Agar

What is the Agar

An inseparable companion in the life of microbiologists, who use it for the study of fungi and bacteria, the agar is a polysaccharide, similar to cellulose, obtained from red algae.

In aqueous solution, it forms a gelatin rich in trace elements and a delicate taste.

What is it used for

Food industry

Because of this characteristic, it is widely used in the industrial field: it is added to foods for its thickening, preserving and stabilizing power (indicated on the label with the abbreviation E406), but also to cosmetic products as a viscosifying agent or to pharmaceutical ones as excipient or functional ingredient (falls within the composition of many mass laxatives). Agar can in fact contribute to normalizing intestinal transit and stool consistency, although in this regard other natural products, such as guar gum and psyllium seeds, are more suitable.

Natural laxative

In any case, it finds indication in the presence of constipation and, by virtue of its satiating power, as an adjunct to low-calorie diets.

Microbiology

In the preparation of culture media for the growth of fungi and bacteria, the Agar performs the simple function of solidifying and therefore has no nutritional characteristics for microorganisms.

In the kitchen

In the market agar is available for purchase in the form of powder, flakes or bars to be dissolved in water for the preparation of the most varied sweet and savory foods.

Recipes

Coffee pudding with Agar Agar

Replace the isinglass with the agar-agar, preparing the most classic of desserts: a vegan coffee pudding, compatible with the rules of the vegan food philosophy.

Vegan pudding with coffee

X Problems with video playback? Reload from YouTube Go to Video Page Go to Video Recipes Section Watch the video on youtube

Do not miss the other recipes prepared with agar agar: such as meat in simmenthal type jelly, vegan chocolate mousse or vanilla soy pudding with peach sauce.