How can you tell if a snail is fresh, meaty, and not smelly? The secret lies in observing its shell, testing its reflexes, and some simple folk tricks. Here are some tips for you to try:
Why not buy snails at the beginning and end of the lunar month?
According to folk experience, the beginning and end of the lunar month are not ideal times to buy snails. This is because snails enter their reproductive cycle during these periods. As a result, they tend to be skinny, with less meat, and some may even contain eggs, affecting the quality of the dish.
In addition to having less meat, snails during their reproductive period also taste blander than usual. This is because their energy and nutrition are focused on reproduction, making their meat less firm and not as fatty as when they are mature. Especially, if you accidentally buy snail eggs, you will spend a lot of time processing them, and the quality is not guaranteed.
Therefore, to choose juicy, meaty, and plump snails, you should buy them in the middle of the lunar month (around the 6th to the 20th). This is when snails have accumulated enough nutrition, and their meat is fuller. When cooked, they will have a natural crispness and sweetness.
However, in addition to timing, you also need to combine other methods of choosing snails, such as checking their shells, observing their snail “eyebrows,” and testing their freshness to ensure the best quality.
Check by touching the snail’s “eyebrows”
One of the simplest ways to test the freshness of snails is to gently touch their “eyebrows” (the small lid at the snail’s mouth). If the “eyebrows” retract slightly, it indicates that the snail is still alive and fresh. On the other hand, if the “eyebrows” show no reaction, the snail may be dead or weak, and it is best not to buy it.
Closely observe the snail’s “eyebrows”
The snail’s “eyebrows” not only help determine if the snail is alive but also indicate its fat content:
If the “eyebrows” are close to the snail’s mouth, it means the snail is fatty and meaty, and it will taste better when cooked.
If the “eyebrows” are recessed, the snail is skinny and has less meat, and it won’t taste as good.
If the “eyebrows” are recessed and there is an unpleasant odor, the snail is either dead or has been left too long, and it should not be consumed.
Test freshness by dropping them into water
In addition to observation, you can also test the freshness of snails with water. Drop the snails into a clean bucket of water and observe:
Live snails will sink to the bottom or crawl slowly.
Dead snails will float to the surface, with their mouths facing downward, and emit an unpleasant odor.
Additionally, you can soak the snails in rice water or chili water to test their cleanliness and help them expel any remaining mud before cooking.
Note: When choosing snails, select those of medium size, neither too big nor too small. Larger snails tend to be older and have tougher meat, while smaller snails may not have enough meat and may not taste as good.
With these tips, you can easily select fresh and delicious snails to prepare mouth-watering dishes such as boiled snails, snail soup with tamarind, steamed snails with lemongrass and chili, and more, enhancing the flavor and quality of your meals.
How to prevent snails from becoming skinny if you don’t cook them immediately
After purchasing snails, they need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any remaining mud or dirt on their shells. First, rinse them a few times with water to remove the initial layer of dirt, then soak them in a bucket of water, ensuring they are completely submerged. If you have rice water, use it instead of plain water, as it is more effective in cleaning snails.
To speed up the process of expelling mud, you can add a few slices of fresh chili to the water. The spiciness of the chili will stimulate the snails to open their mouths frequently, thus pushing out any remaining dirt from the inside.
Typically, snails need to be soaked for 8-10 hours or overnight to ensure they are thoroughly cleaned. However, soaking them for too long can cause them to become skinny, affecting their taste when cooked. To counter this, you can crack 1-2 eggs into the soaking water, as the eggs will provide the snails with additional nutrition to prevent meat loss.
Note: Change the water every 3 hours to ensure optimal cleanliness. With this method, you only need to soak the snails from morning to night before cooking.
Check out this video of NSND Lan Huong boiling snails and making delicious cold snail noodles.
