Post
by rattypetrolhead » Fri Aug 05, 2011 8:16 am
I'd probably go for the frond (the leaf part) rather than the stipe (the stalk), just cos it'll be easier to clean of anything growing on the outside (such as other seaweeds or animals), but both should be edible. Kelps are brown seaweeds and have large, long, flat fronds, with round stipes; wracks are green seaweeds that have lots of 'branches' and include things like bladder wrack etc. If the stuff getting snagged on the fishing line is brownish and almost translucent then it's most likely to be a kelp as they usually grow below the low tide level, although can be uncovered on really low spring tides. In case you were wondering I work in marine-ish work, albeit at a desk

I'm dredging this up from my uni days

when I actually got out in the field...
Like Beri says, it may be easier to steam or cook them slightly just to make them more palatable, plus it'll kill any potential nasties too. If the beaches have a blue flag then the water quality is quite high, but it's always best to be on the safe side and soak/rinse properly and cook if you're extra paranoid. For identifying them, if you don't have a book to hand use the MarLin website, it's really useful
Just to add, the seaweed I've bought from RR has mainly been dried bladder wrack.
P.S. Sorry for the work waffle

Susie, Alfie, Norman, Echo, Sierra, Fox, Blyth, Clacket, Knutsford, Glenda, Daff, Thirteen, Pickle, Tuesday and Spike
Missing you lots - Dot, Daisy, Summer, Grace, Clover, Juno, Ruby, Fox's bubs, Mamma, Twinny, Rammy and Sheena xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx