How to Choose the Best Fresh Fish & Fresh Seafood
Fresh fish and seafood are not only some of the most expensive items in the store, but they are also some of the most perishable. You want to buy the freshest product that you can.
Common sense will tell you that the market or store should be clean. Look to make sure that the fish and shellfish are properly iced. And do ask if anything was previously frozen, because this will affect your ability to re-freeze it.
What to look for when buying fish and shellfish
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Whole Fish - What to look for when buying whole fish
- Skin - should look shiny
- Scales - should be tight to the body of the fish
- Flesh - should be firm and should bounce back when you press it
- Gills - should be bright red or pink – no mucus
- Color - there should be no browning around the belly cavity
- Eyes - should be bright and clear
- Smell – there should be no fishy smell – just a mild ocean smell
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Fish fillets & steaks - What to look for when buying fish fillets or steaks
- Flesh - should be translucent. The surface should not be sticky.
- Skin - should be bright with no milky substance
- Color - no browning on the edges of the meat
- Smell – there should be no fishy smell – just a mild ocean smell
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Shrimp - What to look for when buying fresh shrimp
- Meat - should be firm. The legs should be intact.
- Color - no browning or blackening on the edges – no black spots
- Smell – there should be no fishy smell – just a mild ocean smell
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Crawfish - What to look for when buying fresh crawfish
- Alive - although they tend to come shipped in sacks, they should be alive.
- Throw out any dead ones before you cook them.
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Lobster - What to look for when buying live lobsters
- Ideally, you should buy lobster from a lobster pound or a seafood market that has lobsters delivered daily.
- Color - they come in many different colors, so that should not matter
- Alive - it should be active and lively
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Blue Crab - What to look for when buying live blue crab
- Alive - the legs should be moving and whole.
- Body – there should be no cracks in the body, claws, or edible legs.
- Smell – there should be no fishy smell – just a mild ocean smell
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Oysters and Clams - What to look for when buying fresh oysters and clams
- Alive – with tightly closed shells
- Shells – no cracks in the shells
- Smell – there should be no fishy smell – just a mild ocean smell
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Mussels - What to look for when buying fresh mussels
- Alive - with tightly closed shells
- Shells – no chips or cracks
- Smell – there should be no fishy smell – just a mild ocean smell
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Scallops - What to look for when buying scallop meat
- Color – should be ivory, light pink or white with no evidence of browning
- Texture – should be firm and not mushy
- Smell – they should have a sweet smell. If they smell sour, then they are spoiled.
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Squid – What to look for when buying whole squid
- Eyes - clear and full
- Meat – should be firm
- Skin – there should be no tears in the skin
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