After buying fish maw that suits you, you can start soaking it. Some people might boil water, put the fish maw in it, then turn off the heat and use the residual warmth to soften the fish maw. However, this method is not highly recommended. Although convenient, the collagen in the fish maw will flow into the pot of hot water, which is wasteful. Nowadays, fish maw is so expensive, it's better to retain the collagen and not waste it.
Some people might use dry steaming (or water steaming) as an alternative, thinking this can retain the collagen in the fish maw. This is also a method, but the fish maw will shrink when heated, affecting its appearance and texture. Today's three small tips can make fish maw easily rehydrate with a smooth texture and high collagen content.
1. Soak Fish Maw in Cold Water
Cover the fish maw completely with cold water. The first soak takes about six to eight hours, depending on size, until the piece bends like cardboard. After blanching, soak it again for roughly 12–24 hours.
2. Keep the entire soaking process in the refrigerator
It is best to place the fish maw in the refrigerator throughout soaking, so you don't have to worry about the fish maw going bad. The southern weather is more humid, cold, and warm, so to prevent the fish maw from molding and smelling bad, it is best to soak in the refrigerator. This also makes the fish maw tender, and it is similar in effect to soaking in cold water. If there is not enough space in the refrigerator, you can also place the fish maw in a zinc tray in the kitchen and run cold water drip by drip onto the fish maw, as flowing water can also prevent the fish maw from deteriorating.
3. Blanch with cooking wine to remove fishy smell
After the first soak, bring water and a few slices of ginger to the boil. Add cooking wine and the partly softened fish maw, then blanch for only one or two minutes. The ginger and wine reduce the fishy aroma; prolonged boiling can soften the fish maw too much.
Fish Maw Selling Service
(Images and text sourced from the Internet)
Further Reading on Fish Maw Condition
- Want to understand edible bird's nest varieties and storage? Check it out: Swiftlet vs Cave Swiftlet: Which type has higher buyback market demand? Breaking down the "dryness" and "cup shape" indicators affecting edible bird's nest buyback price
- Want to understand the differences in cordyceps origins? Take a look: The growing environment is also an important factor determining the price of cordyceps!
- To compare dried abalone head count and soft-centre quality, see: "Head count" determines value: How to estimate the market buyback value of idle dried abalone at home?
Details Commonly Checked in an Aged Fish Maw Appraisal
When appraising fish maw, it's best to photograph the thickness, color, edges, and moisture condition; send via WhatsApp first, so we can roughly judge the buyback grade.
Kam Hoi Shing dried-seafood buyback
WhatsApp: (852) 69035182
If the products are well-preserved, further appraisal and cash settlement can be arranged according to market conditions.
