How to Prepare Bird's Nest at Home

Bird's nest is best stewed gently to protect its delicate texture. Soak the dried nest in room-temperature water for 4-6 hours until it softens and expands, then pick out any remaining feathers or debris with tweezers. Rinse thoroughly and drain. Place the cleaned nest in a double-boiler bowl with filtered water, cover, and simmer over low heat for 20-30 minutes. Avoid direct high heat, which can break down the delicate glycoprotein strands. Add rock sugar or your preferred sweetener only in the last five minutes of cooking, once the nest has fully softened. Serve warm or chilled. Properly stewed bird's nest keeps refrigerated for up to 3 days.