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Fish and Seafood
How to Eat Sea Urchins Download Article 43 Recipe Ratings | Success Stories Reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs
Last Updated: January 26, 2026 Fact Checked
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Preparing the Urchin
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Tasting the Sea Urchins
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Video
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Q&A
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Warnings
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This article was reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 108,018 times.
When you see a sea urchin, you probably don’t think that these spiny, scary-looking creatures are edible. But you’d be wrong! Sea urchin, usually called uni, is actually a delicacy in many parts of the world. It’s known for a creamy, buttery flavor and is usually eaten right out of the shell. If you’d like to taste sea urchin for yourself, then get a fresh one from the fish market and give it a try.
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Preparing the Urchin
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1 Buy a live sea urchin that smells fresh. Sea urchins are sold live because they decay very quickly after they die. Like with other fish, the best indicator for freshness is smell. If the urchin smells fishy or pungent, then it isn't fresh, so don't buy it. Get one that doesn't have a strong smell, and check to see if the spines are moving slightly. This all means the urchin is alive and fresh.[1]XResearch source
If you're diving for sea urchins, looks for ones that are green, red, or purple. Black sea urchins aren't edible.[2]XResearch source
2 Put gloves on so you don’t get stung. Sea urchins are venomous and getting stung by a sea urchin can lead to disastrous consequences. Always put on a pair of thick gloves to protect your hands before handling the urchins.
If you don’t have gloves, you can also wrap the urchin in a towel.
Some people handle sea urchins without gloves because you have to press down hard to get stung. Still, this could be dangerous.
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3 Cut around the base of the urchin with scissors. First flip the urchin upside down. You’ll be able to tell because there is a small mouth on the bottom. Then take scissors and cut all around the base of the urchin. Lift this part off to expose the edible innards.[3]XResearch source
Some people also just cut around the urchin mouth with a knife. You could also do this, but you’ll need to dig your finger inside to get the edible parts out.[4]XResearch source
The spines on the urchin might fall off while you’re cutting, so do this over a sink or towel.
4 Drain all of the liquid out of the urchin. The urchin is full of dark liquid and seawater. Hold it over a sink or bowl and flip it upside down to drain all of this out.[5]XResearch source
5 Scrape off the orange innards inside the shell. When you open up the urchin, you’ll see 5 orange, tongue-like structures. These are the gonads, or the urchin's sexual organs. They’re the edible parts of the sea urchin. Take a spoon and scrape each one out.[6]XResearch source
The gonads are also called roe, though this isn't technically correct because roe refers to a mass of eggs inside a fish.
The gonads are the only edible parts of the urchin, so don't eat anything else inside the shell.
If the gonads are brown, then the sea urchin is spoiled, so don’t eat them.
6 Rinse off the roe in salt water. As you scoop the roe out, transfer them into a bowl of salt water. Rinse them off in the bowl to get rid of any brown residue from inside the urchin.
If there are still brown pieces left on the roe, you can wipe or pick them off with tweezers.
7 Keep the urchins chilled until you’re ready to eat them. If you’re not going to eat the urchins right away, then make sure you keep them cold until you do. Put them on ice or in the refrigerator so they don’t spoil.[7]XResearch source
When storing the urchins on ice, make sure to use a perforated pan, strainer, or rack inside of a standard pan, bowl or another container so that the water runs off as the ice melts. You never want fresh seafood "swimming" in melted ice water.[8]X Expert Source Marrow Private ChefsPrivate ChefsExpert Interview
Urchin starts spoiling quickly, so chefs recommend eating them right away instead of leaving them out, even if they’re chilled.
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Tasting the Sea Urchins
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1 Snack on the urchin raw right out of the shell. This is the most popular way to eat urchin, and it’s what most chefs recommend. When the roe is all cleaned, then just pop the pieces in your mouth and enjoy the sweet, buttery flavor.
Uni is a popular appetizer and is often served raw and plain like this.
2 Dip it in some soy sauce for more flavor. If you think the uni needs a bit more flavor or you think it’s too fishy, then some soy sauce is a common addition. Pour a bit into a small bowl and dip the uni before eating it.[9]XResearch source
You could also squeeze some lemon juice over it if you prefer that flavor.[10]XResearch source
3 Put the uni on a piece of bread with butter. If the idea of eating uni plain doesn’t appeal to you, then this is a good choice. Simply take a roe piece and lay it onto bread or toast. If you want to complement the uni’s buttery flavor, add some butter as well.[11]XResearch source
You could also top a cracker with a piece of uni.
4 Top rice with some uni for a traditional dish. This is a common way to eat uni in Japan. Simply add some uni pieces to a bowl of rice and enjoy. You could also wrap the uni in rice and seaweed for your very own homemade sushi.[12]XResearch source
5 Add the uni to a pasta dish. Uni is a common addition to pasta dishes because of its creamy flavor and texture. The most common way to use it is as a garnish at the end, preferably on pasta with creamy sauces. You can slice it up and sprinkle it on, or place a piece on whole.[13]XResearch source
You can also grind the uni into creamy sauces and top your pasta with this.
