You can't eat everything inside a starfish. The body structure of starfish is unique, consisting of a central disk and radially arranged arms, with the highest proportion of outer skin being hard and inedible. The edible parts are mainly the gonads of starfish, which are called "earth sea urchins" in some Asian countries, similar to the edible parts of sea urchins.
Sea stars often contain saponins, so they usually need to be cooked and consumed. Raw or undercooked sea stars not only have a bitter taste, but also easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Not all starfish are edible, and some starfish species even contain toxins that are prohibited from consumption. When selecting and consuming starfish, the opinions of local experts should be the main consideration, and it is not recommended to consume starfish without guidance from a dedicated person.
In terms of cooking methods, people often use salt water to cook, steam, or grill the edible parts of starfish. You can also peel off the reproductive glands of starfish and make soup, dumpling filling, or steamed eggs. However, due to the abundance of saponins and other chemicals in starfish, it is not recommended to consume them in large quantities at once, and the reproductive glands are rich in cholesterol, which is also not suitable for people with high cholesterol levels.
When consuming starfish, it is necessary to understand its edible parts and cooking methods, and pay attention to moderate consumption to ensure safety and health. At the same time, we should also respect and protect the marine ecology, and avoid overfishing and destruction of starfish habitats.