Eels can be prepared in a variety of delicious dishes such as stir-fry, braising, porridge, grilling, stewing, and soups. Each eel dish has its own appealing flavor and is good for your health.
Eels are tasty and nutritious, but many people find the idea of preparing them daunting due to their slimy and pungent nature. Moreover, eels are strong, slippery, and elongated, making them difficult to handle. Experienced homemakers suggest the following tips to remove the slime and reduce the fishy odor of eels before cooking:
Using Salt
Place the eel in a slightly thick plastic bag and add a handful of salt. Since salt is salty, the eel will squirm continuously, causing the salt to rub against its body. Simultaneously, shake the bag vigorously, and if needed, use your hands to squeeze and scrub the eel with the salt. Doing this for about two minutes will remove the slime and reduce the fishy smell.
Then, rinse the eel with warm water and dry it with a paper towel before gutting it.
Using Lemon Juice or Rice Water
Apart from salt, you can use lemon juice or rice water to clean the eel. Hold the eel firmly by its neck between two fingers, then rub lemon juice onto its body and keep rubbing until all the slime is gone. Similarly, you can hold the eel in a bucket of rice water and rub it until it is slime-free.
Using Hot Water
Place the eel in a large pot or bucket with a lid. Slightly open the lid, and pour in hot water at about 70–80% temperature (not boiling), then close the lid to avoid splashing hot water. When the eel comes in contact with the hot water, it will squirm and release its slime. After the slime is gone, gut the eel, rinse it with salted water, and cut it into pieces or prepare it as per your recipe.
Freezing the Eel
This is another clever way to deal with the slime. When you buy eels, put them in a plastic bag, tie it tightly, and place it in the freezer for about two hours. After this, take the eel out, dip it in water, and use a dishwashing scrub to gently remove the slime.
Good luck with your eel preparations!
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