Replacing agar-agar with gelatin
I'm not able to purchase agar-agar (yet), so is there a rule for replacing the quantity? I've seen a recipe with 0,5 spoon of agar-agar for 1 spoon of gelatin. Is that the usual proportion?
Additional: is there a difference in treatment to activate the agar-agar or gelatin?
Best Answer
The difference between activating them is important if you want to use gelatin instead of agar. Gelatin is made of proteins and peptides and agar is a polysaccharide.
Gelatin should not be boiled, because it breaks down. Agar needs 95 deg C to dissolve, so usually it is simply boiled. This means, that if your receipe calls for boiling the agar with stuff you want to gel (e.g. fruit), you have to add gelatin later, when all the boiling is finished, but the mixture is still hot enough to dissolve the gelatin.
Also, agar will work on some fruit, that prevent gelatin from geling, like pineapple or kiwi. If you want to use these fruit with gelatin, you have to boil them (or so they say - I have access to agar, so I never tried gelling boiled pineapple with gelatin).
Oh, and about the proportions: 1% agar as stiff as a jelly bear, 0,5% agar is as stiff as a normal jelly. One teaspoon agar weighs 3g, so it will make about 600ml of a jelly.
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Victoria recommends using about half the amount of agar as a recipe with gelatin would call for, or about 1 teaspoon agar per 3 cups liquid.Can you replace agar agar with gelatin?
Yes, gelatin is a good option when you need to substitute agar agar. However, you should know that this is not a vegetarian or vegan choice, so you may want to consider this factor before you use it. Gelatin powder is great for gelling, thickening, and stabilizing all sorts of foods.What can I replace agar agar with?
Cornstarch is the most readily available agar agar powder substitute. In fact, you probably already have some sitting in your cupboard. Since it's derived from corn grains, cornstarch is also gluten free.Can I substitute unflavored gelatin for agar?
Generally, agar agar powder can replace gelatin at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, if you need 2 teaspoons of gelatin, use 2 teaspoons of powdered agar agar. If you're using agar agar flakes, use 1 tablespoon for every 1 teaspoon of agar agar powder.Tips and Tricks to Gelatin Success - Kitchen Conundrums with Thomas Joseph
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Answer 2
"Texture" the hydrocolloid recipe collection says the typical concentration of agar agar is:
- 0.2% will set
- 0.5% gives firm jelly
How much gelatin you need depends on the bloom (strength) of your gelatin. Page 82 tells you how to convert measurements from one bloom strength to another.
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