Agar Agar

This product is mentioned in the following articles from the Virtual Kitchen.

• Creating Hot & Flavoursome Gels If you are looking to serve a gel on a hot plate, gelatine won’t do as it melts above 14-16 °C So you need a heat-resistant gel. Generally speaking, ..
  Oct 21, 2013

• Make warm or cold jellies which may be served on hot dishes up to 85˚C.
• Strong rigid gel is ideal for binding terrines and its firm texture makes slicing simple.
• Because Agar Agar will hold at room temperature, it can be added to water based icings to avoid the need for refrigeration.
• Use a cream whipper gun to make light heat stable mousses, that can be served on hot dishes.
• Thermo-reversible gels. 
• Fluid gels
• Synergistic gels with Locust Bean Gum (LGB). 

For a firm jelly you will require approximately 8-10g of Agar Agar per pint/600ml of liquid. Agar gels have a much shorter texture then gels produced using gelatine and unlike gelatine gels, agar jellies do not require refrigeration to set.

• Soak the Agar Agar in the liquid first for about 5 mins
• Gently bring to the boil and simmer, stirring constantly until the Agar Agar dissolves completely.
• Unlike gelatine,  Agar Agar can be boiled and re-melted if necessary

To test the setting ability of the gel pour a small amount of liquid onto a cold saucer- it should set in 20-30 seconds. If the gel is too weak, add more Agar Agar.  If too strong, add more liquid.

The gelling abilities of Agar Agar are affected by the acidity or alkalinity of the ingredients it is applied to.

Acidic fruits such as citrus fruits and strawberries require greater amounts of Agar Agar.   Kiwi fruit is too acidic and prevents gelation. Pineapple, fresh figs, papaya, mango and peach will not set as they contain enzymes that break down gelling ability, however, cooking the fruit will negate this effect.

Adding a small amount of a buffer salt, such as sodium citrate will also help to regulate the acidity levels of a gel.

Chocolate and spinach also prevent gelation.

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