Types of Sea Cucumber

There are many varieties of sea cucumbers. According to their origin and species, they can be divided into the following common varieties:

1. Dried Sea Cucumber :
   • Dried sea cucumbers are made by drying fresh sea cucumbers and usually need to be soaked before they can be eaten. This type of sea cucumber can be preserved for a long time and is suitable for long-term storage needs.
2. Ready-to-eat sea cucumber :
   • This is a specially processed sea cucumber product. It is heated at high temperature to eliminate the microorganisms in the sea cucumber, making it edible directly. It is suitable for people who are busy or need convenient consumption.

Benefits of Sea Cucumber

Sea cucumbers are known as "ginseng in the sea". They have many health benefits and significant nutritional value and medical benefits to the human body:

• Nourishing and strengthening the body : Sea cucumbers are rich in high protein, low fat, and rich in amino acids and trace elements. They are very effective in enhancing human immunity and replenishing physical strength. They are suitable for consumption by the weak and recovering people.
• Beauty and skin care : Sea cucumbers are rich in collagen, which helps moisturize the skin, maintain elasticity, and delay aging. They are an ideal food for beauty and skin care.
• Nourishing the kidney and strengthening yang : Sea cucumbers are rich in minerals such as manganese and zinc, which are helpful in promoting kidney function and improving sexual function. They are suitable for people with kidney deficiency and decreased sexual function.
• Improve joint health : The collagen in sea cucumbers helps repair cartilage tissue and is beneficial to joint health. It is especially suitable for patients with arthritis.
• Regulating blood sugar and blood lipids : Sea cucumbers have the effect of regulating blood sugar and lowering blood lipids, and are suitable for patients with diabetes and hyperlipidemia.

How to choose sea cucumber

There are several factors to consider when choosing sea cucumbers:

• Appearance : Fresh sea cucumbers should have a smooth, springy appearance with no cracks or breaks on the surface. Dried sea cucumbers should be dry on the surface, have no odor, be dark in color and not moldy.
• Size and shape : Choose sea cucumbers that have uniform, intact bodies. Sea cucumbers that are larger in size and more regular in shape are generally of better quality and more nutritious.
• Touch : High-quality sea cucumbers feel very elastic and will rebound quickly after being pressed. If the sea cucumber is too hard or stiff, it may be of poor quality or too dry.
• Origin : Choose sea cucumbers from well-known producing areas, such as Northeast China, South Korea, etc. These sea cucumbers are usually of higher quality.
• Price : The price of sea cucumbers in the market varies greatly. High-quality sea cucumbers are more expensive, and fresh sea cucumbers are usually more expensive.

How to soak sea cucumber

Dried sea cucumbers need to be soaked to restore their soft texture. The specific steps are as follows:

1. Soaking time : Soak the dried sea cucumber in clean water, usually for about 48 hours. During the process, clean water is replaced every 8 hours to help the sea cucumber absorb water and remove excess salt.
2. Soak in warm water : It is recommended to use room temperature or warm water for soaking, and avoid using overheated water, because high temperature will destroy the texture and nutrients of the sea cucumber.
3. Cleaning : During the soaking process, you can gently brush off the sand and impurities on the surface of the sea cucumber. After soaking, the inside of the sea cucumber should be carefully inspected to remove any remaining internal organs.
4. Supplement nutrition : The soaked sea cucumber can be stewed in fresh soup to increase its flavor, or cooked with other nourishing ingredients (such as wolfberry, chicken breast, fish maw, etc.) to further enhance its nutrition.

The above are the varieties, functions, selection and soaking methods of sea cucumbers. These steps can help you select and use high-quality sea cucumbers and maximize their nutritional value.