Fish maw needs to be soaked in clean water for at least an hour before it opens. Soak the fish maw in water for an hour. When it can be easily torn apart by hand, it means it is ready. The following are the specific steps for soaking fish maw:

Tools required: fish maw, water, and metal mesh.

1. First, prepare a basin of water.

2. Then pour all the fish maw into the basin.

3. Soak for an hour. Because the fish maw is very dry, it must take a long time to fully absorb water and expand.

4. After an hour, take out a piece of fish maw and see how it is soaking.

5. It can be seen that the gelatin can be easily torn apart by hand, which means it is ready.

6. Finally, put all the fish maw on the metal strainer and drain out the water.

7. In this way, the fish maw is soaked and you can proceed to the next step of cooking.

Notes:

1. Fish maw needs to be soaked in cold water, not hot water. Hot water will not shorten the soaking time of fish maw.

2. If the gelatin cannot be easily torn apart by hand, you need to continue soaking it.