Starfish can be eaten, but the edible parts and the way to eat them require some care

Starfish are edible marine organisms, and some coastal areas of China have long had the habit of eating starfish; the more common edible species is the spiny sea star (Asterias amurensis). The main edible part of a starfish is its gonads, commonly known as starfish roe, while the body wall and arms are generally not eaten.

The most common way to eat starfish is to steam them. Wash fresh starfish and steam them until cooked, then crack open the shell and take out the roe inside to eat. Some people also use them to make soup, or dry them in the sun and grind them into powder. Starfish roe tastes fresh with a salty note, and carries a slight bitterness and a fishy sea smell; how acceptable it is varies from person to person.

It should be noted that not all starfish can be eaten freely. Some starfish contain saponin-type substances, and improper handling or eating too many at once can easily cause gastrointestinal discomfort; people allergic to seafood should be especially cautious. When choosing them, make sure to identify the locally common edible species, heat them thoroughly until fully cooked, and control the amount eaten.

Besides being used as food, starfish have other uses. In traditional medicine, dried starfish are often used as a medicinal material. In addition, starfish feed on shellfish, and when their numbers are too large they can affect shellfish farming, so processing caught starfish into feed or fertilizer is also a common way of turning them into a resource.