The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Old, Dirty Ginger: A Single Spice Solution

Pork intestines, or ‘lòng già’, are a delicacy enjoyed by many. The slightly chewy and crispy texture, along with the rich flavor, makes this dish irresistible, no matter how it’s cooked.

However, being the waste repository of the pig, the intestines often carry an unpleasant odor. If not cleaned properly, this smell can be off-putting, making the dish unappetizing and raising hygiene concerns.

To effectively clean and prepare ‘lòng già’, you can try the following tips:

Clean with Fish Sauce:

Squeeze and rinse the intestines with salt, lemon, and water. Then, turn them inside out and clean the insides. Repeat the process with salt and lemon, but this time, add about half a small cup of fish sauce. Rinse the intestines after this step; the fish sauce will help eliminate any lingering odor.

Rinse with Sour Pickle Water:

Sour pickle water is excellent for removing both dirt and odor from pork intestines. Rinse the intestines twice with this liquid, ensuring you turn them inside out to clean the insides thoroughly.

After rinsing, place the intestines in a pot, cover them with water, add a pinch of salt and some cooking wine, and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes until the intestines firm up, taking care not to overcook them, which can make them chewy.

Remove the intestines from the heat, give them a final rinse, and then cut them into bite-sized pieces or prepare them as desired.

Clean with Salt, Vinegar, and Rice Wash Water:

You can also use salt, vinegar (or lemon juice), and rice wash water to clean the intestines. Start by flushing the insides with water to remove initial dirt. Then, turn the intestines inside out to more effectively scrub away any remaining residue.

Place the intestines in a basin of water with a bit of salt and vinegar (or lemon juice), and let them soak for a few minutes. Next, squeeze out any slimy residue and rinse the intestines with clean water several times.

Finally, wash the intestines in a basin of rice wash water to ensure all traces of dirt are gone, both inside and out. Rinse one last time with clean water before preparing your dish.

Scrub with Flour and Cooking Wine:

Initially, flush the insides with water to remove some of the dirt. Then, turn the insides out and place the intestines in a basin. Add a small amount of flour and use your hands to rub and scrub the intestines for at least 2 minutes. Rinse the intestines with clean water to remove any remaining dirt and flour.

Return the intestines to the basin, add cooking wine, and scrub both the inside and outside once more to ensure all dirt and odors are gone.

Rinse the intestines under running water to flush out initial dirt. Then, add vinegar and alum to a basin of water and place the intestines in this solution, scrubbing them multiple times. Turn the intestines inside out to ensure a thorough cleaning, and then rinse them several times with clean water before cooking.