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Abalone is a type of seafood packed with numerous nutrients beneficial for the body and highly favored by many. Abalone typically comes in 3 forms: Live abalone, canned frozen abalone, and dried abalone.
How to choose abalone, store abalone, and cook abalone properly
Abalone is often prepared into various dishes such as abalone soup, hotpot with abalone, steamed abalone... So how can one select delicious abalone, store it properly for an extended period, and cook it in a way that preserves its nutrients? This article will help address your queries about abalone.
1. Tips for Selecting Fresh and Flavorful Abalone
For fresh abalone
- When purchasing fresh abalone, gently touch the meat to check for elasticity and absence of slimy residue. Good quality fresh abalone should not have any unusual fishy odor. Also, observe if the meat is round, thick, uniform, with a red line in the middle. It should feel heavy when lifted.
- Opt for abalones of moderate size as they tend to have a richer and more intense flavor compared to smaller ones.
Tips for Buying Delicious Fresh Abalone
For canned abalone
- When purchasing, choose varieties with clear labels indicating origin, production information, manufacturing date, expiration date, and usage instructions.
- Canned abalone indicating net weight specifies the weight of the abalone alone. If the weight is vague, it typically includes the weight of water, packaging, and the abalone.
Tips for Buying Frozen Boxed Abalone
For dried abalone
- To purchase delicious dried abalone, opt for those with large size, thick flesh, round body, and no signs of cracks or scratches. Additionally, in the middle of the abalone meat, there is a red line, and the meat itself has a light pink color with no unpleasant odor.
In general, whether it's fresh, boxed, or dried abalone, the prices are usually high. Therefore, when making a purchase, it's advisable to choose reputable seafood vendors to ensure the highest quality and avoid accidentally buying fake or low-quality abalone that could affect your family's health.
Guide to Buying Dried Abalone
2. Proper and Long-lasting Storage of Abalone
The best way to store abalone is to use it immediately after purchase. However, if you're not using it right away, here are some recommended methods for proper storage.
For Fresh Live Abalone
If you've purchased abalone but don't plan to cook it on the same day, place it in a plastic food container, cover it with a damp cloth, or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then store the abalone in the refrigerator's chilled compartment.
In case you've bought abalone but intend to use it the next day or a few days later, individually wrap each abalone in food-grade plastic wrap, place them in a sealed plastic container, and store them in the freezer's frozen compartment. Using this method, you can preserve the freshness of the abalone for up to about 3 months.
For dried abalone
When you purchase dried abalone, simply place it in a sealed food container and store it in a dry place, or you can store it in the freezer's frozen compartment.
When purchasing dried abalone, you may notice a white powdery layer on the surface, which might be mistaken for mold by those unfamiliar with seafood. However, it's actually due to the salt content in the seawater excreted by the abalone meat.
For frozen boxed abalone
It's important to carefully read the usage and storage instructions provided by the manufacturer printed on the packaging of products like frozen boxed abalone. These may suggest storing at room temperature, in dry and well-ventilated areas, or inside the chilled compartment of the refrigerator at temperatures ranging from 1 to 3 degrees Celsius.
For abalone that has been blanched, you should store it in the refrigerator and it can be used within 2 weeks.
3. How to Cook Abalone Properly Without Losing Nutritional Value
Similar to other types of seafood, abalone offers a wide range of cooking methods, resulting in delicious and enticing dishes.
To prepare and cook abalone cleanly and properly without consuming too much time while still preserving its inherent nutritional value, consider the following cooking tips.
Cooking Fresh Live Abalone
When purchasing fresh abalone, clean it by using a brush to scrub the shell to remove any dirt and algae, then use a spoon or sharp knife to separate the meat from the shell. Brush lightly on the abalone meat to remove any slimy or sticky substances around it completely.
Next, use a knife to remove the teeth and the gray-black intestine part of the abalone, then rinse it thoroughly with water and let it drain. When cooking, you can slice the abalone meat into thin slices or leave it whole.
Safely Cooking Fresh Live Abalone
Cooking Boxed Abalone
- For boxed abalone, simply follow the manufacturer's usage instructions printed on the packaging. Just open the box, rinse the abalone with water, and cook it into a dish.
Simple Cooking Method for Frozen Boxed Abalone
Cooking Dried Abalone
- When purchasing dried abalone, soak it in water for 1 hour to soften and expand, then remove it, rinse it thoroughly with water, and drain it. When cooking, you can slice it or leave it whole.
After properly cleaning, you can prepare delicious dishes with abalone such as: Steamed Abalone with Ginger and Green Onions, Abalone Congee, Abalone and Sea Cucumber Soup, Abalone in Oyster Sauce, or Stir-fried Abalone with Shiitake Mushrooms... All dishes made from abalone have the characteristic crispy and tender texture of abalone meat, along with the rich flavor of spices, making them incredibly enticing and delicious.
Delicious Recipe for Cooking Dried Abalone
Note:
- It's advisable not to consume the abalone intestine as it's where metabolic processes, waste excretion, and toxin secretion occur. Some people may experience allergic reactions such as itching, redness, or swelling when consuming abalone intestine. Therefore, it's best to avoid eating the abalone intestine.
- Regardless of how you prepare abalone dishes, it's best to put the abalone in the pot when the water is still cold or slightly warm. Whether fresh, dried, or frozen boxed, direct contact with boiling water will cause the abalone to quickly shrink, crack, or lose its edges. Additionally, putting the abalone in cold or slightly warm water helps preserve its nutritional content.
Above are some tips for choosing delicious abalone, storing abalone for a long time, and safely cooking abalone. Hopefully, this article is very helpful to you.
