Agar powder is a mixture of carbohydrates, and it’s also known as agar-agar powder, a substance extracted from red algae, a specific kind of seaweed. Agar is a jelly-like substance in nature, similar to gelatin; however, it is without color, smell, or flavor.
It serves as a vegan gelatin alternative for many dishes. Agar is used in treats such as jellies, jams, ice cream, desserts, and you can use it to thicken soups.
Agar is unique because it doesn’t contain starch, sugar, wheat, salt, corn, gluten, eggs, milk, soy, animal by-products, or preservatives.
Where is agar powder in grocery store? You will find agar powder in the baking aisle because it is most popularly known as an ingredient to use in dessert and baked goods. It will likely come in a small or medium pouch or bag.
If you don’t find it there, check the natural food/health food section because it comes from a plant, so you might find it with other organic foods.
Where To Buy Agar Powder Near Me
You can buy agar agar powder at the following grocery store chains:
Walmart
Walmart, being the retail and grocery giant that it is, carries the most popular brands like Now Foods, Agar-Agar, and more. Better yet, they also have multiple forms of agar that you can purchase, such as flakes and supplements.
Go to Walmart’s website to access the online locator tool to notify you about what’s available at each location.
Whole Foods
You’ll be happy to know that Whole Foods will likely offer agar powder in bulk as well as individually. They have a decent amount of options to choose between and they also carry supplements and flakes. Whole Foods may be a bit costlier than some other options on the list because they’re known to have higher quality organic products. Since agar powder is already natural, there shouldn’t be much of a price difference.
Safeway
Safeway’s website doesn’t explicitly advertise that they carry agar powder, but they are known to have the Agar Agar Square products from Himes.
Kroger
Kroger has a limited selection of agar powder brands. They usually only have one or two brands in stores, which is a reputable company.
The Local Asian/International Market
Asian markets are known to have some type of agar powder, threads, or flakes. If you have one in your neighborhood, the Asian market is definitely worth checking out.
How To Buy Agar Powder Online?
Taking advantage of the online platform to buy agar powder can be a great way to procure agar powder. Moreover, the best option is Amazon because they have a litany of vendors which sell goods on the site. It’s not challenging to find agar powder that is within your budget.
Amazon
Agar powder is a natural ingredient that can be costly. Amazon has such a vast selection of brands that you’re sure to find a product within your budget.
If you use agar powder frequently, you might want to consider buying it in bulk to cut down on the cost.
Some of the more reasonably priced and popular brands on Amazon include Nutrient Agar Powder and Now Foods Agar Powder. Get them delivered to your doorstep with various shipping options.
Instacart
Instacart is a growing business that serves grocery stores that don’t have delivery services but want to use a third-party provider to make their products accessible without taking a trip to the store.
You can use the Instacart app to order items from Publix, Wegmans, Food Lion, Shop n’ Save, and other notable grocery store chains.
While it isn’t the most cost-effective option, it does offer quick delivery. Use the app to search for the product you want, and personal shoppers will go to the store for you and bring the groceries to your doorstep.
If they don’t see one of your requests, they’ll call you to find a suitable replacement. This is a great option to order agar powder from your local store.
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart has a variety of ways that you can order agar powder. They have bulk options and subscription packages that require as little as $13 a month or $98 for the year to get unlimited grocery deliveries from the store.
If you don’t know where to buy agar agar powder in the store, visit the website to find the brands they offer and where it’s at in the store.
What can i get instead of Agar Powder?
Here are the best alternatives to agar powder:
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is the best agar agar powder substitute that’s always readily available and easy to find in stores. Made from corn grains, this ingredient is gluten-free and has the same consistency as agar powder.
You can use cornstarch as a straight substitution for agar powder, meaning equal parts. So, if you use one tablespoon of agar powder in a recipe, you can also mix one tablespoon of cornstarch in its place.
Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot powder is just like cornstarch, as it is a type of starch derived from the arrowroot plant in West India. It is grain-free and gluten-free, and it is very paleo and vegan-friendly. Arrowroot is the healthier substitute because of its natural production.
You have to use much more arrowroot powder as an alternative to agar powder.
For one tablespoon of agar flakes, you’ll need four tablespoons of agar powder. If you use one tablespoon of agar powder, you’ll need two tablespoons of arrowroot powder.
Xanthan Gum
Last on the list is Xanthan gum. This popular replacement isn’t starch-based like the other options, but it is bacterially fermented sugar.
While Xanthan gum doesn’t make your dish firm like agar powder, it will make it thicker and prevent separation. It is also gluten-free but harder to find in stores. You’ll usually have to go to a health food store specifically.
Xanthan gum is a straight substitution for agar powder. You can add one tablespoon of xanthan gum for agar powder in a recipe.
