The product below dialogue is hydrated lime, particularly supposed to be used within the nixtamalization course of, and accessible for buy at Walmart shops. Nixtamalization is an age-old alkaline cooking methodology for corn, the place the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline resolution, sometimes containing calcium hydroxide.
The importance of utilizing this explicit ingredient lies in its skill to unlock the dietary worth of corn, making niacin and different important vitamins extra bioavailable. Moreover, the method softens the kernels, removes the pericarp (outer layer), and improves the binding properties of the dough, which is essential for making tortillas, tamales, and different conventional dishes. Traditionally, this course of has been important for the sustenance of quite a few cultures.