How much is dried whitebait per jin? A detailed guide to selecting and storing it

Whitebait, also called firecracker fish, noodle fish, and noodle-shaped fish, is found in both saltwater and freshwater in East Asia, and is hailed as a delicacy in China. Many foods have both dried and fresh ways of being eaten, so how much is dried whitebait per jin? How do you select good ones? How long can they be stored?

1. How much is dried whitebait per jin? How long can it be stored?

According to Ms. Yuan from the Yueyang aquatic products market in Hunan, fresh whitebait costs about 10 yuan per jin, while dried whitebait costs about 50 yuan per jin.

2. How do you select good dried whitebait?

There are three kinds of dried whitebait on the market: one is dried whitebait made by sun-drying in nets, with an intact body, a white and lustrous color, and basically unchanged tender flesh and fresh taste, so eating it is no different from eating fresh whitebait. The second kind is made by adding a little salt during processing because cloudy and rainy days make immediate processing difficult; this kind of dried whitebait is slightly pale yellow in color and still tastes delicious. The third kind is made by adding alum during processing, and the fish body is white but opaque, tastes relatively poor, has a bitter and astringent feeling, and is weighted down on the scale.

Dried whitebait cannot be judged as good or bad simply by color. Some dried whitebait that is too white may have been mixed with fluorescent agents, bleaching agents, or formaldehyde. There are now also fake whitebait on the market that breaks apart when squeezed after soaking, made from plastic, silicone, and the like. When buying, you must carefully distinguish them and choose reputable sellers.

3. How long can dried whitebait be stored?

Dried whitebait can be stored for 1-3 months. Dried whitebait is easy to preserve and preserves the nutritional value of whitebait to the greatest extent. It is very suitable for making soups and is also very fragrant and tasty when stir-fried. It can be stored in a cool, dark, and ventilated place, or it can be frozen.

4. How do you cook it deliciously?

▽Scrambled eggs with small dried whitebait

Ingredients: 100 grams of small dried whitebait, 4 eggs, 1 small carrot, 1 hot pepper

1. Soak the small dried whitebait in clean water for 5 minutes, drain, and set aside.

2. Cut the carrot into thin shreds, the thinner the better, so it cooks easily.

3. Cut the hot pepper into cubes.

4. Add a little salt and cooking wine to 4 eggs, beat them, then put the soaked small dried whitebait and diced hot pepper into the egg mixture.

5. Start cooking: add oil, and after the oil is hot, first stir-fry the shredded carrot, adding a little salt and chicken essence. After about half a minute, add the whitebait egg mixture. Stir-fry until the eggs change color, then it is ready to serve.