How to eat A4-sized Korean seaweed? Experts teach the "fold method" to turn it into small pieces in 15 seconds

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Seoul

"Seaweed" is a fairly common ingredient in Korean cuisine. In addition to being eaten directly after roasting, it can also be used in soups or wrapped around rice rolls, among other ways. Many travelers visiting Korea often buy several packs of seaweed as gifts for family and friends. However, since Korean seaweed is often sold in large packaging, with each sheet being the size of an A4 sheet of paper, figuring out how to elegantly eat something as big as printer paper has become a challenge for recipients.

▲Using the fold method, you can easily turn large sheets of Korean seaweed into neat small pieces. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ruizhong, same below)

Tearing off pieces of large seaweed to eat can cause it to crumble, and the sizes will be uneven. Using scissors is troublesome and requires cleaning afterward. In fact, many people don’t know that simply using the "fold method"—folding the seaweed along with its packaging four times—you can easily get palm-sized pieces of seaweed.

▲Adding seaweed to white rice, pickled radish, ham, and other ingredients can make a seaweed rice roll.

According to seaweed vendors, the first step when you get A4-sized packaged seaweed is to fold it once along the back crease line of the package. After flattening it, fold it again from the “waist” along the long edge of the packaging, then fold each of the top and bottom sections once. Originally a pack of five sheets, after folding, it becomes 40 small pieces of seaweed. At this point, cut open the packaging to take out the pieces, making them more convenient and hygienic to eat. According to actual trials, it takes about 15 seconds to complete.

▲Seaweed shops in Seoul are one of the must-visit stores for many tour groups.

Vendors say that many coastal waters in Korea are suitable for growing seaweed, and usually only higher-quality seaweed can be processed directly using the fold method. Aside from eating it directly, vendors also recommend placing a layer of white rice on the seaweed and adding toppings such as pickled radish, cucumber, ham, and fried egg. After rolling it up, you can make a seaweed rice roll, perfect for family enjoyment.