How can you tell if seaweed is still good?

Question

I'm making sushi and I have some seaweed and I don't know if it's still good. How do I tell? Is it one of those things that takes a long time to go bad? I've had it for a few months wrapped up sitting in a drawer. I can't see if there's a expiration date on it because I got it from an Asian food store and everything on the package is in a different language.

Answer 1

Seaweed is dried so it takes a long time to go bad.  Take a little bite(if it's the untoasted kind, toast it first).  If it's good it will be crispy and somewhat sweet.  If it's no so fresh it will be rubbery and tasteless.

Answer 2

Oops. You ought to keep it in an airtight container. However is the seaweed is still firm and dry you still can use it. However if its limp, it means moisture has got to it and you have to discard it

Answer 3

I am a former chef and worked in Japan and "Angel Face" is right the other person to, but the tendency is if the seaweed has been improperly stored will not go limp or mushy but crumble from the dryness than be the other why, if it is not useable (to dry and flakey), do not throw it out, crumble it and add some toasted sesame seed and other flavours, in fact you can buy seasoning at Asian or Japanese stores, called "Furitaki" it is a seasoning they use on cooked rice and noodles for flavour, you can make your own.

For future reference, place the package in a large ZipLok bag, most come with a small Silic gel pack to absorb the air and moisture, it does not go bad or off, but can get dry and crumbley.