Fresh fish is good for you. It doesn’t contain bad cholesterol, provided that you don’t fry it. In fact, fish fat is high in HDL or the good cholesterol, in the same way that it’s packed with flavor. You can cook fish in so many ways, like frying, grilling, baking, or steaming. You can also mix fish with vegetables and flavorful herbs and spices. The important thing is to know how to pick fresh fish from the supermarket. Below are some tips you need to know when it comes to choosing the freshest fish in the market.
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Eyes
The first thing to look for is clear eyes. If the fish has cloudy or glossy eyes, it’s been on display for a few days. It may still be safe to eat, but nothing beats getting the freshest ingredients you can find. At all costs, don’t buy fish that have red eyes.
Gills
When you pick fish, look for bloody gills because that means the fish is fresh. The color should be nice and red. The scales must possess some shine and tightly clinging scales. If the scales fall off easily, don’t pick that fish.
Inside the Fish
There are some fish in the market that don’t have the head anymore. To determine its freshness, the membrane should be a little tough. Also, avoid a fish that has a yellow or brown membrane, as this is an indicator that it was harvested a few days back. Pick fish that is firm when touched.
Smell
A freshly-harvested fish has a clean water smell or seaweed smell to it. If the smell is foul, don’t buy it because cooking will not remove the foul smell of a rotten fish. In fact, one of the ways to determine if a fish is rotten or not is by cooking it. If it omits a foul smell, that fish has no place but the garbage can.
Tips To Pick Fish Fillet
- Fish fillet should not have any foul smell. Fillets decompose easily, so be very careful when picking one.
- Check for the flesh of the fish. If it’s soft to the touch and easily disintegrates, it’s not fresh. Choose fish fillets that are firm to the touch.
- Avoid a fish with a mucous covering. It should be transparent and glossy, not milky or opaque.
- Check the color. If it’s shiny and pinkish in color, it’s a good choice.
How To Store Fish
Now that you know how to pick fish that’s fresh, you should learn how to wash it very well as soon as you get home. Wipe the fish dry and store it in the freezer. It can stay there up to a couple of weeks.