6 Scramble the uni into eggs. This is another common snack with uni. You can either chop the uni up and sprinkle it into your eggs, or garnish your eggs with a whole piece.[14]XResearch source
7 Thicken sauces and soups with uni. Uni can also be an emulsifier to thicken sauces and add a unique flavor. Simply grind up the uni in a food processor and mix it in with soups or sauces.[15]XResearch source
You could add the ground uni to barbecue sauces and season meat with it before cooking.
8 Pair the uni with alcohol to complement the taste. It’s customary to sip on an alcoholic drink while you’re eating uni, especially if it’s raw. Wine or liquor tend to complement the flavor best, so feel free to have a drink with your meal.[16]XResearch source
In Japan, sake is the main drink to have with uni. The Greek drink ouzo, an anise-flavored liquor, is also common.
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Question Can I become pregnant from eating sea urchin? Dec8ying_Mem0ries Top Answerer No, you cannot become pregnant from eating sea urchin. Pregnancy occurs when human sperm fertilizes a mature human egg. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Warnings
Don’t eat sea urchin if it isn’t fresh or smells rancid. This means that it’s gone bad and you could get sick. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3
Never leave urchin out un-refrigerated. It goes bad quickly. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1
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Reviewed by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts This article was reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. This article has been viewed 108,018 times. 43 votes - 88% Co-authors: 7Updated: January 26, 2026 Views: 108,018 Categories: Fish and Seafood In other languagesJapanese
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Oct 9, 2021
"Now I know how to eat urchins."
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Reviewed by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts Co-authors: 7Updated: January 26, 2026 Views: 108,01888% of voters found this recipe helpful. 43 votes - 88% Click a star to add your vote
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Download Article 43 Recipe Ratings | Success Stories Reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs 
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Reviewed by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts This article was reviewed by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. This article has been viewed 108,018 times. 43 votes - 88% Co-authors: 7 Updated: January 26, 2026 Views: 108,018 Categories: Fish and Seafood In other languagesJapanese 
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1 Buy a live sea urchin that smells fresh. Sea urchins are sold live because they decay very quickly after they die. Like with other fish, the best indicator for freshness is smell. If the urchin smells fishy or pungent, then it isn't fresh, so don't buy it. Get one that doesn't have a strong smell, and check to see if the spines are moving slightly. This all means the urchin is alive and fresh.[1] 
2 Put gloves on so you don’t get stung. Sea urchins are venomous and getting stung by a sea urchin can lead to disastrous consequences. Always put on a pair of thick gloves to protect your hands before handling the urchins. 
3 Cut around the base of the urchin with scissors. First flip the urchin upside down. You’ll be able to tell because there is a small mouth on the bottom. Then take scissors and cut all around the base of the urchin. Lift this part off to expose the edible innards.[3] 
4 Drain all of the liquid out of the urchin. The urchin is full of dark liquid and seawater. Hold it over a sink or bowl and flip it upside down to drain all of this out.[5] 
5 Scrape off the orange innards inside the shell. When you open up the urchin, you’ll see 5 orange, tongue-like structures. These are the gonads, or the urchin's sexual organs. They’re the edible parts of the sea urchin. Take a spoon and scrape each one out.[6] 
6 Rinse off the roe in salt water. As you scoop the roe out, transfer them into a bowl of salt water. Rinse them off in the bowl to get rid of any brown residue from inside the urchin. 
7 Keep the urchins chilled until you’re ready to eat them. If you’re not going to eat the urchins right away, then make sure you keep them cold until you do. Put them on ice or in the refrigerator so they don’t spoil.[7] 
1 Snack on the urchin raw right out of the shell. This is the most popular way to eat urchin, and it’s what most chefs recommend. When the roe is all cleaned, then just pop the pieces in your mouth and enjoy the sweet, buttery flavor. 
2 Dip it in some soy sauce for more flavor. If you think the uni needs a bit more flavor or you think it’s too fishy, then some soy sauce is a common addition. Pour a bit into a small bowl and dip the uni before eating it.[9] 
3 Put the uni on a piece of bread with butter. If the idea of eating uni plain doesn’t appeal to you, then this is a good choice. Simply take a roe piece and lay it onto bread or toast. If you want to complement the uni’s buttery flavor, add some butter as well.[11] 
4 Top rice with some uni for a traditional dish. This is a common way to eat uni in Japan. Simply add some uni pieces to a bowl of rice and enjoy. You could also wrap the uni in rice and seaweed for your very own homemade sushi.[12] 
5 Add the uni to a pasta dish. Uni is a common addition to pasta dishes because of its creamy flavor and texture. The most common way to use it is as a garnish at the end, preferably on pasta with creamy sauces. You can slice it up and sprinkle it on, or place a piece on whole.[13] 
6 Scramble the uni into eggs. This is another common snack with uni. You can either chop the uni up and sprinkle it into your eggs, or garnish your eggs with a whole piece.[14] 
7 Thicken sauces and soups with uni. Uni can also be an emulsifier to thicken sauces and add a unique flavor. Simply grind up the uni in a food processor and mix it in with soups or sauces.[15] 
8 Pair the uni with alcohol to complement the taste. It’s customary to sip on an alcoholic drink while you’re eating uni, especially if it’s raw. Wine or liquor tend to complement the flavor best, so feel free to have a drink with your meal.[16] 
Dec8ying_Mem0ries Top Answerer No, you cannot become pregnant from eating sea urchin. Pregnancy occurs when human sperm fertilizes a mature human egg. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1 
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