Dried sea cucumbers offer unique textures and tastes to mix with all kinds of meals. When browsing through dried sea cucumbers for sale, you will most likely come across three varieties. Each one comes from a different region of the world and has a unique look. Learn about the three different sea cucumbers and what to expect when you purchase the sea creature. Each version is typically sold dried and then boiled in preparation for meals.

1. Prickly Sea Cucumber

One of the more common and luxurious sea cucumber options is the prickly sea cucumber. The sea creature is known for the prickly skin, which can be fully eaten as long as the food is boiled first. The premium quality sea cucumber is typically darker in color.

A majority of the sea cucumbers sold around the world are gathered and found off the shores of Singapore. Some companies will also grow sea cucumbers in a safe factory so the creatures can grow with invasive species feeding off the skin.

The prickly sea cucumber is served with a number of Asian dishes. You can prepare the food with mushrooms or cut up the sea cucumber to add some next textures to a salad. You can also serve the sea cucumber as a nice side dish with rice or sushi.

2. White Teat Sea Cucumber

Found off the shores of Australia and the Indo-Pacific, the white teat sea cucumber stands out for the unique black and white pattern featured on the skin. The cucumber is typically thick and dense, adding a lot to chew on when cooked in a meal. 

The white teat sea cucumber is an ideal option for soups as the seafood will soak up broth and herbs to add a unique blend of flavors to meals. Even when dried, the white teat sustains the unique pattern and is a visual treat for many dishes.

3. Bald Sea Cucumber

The bald sea cucumber is similar to the prickly one but does not include the spiny texture. The extra protection is added to the cucumber through a thicker skin. The thicker skin is ideal for cooking and results in a softer interior that cuts up nicely when boiled.

A bald sea cucumber is ideal for adding to noodles, similar to the way you would prepare a shrimp scampi. The sea cucumber is well-known in the Middle East and Africa but is also found among Australian shores much like the white teat sea cucumber. The sea cucumbers are typically lighter in color, especially after being boiled.