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Finding Agar-Agar (Without Spending an Arm and a Leg)

I've found a lot of recipes that call for Agar (or Agar-Agar -- I'm assuming they're the same thing?) but I can't find it for a reasonable price online. Anyone have any hints or suggestions?

8 Comments:

I would try checking any local Asian grocers, and health food stores. The former because it is a traditional ingredient in Asian cuisines, and the latter because agar is often used as a vegetarian substitute for gelatin.

my mom gets them at asian stores. they come in pink packets, like yeast.

You can also buy agar at Whole Foods. Online, prices are good at Bulk Foods.

I was the manager of a health foods store and we sold agar agar, which really wasn't expensive at all. And yes, also at the Asian stores, where most everything is cheap. I have also seen it at Whole Foods, in the Asian section w/ the other seaweed products.

Look it up in the Asian section of your local healthfood store. I have also bought it at Whole Foods - it's next to the seeweeds, kombu, etc. I don;t know where you live, but if I can find it here in Puerto Rico, you should have no problems finding it in the US.

I have a bad from Eden Foods here. It's royal blue color and it cost me about $5 a bag. Recipes usually call for small amounts, so it will last you for a few uses.

I don't know why you need agar agar, but you can try this Strawberry Kanten recipe - delicious and uses agar agar as a thickener...

Madelyn
KarmaFree Cooking

Kosher sections often have it, too, if they're large enough, or, of course, a kosher market.

Asian markets for cheap, definitely.
It also often goes under the moniker "Chinese gelatin", that's how much it's used in Asian cooking ^_^;
You can find it most commonly in solid pieces, a lot like sheet gelatin, only a bit wrinklier in appearance. Break it up into pieces and dissolve it over low heat with a little water in a saucepan.
You can find powdered agar agar, sometimes too.

It's gonna be a LOT cheaper than at Whole Foods, too (I checked Whole Foods for powdered agar...a tiny, dubious looking packet for more money than I was willing to spend).

Thanks so much, everyone!

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