Sea Urchin

  • eat the egg-like insides (eggs and sex organs).
  • eggs (roe) are bright yellow and edible raw.
  • do not eat if spines don't move or if smells bad when opened (i.e., already dead).
  • look for sea urchins in tidal pools.
  • crack open the urchin shell by placing it between two rocks.
  • varieties in the Pacific Northwest are Red sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus), Green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis), and Purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus).
  • warning: can cause painful injuries when stepped on or touched. Handle them with gloves, and remove all spines.
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