Wear gloves and keep chitterlings cold until cleaning
Rinse under cold running water
Remove any visible fat, debris, and damaged pieces
Turn each piece inside out if needed
Scrape off mucus, residue, and inner lining with your fingers or a dull knife
Rub with salt or cornmeal if desired
Rinse repeatedly in cold water until water runs clear
Soak in cold water with a little vinegar or lemon juice if desired
Drain and repeat rinsing and scraping as needed
Keep cleaned chitterlings refrigerated until cooking