Sodium alginate, a chemical that can be extracted from brown seaweed, dissolves very well in either hot and cold water. It's often used as a food thickener in products such as pie fillings, and, when combined with calcium chloride and various other food elements, creates a "firm but delicate gelatin," according to Chow.com, with vast potential for clever and creative chefs. Used in this way, sodium alginate has become quite popular recently among culinary trendsetters in a movement known as molecular gastronomy. This chemical can be difficult to find and is sold by only a relatively few retailers.
Step 1
Determine the amount of sodium alginate that you need. If you plan on using several pounds of this material, you can purchase it from certain Asian distributors of food additives, such as Qingdao Zhouji Chemical Industry Co., Chow.com explains. On the other hand, these distributors sell it only in quantities of many pounds, which may be too much for your purposes. If you need a pound or less, you will need to explore other avenues.
Step 2
Contact a dye supply company. Sodium alginate can be used to thicken dyes, and it is sold by many different dye supply companies. These companies may be especially appropriate sources if you do not plan to use the sodium alginate for cooking.
Step 3
Order from Texturas or WillPowder. Both companies sell smaller amounts of sodium alginate and other compounds needed in common applications using this chemical, Chow.com explains. It can be difficult to find stores that carry these products, so you may find it easier to order from their websites.
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