss is available in several species, but the most commonly used as Eucheuma cottonii, Genus Gracilaria (Purple Sea moss) and Chondrus Crispus. It contains around 92 minerals of the 102 needed for functioning the human body. Sea moss also contains omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins A and C, and antioxidants.
Sea moss can be consumed in different forms, including its gel form, supplement pill and tinctures. It offers a range of health benefits from getting rid of harmful bacteria in the gut, reducing congestion and clearing out phlegm buildup in your lungs. Sea moss gel is also great for the skin whether you ingest or apply it topically on your skin.
Here is a list of minerals and Vitamins that add to sea moss's nutritional value:
- Calcium
- Folate
- Zinc
- Iron
- Sodium
- Copper
- Soluble potash
- Iodine
- Manganese
- Boron
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Sulphur
- Phosphoric acid
- Selenium
- Alginic acid
- Laminarin
- Mannitol
- Nitrogen
- Vitamins A-E, along with Vitamin K
Sea moss is popularly consumed in its gel form. So how is sea moss gel made, and how do you store it? In this post, we will teach you what you need to know so you can make your very own sea moss gel.
How Do You Prepare Homemade Sea Moss Gel?
Here is how to make sea moss gel from the comfort of your home using different methods. They include:
Blender Method
Preparing sea moss with a blender is the most common way of making sea moss gel. Here are the steps to follow when preparing your sea moss gel:
- Prep your Irish sea moss gel
- Remove your Irish moss from its package. (the seaweed will have a slight smell, which is perfectly normal).
- Rinse your sea moss with spring water or filtered water. (Do not use tap water to wash off the seaweed debris)
- After rinsing your sea moss, place the sea moss in a bowl and let it soak in for 24 to 48 hours.
- After 24 hours, drain the water from the bowl; you will notice a colour change in the sea moss (it will be more translucent). You will also see that it will have expanded in size.
- Add the sea moss to your high-speed blender and add fresh spring or filtered water till you achieve a smooth texture.
- Once you are pleased with its consistency, you can add sea moss gel to a glass jar and tightly place the lid.
- Store the jar in the refrigerator until it completely solidifies.
Stove Method
In the method, you will prepare your sea moss gel using a pot and stove rather than a blender. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Take your dried sea moss from the packaging and wash it thoroughly under running water to remove all the dirt and debris left on the sea moss during the harvest.
- Soak your sea moss in a clean bowl with spring or filtered water. (Do not use tap water). Soaking helps hydrate the sea moss and make it much softer, making it easier to break down into a gel.
- You will need to soak the sea moss for about 12 hours, and you can hydrate it for longer for the best results.
- Once you soak the sea moss for the required time, place it and the soaking water in a pot and put it on the stove.
- Cook it on low heat for about 15 minutes until it bubbles and eventually breakdown into a gelatinous substance. Remember not to drain out the soaking water. You can add it to increase the volume of your gel.
- You can add different flavours or leave them plain if you like. After the mixture has your desired gel consistency, you can place it in your fridge.
When you make your sea moss without a blender, you will need to leave it under low heat for much longer. You do not need to worry about destroying sea moss' nutritional contents with heat since it will be simmering under low heat.
Once you strain the mixture from the water, please place it in the refrigerator for as long as needed.
Please note that you can choose to strain the gel liquid or eat the sea moss itself. You can add sea moss to your noodles, salads and soups, and put the gel liquid in your tea, face mask and other home skin care recipes.
It is also essential to ensure that you put enough water in the sea moss when boiling it. It is also important to completely cover it while heating it to ensure it doesn't dry out while cooking.
Do not overcook it; it should only be cooked until it is soft and not mushy. If you over-cook it, the gel might be too thick and not set correctly.
It is also essential to ensure that you cool the gel before adding it to your recipes. If you add it while still hot, the gel will thin out and might be hard to work with.
The stove method might not give gel consistency similar to the blender method, but it is an excellent alternative for people who like their gel a little watery.
The Mash Method
This method does not involve boiling. Here are the steps to follow:
- Clean the sea moss off the package
- Place the sea moss in a bowl and add spring or filter water
- Soak the sea moss overnight.
- Drain the soaking water but do not discard it.
