What Is Kappa Carrageenan?

It is a type of vegetal gelatin well known in the field of “molecular cuisine”. In recipes you may find it simply named Kappa, or Kappa gelatin, or kappa carrageenan. Kappa carrageenan is a food additive that belongs to the category of thickeners. It is identified by the code E407, and it is with this code that it appears on food product labels. Thickeners are hydrocolloids, meaning they absorb water and then form a gelatinous or viscous substance. Therefore, if added to a liquid they do not dissolve but bind the water until a gel is created.