What does the starfish taste like?

When you think of different varieties of seafood, what types of food come to mind? Do you mainly think of things like crab, shrimp and fish? You may also think of lobsters, oysters and scallops.

And the starfish? Starfish can be a very popular and tasty food in some cultures and is a classic of Chinese street food.

Although we don’t always think of those adorable star creatures as an edible snack, they really are.

When it comes to specialties like this, it’s not something you’re going to find anywhere. However, if you come across her, you may want to know what to expect from her taste.

What does the starfish taste like?

The actual meat of the starfish usually has a fairly subtle flavor with a slight hint of bitterness. Some people have said that you can taste the salinity and essence of ocean water in the starfish. As for its texture, it is a slightly thick and creamy meat, similar to minced meat.

In this guide, we’ll talk about what a starfish tastes like. We’ll talk about where you’re most likely to find starfish and let you know what to expect.

This is a very unique food, so we’ll reveal the taste, texture, smells and even how it’s eaten or prepared to help you fully understand what you’re getting into.

Read on to find out what starfish tastes like and much more.

The starfish explained

Has anyone ever offered you starfish to eat? Although in many areas they never have it on their menu, it is a tasty and popular delicacy in other areas.

Think of the coastal cities in China that have street vendors and fresh food available. They have very different delicacies and food options than what you might find in a street truck in the US.

A common and surprisingly popular choice is the starfish.

Starfish can be found in any ocean and is common marine life, but many of us have never really considered starfish as food, and yet they can be! Again, in some areas they are surprisingly popular.

When they are no longer in the water, starfish become very rigid and hard. Its star-shaped arms become hard and dry, and the top will be sharp and slightly stiff as well.

If you touch the top or flip it over and look at those tiny tube feet, it probably doesn’t look very appetizing.

You don’t immediately see any meat or anything that looks remotely edible here. However, the edible part is inside the legs. It is not recommended to eat the outer part of the starfish.

We will cover it in more detail later in this guide.

flavor of the starfish

The taste of the starfish is something unique. It’s not something you can easily identify or compare to anything. It’s seafood, but the flavor doesn’t taste like fish or crab right away, so it’s hard to make an exact flavor distinction.

If you’ve ever had a chance to try sea urchin or even Chinese crayfish, these will be your best comparison for taste purposes.

The meat of sea urchins tastes quite similar, and crayfish have brains that are eaten. Those brains taste similar to what you can expect here too. 

These dishes are often considered an acquired taste. You may have to try it once or twice to really feel it or to decide that you like it. It’s not something we can easily describe as a flavor.

One of the best descriptions we can give you is that the meat is a bit creamy and also a bit bitter in taste.

There are sure to be people who don’t enjoy the taste, but for those who are open to trying new things, we highly recommend it.

The key here is that it really takes a very specific starfish to make it taste good. Some starfish do not taste good. That is why it is more of a delicacy and is much more difficult to find on the menu at your local seafood restaurant.

For the most part, meat doesn’t have much flavor . It is considered almost tasteless, but it has a lot of texture and also a hint of bitterness.

Some people recommend using a dipping sauce or some type of seasoning to enhance the flavor.

Starfish texture

The texture of the starfish is easy to describe. Unfortunately, the texture can also be unappealing to many people. If you open a leg, this is where the meat is. Nothing is eaten from the outside of the starfish. 

Often the texture is compared to some kind of creamy mincemeat, and this is actually a good reference to explain the texture.

The meat is soft while being creamy, soft and moist. This is where some people have problems with the texture, because it’s an unusual, mushy texture that can be off-putting.

However, if you’re willing to give it a try and don’t mind unusual textures, you might like it!

The flesh is a brownish-green color, which also does not give it an appetizing appearance.

Smell of starfish

There isn’t much information to be found about how the starfish smells. When you look at what other people say about starfish, the smell is not something they usually describe.

What we have learned is that starfish does not necessarily have a lot of flavor, but it is slightly bitter and creamy in the mouth. It doesn’t have a very strong scent either.

How the starfish is prepared

It is important to be careful about the starfish you eat. Buy it from reputable sources and don’t pick up a random starfish from the beach to prepare your own.

Some starfish are actually poisonous, so you have to trust an expert who knows the food. 

There are different ways to prepare starfish. Some people fry them, but it is also common to boil them in salted water.

Boiling is perhaps the most popular preparation method for a starfish.

Boiling is done while the starfish is fully intact. Once boiled, it is usually put in cold water.

If you have ever eaten crab or lobster, the process of eating it will be quite similar in this case. You may need a good pair of tongs or a mallet to get from the starfish’s legs to the meat.

When you buy it from a hawker on the shores of China, it is brought to you on a stick with no tools or utensils. Typically, you want the starfish to be alive when prepared or less than 24 hours dead.

There is not much meat on the legs. The meat can be sucked off the leg or you can scoop it out and then season and eat it.

Related questions

We hope this guide to understanding what starfish taste like is a useful resource for you. Starfish is a very unique food, but it can be great if you’re willing to step up and try something new.

Take a look at these common questions for additional information.

Is it legal to eat starfish?

There are places in California where it is illegal to collect starfish. However, in other areas it is legal. China is the most popular place to find starfish in food markets, and it’s legal there. 

Are starfish poisonous?

Some starfish can be poisonous. That’s why it’s important that you don’t randomly pick starfish and try to eat or prepare them yourself.

Trust someone who knows what is and isn’t safe to make sure you’re not eating a toxic species. 

Can you eat starfish raw?

You should not eat raw starfish. It is better if it is boiled or fried, as we have said before in this guide. You should also never eat a whole starfish. They are hard and very sharp on the outside.

Eating a starfish in this way could cause serious damage. When you eat a starfish, it should be cooked and you should only eat the meat.