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We give our Sea Moss gel a 2-week shelf-life in the fridge but this can be extended up to 4 weeks if well taken care of. Continue reading to find out tips on how to optimize your gel's shelf-life and nutrient content and signs that your sea moss gel may have gone bad.
What is Sea Moss gel?
Sea Moss gel is a blend of soaked Irish Sea Moss with mineral water and lemon/lime - and sometimes other ingredients such as fruits and sweeteners. Our Honest Sea Moss gel is made of Irish Sea Moss, mineral water and a squeeze of lime juice (to help with the sea taste).
You can buy Sea Moss gel from companies that make it - like us - or you can make your own at home from washed, dried and ready-to-soak sea moss, like our Raw Irish Sea Moss.
If buying from another supplier, you might need to thoroughly wash it since it usually contains residues from the ocean like little shells or sand. Once it is washed you'll need to soak it in mineral water for 24 hours, to then blend it with some of the water to make into a gel.
How to use Sea Moss gel
Your gel can then be used for consumption in your smoothies, teas, soups, yogurts, cakes etc. Sea moss can be taken raw or heated in preparations since it can also act as a natural thickener. To preserve the nutrients present in Sea Moss we like to consume it in its raw form but that is just our personal preference, we have no evidence to back this up.
We generally advise taking 2-4 tbsp of gel per day to reap all of its benefits. Sea Moss is a sea algae filled with minerals and vitamins that most of our land plants have lost due to our soils becoming depleted from mass agriculture.
Some of the nutrients you'll find in sea moss include:
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Vitamin B
Iodine
Antioxidants
Iron
Magnesium
Copper
Calcium
Zinc
Sea Moss gel can also serve as a face, hair and body mask. It is commonly used in cosmetic products around the world for its incredible properties as well as its thickening purposes.
How to store your Sea Moss gel
When adding water (here to make into a gel) to any product, its shelf-life decreases because the likeliness of mould increases due to its exposure to moisture (water).
We advise storing your gel in a sealed, air-tight container at the back of your fridge (where it is the coldest). Sea Moss is best kept when stored at cold temperatures, which is why we advise not to store it in the door or the front of the fridge, which tend to be for products which are less affected by temperature change.
Try to touch your gel as little as possible to avoid germs and dirt and mould appearing prematurely. Don't keep it out of the fridge for too long, as soon as you used it place it back in the back of your fridge, sealed and clean.
If you respect those few steps, you may be able to extend the fridge-life of your gel to up to 4 weeks.
It is possible to freeze your gel, however we advise you put your gel in large ice-cube moulds to allow you to use smaller portions at once. It is not recommended to freeze and thaw your gel more than once, this will affect the nutrient content of your gel and will make it go bad quicker. You can store it in the freezer for 4-6 months.
How about if I want to flavour my Sea Moss gel?
To make your Sea Moss gel more tasty you may choose to flavour it with fruits, spices or sweeteners. Adding ingredients to your sea moss gel may affect the shelf-life of your product. Fruits, especially those that are less sweet and more acidic (like berries), will make your gel go bad quicker due to the fermentation they will create. At Honest Sea Moss, we have found that in order to delay the fermentation, a large amount of sweetener needed to be added. If you choose to flavour your gel, we advise that you use follow our next guidelines on how to tell if your gel has gone bad.
Can Sea Moss gel go bad?
Just like any fresh product, yes, your gel can go bad. Here are the things to look for to ensure your gel didn't go bad:
Pungent smell / Fermented smell - sea moss can have an oceanic smell but when it starts to go bad that smell with become stronger. We advise that you trust your gut here, if the smell is strong and different from when you first used it, it may be time to throw it out. If there is fermented smell (or usually a pop when you open your jar), it means your gel has started to ferment, and is a sign to throw it out.
Texture - if you notice a layer of film on the top of your gel.
Loose and watery - if your gel has lost its firmness.
Taste - we advise that you become familiar with the taste of your gel when it is new and taste it before adding it to preparations to ensure the taste hasn't changed. If, just like the smell, the taste has become stronger and pungent, this is a sign that your gel may have turned bad.
How to store dry raw Sea Moss
Keep your raw Sea Moss is a sealed bag or container in a cool, dry place. It can usually last up to a year depending on where you buy it from.
When wanting to make gel, only soak and blend a small quantity to avoid having to freeze large amounts of gel.
In conclusion
Points to remember:
Keep your gel in the coldest part of your fridge: at the back.
Avoid touching your gel too much.
When using, take the amount you need, re-seal it well and place it back in the back of the fridge straight away.
Your gel may have gone bad if you notice: a pungent/fermented smell, a layer of film on top, a loose texture.
You can store your gel in the fridge for up to 4 weeks if you respect those steps, but if you notice any signs that it may have gone bad, throw it out. The common shelf life of an unflavoured sea moss gel is 2-4 weeks.
Flavoured gel may have a shorter shelf-life.
You can freeze your gel in large ice-cube moulds to allow you to use small quantities at a time.
Avoid freezing and thawing more than once.
Dry raw sea moss can last up to a year if stored in a sealed bag or container in a cool ad dry place.
Sea Moss gel can be consumed or used as a face, hair or body mask.
Sea Moss contains many minerals and vitamins to help heal your body and/or maintain a good hygiene.
Read more about Honest Sea Moss nutrition and benefits here.
If you have any doubts or questions about the shelf-life and consumption of your Sea Moss, feel free to reach out to our team at honestseamoss@gmail.com.