- Mash the sea moss with a potato masher or a fork. This method works great if you do not want to boil your sea moss.
- You can also simmer the sea moss for about 15 minutes to make the mashing process much more manageable.
- Mash the sea moss with a potato masher or sea moss once it's fantastic. If the gel is too thick, add the soaking water until it reaches the desired consistency.
- After mashing, you can strain the mixture with a nut milk bag or a cheesecloth. You can also store it as it is without straining in your refrigerator.
The Powder method
The powder method is o the simplest method to make sea moss gel. Here are the steps to follow:
- Place the two tablespoons of sea moss powder in warm spring water
- Mix it well and place it in your refrigerator overnight
- The sea moss gel will have already set and ready to use in the morning.
- You can choose any of the above methods to make your perfect sea moss gel that you can use any recipe of your liking.
Tips and Notes on How to Make Sea Moss Gel
- Make sure you refrigerate sea moss gel at times
- Buy whole wildcrafted sea moss
- Freeze some sea moss gel in ice cubes
- The prepared sea moss gel can last up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator. However, for maximum potency, consume it within the first 3 to 4 thoughts
- Be sure to make just enough sea moss. This means you can make small batches of the gel as needed in your household.
- Do not buy refined sea moss. This means any sea moss in flake form since it tends to have the most negligible nutritional value.
- If you can, do not boil your sea moss. Soak it in spring water and let it expand overtime to maintain its integrity
- Wildcrafted sea moss should carry some ocean debris and smell like the ocean
How Long Does Sea Moss Gel Last?
Sea Moss Gel can last a few weeks in the fridge. To learn more, we have a detailed article here.
If you love placing an ice cube in your drink, you can set the gel in your ice cube tray and use it later. It is one of the best ways to take sea moss without using them in your blender when making smoothies.
Dry or unsoaked raw sea moss can be stored for up to a whole year when placed in a container in a cool dark place.
Common Asked Questions about Sea Moss Gel
How Long Should You Soak Sea Moss?
You should typically soak sea moss for 12 to 24 hours. Once you clean off sea debris from the sea moss, please place it in a large bowl and cover it. It is essential to soak the dried sea moss in filtered, spring or alkaline water.
It is crucial to ensure that you cover all the sea moss in water and allow it to soak for around 24 hours and at room temperatures. There is no need to place the soaking bowl in the fridge.
Once soaked, it will expand from the water; that is how you know it is ready to use. You can eat the sea moss in this state or prepare the sea moss gel as recommended above.
Is It Better To Boil Or Soak Sea Moss?
Many people have used the boiling method to make sea moss gel for centuries. However, it is best to soak your sea moss to maintain its integrity and nutrient contents.
This does not mean that sea moss gel is not a great addition to hot drinks or foods while cooking, and it still provides a lot of nutrients that contribute to the body's overall health.
How Much Sea Moss is Safe to Eat?
Two cups of dried or raw sea moss will make ½ gallon of gel. When you increase the seaweeds, you will get a thicker and darker gel.
It is, therefore, best to soak around two to three times more water than sea moss while making your sea moss gel. Raw sea moss expands in water, so you have to ensure enough water to soak it up.
How Much Dry Sea Moss Makes Gel?
Two cups of dried or raw sea moss will make ½ gallon of gel. When you increase the seaweed, you will get a thicker and darker gel.
It is, therefore, best to soak around two to three times more water than sea moss while making your sea moss gel. Raw sea moss expands in water, so you have to ensure enough water to soak it up.
Can You Make Sea Moss With Distilled Water?
Yes.
You can make sea moss gel with distilled water since it does not contain many impurities, which might lead to spoilage or contamination of your gel.
Does Sea Moss Have To Be In Gel Form?
No. Irish sea moss is primarily consumed in gel form, but it does not have to be consumed that way. Sea moss can also be eaten raw and cooked and is often added to salads, soups, and stews.
However, if you consume sea moss, it remains a nutrient-dense food with great health benefits.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to make sea moss gel. While sea moss gel is one of the most common ways people consume sea moss, you can also consume sea moss in supplement pills, tinctures, or powder form. You can add sea moss to your drinks, salads, sea moss jam and stews. You can also incorporate sea moss gel in your baking recipes.