Project Description

Preparation of Sea Cucumbers

(Rehydration & Flavouring)

Ocean Pride Fisheries products use only premium quality wild sea cucumbers from Atlantic Canada. Also called “orange-footed sea cucumbers” for their bright orange fleshy interior, this species’ distinct colour comes from feeding on rich minerals and nutrients found at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in some of the cleanest, coldest waters in the world.

REHYDRATION STEPS

  1. Our dried, butterfly cut wild Atlantic sea cucumbers should be stored in a cool, dry, ventilated place for up to 5 years. You can assess if the sea cucumbers are suitable for consumption by their smell; if they give off a salty “ocean” smell, this indicates that they are fresh and ready to eat.
  2. The number of sea cucumbers you need to rehydrate will vary depending on the dish you are preparing and the number of people to be served.
  3. Begin by placing the sea cucumbers in a large, clean, oil-free bowl—this is important as oil can potentially damage the quality and texture of the sea cucumbers. Add enough distilled water to cover the dried sea cucumbers completely.
  4. Let the sea cucumbers soak for 24 hours. You will notice that the interior meat and tendons remain intact after soaking, holding the sea cucumber body together tightly. (The tendons are also called “coral clams” and are a Chinese delicacy.)
  5. Remove the sea cucumbers from the distilled water and cut the interior tendons to release tension and allow them to expand further during the next soak. If you are using whole sea cucumbers instead of butterfly cut ones, you will need to cut them in half before you can slice the tendons.
  6. The sea cucumbers will have grown in size after absorbing water so you may need to switch to a larger bowl. Again, make sure your bowl is clean and free of oil. Replace with new distilled water and soak the sea cucumbers for another 24 hours.
  7. After 48 hours, the sea cucumbers will have become very soft, allowing you to flavour and cook them easily. If not cooked immediately, rehydrated sea cucumbers should be frozen and eaten within 3 months.