Fake fish maw is common due to limited supply. Unethical businessmen use seafood such as squid, shark’s skin or head portion of fin soaked in hydrogen peroxide and sulphur followed by heat process to produce the imitations. Also, it is common for substandard product to be disguised as top grade product. Unethical businessmen collect substandard, low value and broken fish maw and pour them into a special mold, gradually increase the thickness of the layers and add pressure. The finished product will get similar thickness of real fish maw. There have been cases of using pig’s skin and chemical plastic to imitate fish maw although uncommon. Look out for the following when making fish maw purchase:
– Colour : Real fish maw has golden yellow colour whereas fake fish maw has light and whitish yellow unnatural colour.
– Grain : Real fish maw has natural grain whereas fake fish maw does not have obvious and orderly grain.
– Smell : Real fish maw has light sea water smell whereas fake fish maw has none and may carry chemical or plastic smell.
It is therefore strongly advised to buy fish maw from reputable shops.
How to store dried fish maw?
Store in cool and shaded area or refrigerated.
How to prepare fish maw before cooking?
Fish maw require pre-soaking before cooking. The soaking time will vary depending on the type of fish maw.
Premium fish maw :
– Soak fish maw in water for 12-18 hours until it soften.
– Change water from time to time and rinse with cool water to eliminate its fishy smell.
– Put ginger and shallot into a pot of fresh water and boil. Turn off the heat after the water is boiled.
– Put the soaked fish maw into the pot and tightly covered with the lid. Wait until the water cools down.
– Take out the fish maw and rinse with clean water then it is now ready for cooking.
– Soaked fish maw should be stored in the refrigerator at below 0℃ if not cooked. Thaw each time before serving.
Fish maw tubes :
– Soak fish maw in fresh water for 6-12 hours until it soften.
– Change water from time to time and rinse with cool water to eliminate its fishy smell.
– Put ginger and shallot into a pot of fresh water and boil. Turn off the heat after the water is boiled.
– Put the soaked fish maw into the pot and tightly covered with the lid. Wait until the water cools down.
– Take out the fish maw and rinse with clean water then it is now ready for cooking.
– Soaked fish maw should be stored in the refrigerator at below 0℃ if not cooked. Thaw each time before serving.
Fried fish maw :
– Soak fish maw in fresh water for about 10-15 minutes until it soften. Rinse with clean water and it is ready for cooking.
– Soaked fish maw should be stored in the refrigerator at below 0℃ if not cooked. Thaw each time before serving.
Why fish maw becomes thin and gel lacked after cooking?
Fish maw contains rich gel content which can be easily get melted if the cooking time is too long and the heat is too strong. We should pay attention to the control of soaking and cooking time and the heat temperatures. Avoid using hot water for soaking or cooking with strong heat in order to shorten the processing time. This will lead to loss of fish maw’s gel content.
Is older fish maw or fish maw having prolonged exposure to sunshine better in quality?
There is a saying that the older is the fish maw, the better is the quality. In fact, the length of storage does not affect the therapeutic value of fish maw. However, if the fish maw has been stored for a long time and exposed to long time sunshine, its texture will become stiffer and its golden yellow colour turns darker, that makes it look more appealing to customer. Moreover, its completely dry body can give bigger expandability after soaking.
This is news from Safimex Joint Stock Company
Source: http://www.emperorbrandbirdnest.com/our-news/product-knowledge/about-fish-maw.html
If you have demand with these products. Please contact us anytime via email or skype, quantity as well as all questions you need.
Iris (Ms.)
Export Executive
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SAFIMEX JOINT STOCK COMPANY
Head office: 216/20A Duong Ba Trac street, Ward 2, Distric 8, HCM City
Tell: 8428 36362388
Mail: Sales4(at)safimex.com
Gmail:Iris.safimex06708(at)gmail.com
Skype: Iris.Safimex06708
HP/Viber/WhatsApp: (+84) 985867630
Web: www.safimex.com
