Lye for lutefisk?

[Mary McChugalug]

I'd like to try some experimenting with lutefisk, hominy, and beyond, but I'm not feeling too good about using Red Devil for food, is there such a thing as food grade lye? And is there someplace to buy it in the twin cities? If not, what kind of lye is usually used for lutefisk?

[John E.]

Why don't you call Olsen Fish Company in north Minneapolis? They are the world's largest producer of lutefisk.

[MikeG]

I have no idea where you might be able to find it locally, but there is indeed such a thing as food-grade lye: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/342308

[semanticantics]

My understanding is that it's whatever good ol' fashioned super poisonous lye is. Lutefisk has to be rinsed for about a week, moved several times a day, to get the lye out.

[shadowfax]

That's the sad truth. In my opinion, lutefisk tastes like ancient gelatinous Reebok. Fish Jell-O just doesn't do it for me ;)