Sea Urchin Secrets: What Happens When They're Left Out?

Sea urchins are often enjoyed fresh, but what happens when they're left at room temperature? Scientists decided to find out by studying two types of sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus nudus and Strongylocentrotus intermedius. They kept them at a cozy 25°C (that's about 77°F) with some humidity for 48 hours. Not exactly a spa day for these little guys. So, what went wrong? Water moved around, fats and proteins broke down, and the color turned brown. Ever opened a container of food and got a whiff of something off? That's exactly what happened here. A compound called 1-penten-3-one was the main culprit behind the bad smell. But it's not just about the smell. Tiny microbes like Photobacterium and Vibrio started to take over. These are the usual suspects when food goes bad. The mix of chemical changes and these microbes worked together to make the sea urchin gonads less than appetizing. This study gives us a better idea of how to keep sea urchin gonads fresh. Maybe next time you enjoy them, you'll appreciate the science behind it!