You will likely see starfish in the sea if you are at the beach or want to visit one. You’ll start to question if you can starfish as a result.
Can You Eat Starfish?
Yes, you can eat starfish. They taste amazing and have a great texture. They are also extremely healthy—starfish are a great source of iron and vitamin C. They can be dried or eaten raw in addition to the regular boiling or steaming.
Is Starfish Safe To Eat?
It’s actually safe to eat starfish, and it’s served in some fancy restaurants.
There are around 2,000 different kinds of starfish, but only a few of them can be eaten. Even while most starfish may be eaten, some are poisonous or have sharp spines that can cut you.
Eat only these five species to be safe:
- Biscuit sea star (Asterina miniata)
- Bean star (Astropecten polyacanthus)
- Bloody Henry (Henricia oculata)
- Bluelined sea star (Linckia laevigata)
- Cushion sea star (Odontaster validus)
Is Starfish Healthy To Eat?
Starfish are actually healthy to eat since they contain several essential nutrients that humans need to survive.
They are rich in Vitamins A and C and have moderate amounts of Vitamin D.
They contain significant amounts of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and iodine among other minerals. With about 15g of protein per 100g dish, starfish flesh is particularly rich in protein. (about the same as a chicken breast).
Iodine is particularly important for thyroid function and proper metabolism. Phosphorus and magnesium are essential to bone health.
What Do Starfish Taste Like?
Starfish meat is yummy! The taste comes from the way that starfish eat—they tear their food using their arms and then digest it with their stomachs which they eject out of their bodies.
Depending on the method of preparation, starfish have a taste that is similar to clams, squid, or shrimp. Some people even say it tastes like crab meat from a blue crab.
How To Cook Starfish
Starfish is one of the easiest seafood to prepare. To prepare starfish for eating, you need to take off the skin and remove its stomach first. Then you can cook it, however, you’d like—grill it over charcoal or bake it in the oven with butter and lemon juice.
However, the easiest method of cooking starfish is to boil them.
Cooking Starfish In Boiling Water
The starfish can be prepared by boiling them in water that has been seasoned with a little salt. Before you have a chance to cook the meat for eating, the salt helps prevent it from deteriorating.
The quickest way to cook starfish without destroying the flesh is to utilize this method of preparation.
Below are the steps to boil the starfish:
1. Gather the starfish in a bucket and wash them with water.
2. Heat a pot of water on the stove until it boils.
3. Place the starfish in the boiling water, and boil them for approximately twenty minutes.
4. Remove the starfish from the pot and place them in a bowl of cold water to cool down.
5. Discard the boiling water and enjoy your delicious meal!
Conclusion
Yes, you can eat starfish. However, some species are too poisonous to eat, others can cause an unpleasant gastrointestinal reaction if not cooked properly, and some are just downright disgusting. So before you go carving up a starfish for dinner (or worse—trying to swallow one whole), make sure that it belongs to the edible variety!
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
