The starfish is one of the most common and well-known creatures in the ocean. This invertebrate has a five-pointed shape and is made up of many segments. It has a hard exoskeleton that protects it from predators and allows it to move around on its arms. Starfish are also known as sea stars, which is another name for them.
The starfish is often eaten by humans in many different parts of the world. It can be cooked or served raw as sushi or sashimi (raw fish).
However, some people may be surprised to find out that there are many kinds of starfish out there! So just how safe is it to eat starfish?
Is Starfish Safe To Eat?
Yes, it’s safe to eat starfish! They have an excellent nutritional value and are high in protein and calcium content.
However, they do contain some toxins like tetrodotoxin which can cause paralysis if ingested in large amounts. These toxins can be destroyed with cooking though so don’t worry about them being present in cooked starfish dishes!
Benefits Of Eating Starfish
In addition to being a delicacy, starfish is also an excellent source of nutrients that can help improve your overall health. Below are some of the health benefits that you can get by eating starfish:
1) Starfish Are Rich In Antioxidants And Vitamins
Starfish contain antioxidants such as selenium, zinc, and copper that help protect your body from free radical damage and other diseases related to oxidative stress. They also contain vitamins B1 and B2 which help reduce muscle pain and soreness.
2) Starfish Can Help Prevent Heart Disease
Research suggests that starfish have anti-inflammatory properties which could help prevent heart disease. In addition, they are rich in selenium which protects against cardiovascular diseases.
3) Starfish Can Improve Your Immune System Functioning And Protect You Against Infections
Starfish contain omega-3 fatty acids which promote good immune system functioning. Zinc found in starfish helps boost the production of T-cells.
What Do Starfish Taste Like?
Starfish don’t have much meat on their bodies, so they aren’t very tasty when cooked whole. Most people use them as seafood salads instead of serving them whole as seafood entrees or appetizers.
Starfish taste like prawns and lobster. When cooked, they have a texture similar to squid or octopus. Raw starfish has a crunchy texture similar to raw oysters and clams.
How To Prepare Starfish
Below you can eat the starfish, you’ll need to prepare them first. Below are the steps to preparing your starfish:
Step 1: Clean the starfish with running water and a scrub brush to remove all sand and debris from the body, arms, and legs. If needed use a knife to cut off any broken arms.
Step 2: Soak starfish for at least 10 minutes in a bowl of saltwater with 1 tablespoon of baking soda per gallon of water. This will help to remove any remaining sand or debris.
Step 3: Remove starfish from the saltwater solution and rinse thoroughly under running water. Pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen cloth then place on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet lined with paper towels. (This will allow excess water to drip off while cooking)
Step 4: Place rack on top of stove top burner under low heat until skin begins to turn white (about 2 minutes). Turn off the burner and allow starfish to continue drying until the skin looks leathery (about 10 minutes).
To prepare fried or baked starfish: Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat until hot but not smoking (about 5 minutes). Carefully place starfish into hot oil using tongs and cook for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crisp. Drain cooked starfish on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.
What Can Starfish Be Used For?
The starfish is a familiar sight to beachgoers, but it has many other uses.
Starfish have many uses beyond their role as a popular aquarium pet. You can use them to make jewelry, glue, or potpourri. They are also edible and used in cooking.
Starfish are not just for looks! They are useful in several ways.
Starfish are food: Starfish can be eaten raw or cooked, according to the Live Aquaria website. It’s best to remove the spines before eating them because they can be sharp.
Starfish make good glue: The Live Aquaria website recommends soaking a piece of cloth with seawater and applying it to the wound area with a clean finger or cotton swab. It also suggests using fresh starfish (not dried) because they produce more mucus than older ones do.
Starfish make good fertilizer: The Live Aquaria website says starfish can be used as fertilizer if you feed them boiled rice and seaweed for two weeks first before boiling them again for another 15 minutes until the outer skin comes off easily when poked with a fork. Then let them dry out for two days before adding them to your soil mix or compost pile.
Conclusion
Starfish is a sea creature that can be eaten. They are not only edible, but they are also nutritious and tasty. They are rich in many minerals and vitamins that you need for good health.