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Seafood is easy to make and nutritious. Studies have shown that eating fish and shellfish regularly can improve your overall health and decrease the risk of life threatening medical conditions such as heart disease. Considering all the benefits, it is surprising that Americans consume seafood less than any other animal protein. If you are new to buying and preparing seafood (of all kinds) our pros offer tips for buying and storing fish & shellfish so you can enjoy a delicious seafood meal as often as you’d like.
Learning how to choose the best seafood for your recipe can help you overcome any hesitation you have and enjoy the health benefits of eating seafood regularly. Here are tips you can follow when buying and storing seafood:
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#1: Trust Your Nose
When you are choosing seafood, you should trust your nose. A fresh fish should smell like clean water, or a touch briny like saltwater. Some say it even smells like cucumbers. Though seafood is notorious for having a strong smell, fresh fish shouldn’t smell stinky or have a chemical scent. Fresh fish and shellfish should smell salty and slightly sweet, like the ocean. If you are buying it at a seafood counter, it should be on ice to keep it cool.
#2: Be Adventurous, Try Different Kinds of Seafood
There are at least 500 kinds of seafood available in the U.S. but 10 types make up 90% of all seafood purchases. The top three are shrimp, canned tuna and salmon. These 10 types of fish aren’t better than other fish, they are simply more well-known.
Shoppers tend to be more comfortable buying seafoods they are familiar with. By trying out less common fish, you can help protect and preserve populations of popular types of fish. Plus, you will benefit from discovering other delicious kinds of seafood you may have originally overlooked because it was unfamiliar. Many of today’s popular seafood recipes include different types of fish that you can use as a substitute to the more commonly known seafood ingredient.
#3: Keep It on Ice & Cook It Soon
When you bring seafood home from the fish market or grocery store, be sure to keep it on ice. If you are planning to make it that evening or the next day, place it on top of a bowl of ice and put it in the coldest corner of your refrigerator. If you are planning to make it later that week or month, place it in a zip lock bag then put it on top of a container filled with ice and place it in the freezer. Be sure not to keep it in the freezer for more than a couple of months because seafood degrades over time.
By utilizing these pro tips, you will be able to choose healthy, fresh fish that will be the perfect addition to your family dinner or healthy meal plan. Whether you want to learn more about fish or pick up seafood for dinner, swing by City Fish Market! We are happy to share our knowledge about seafood with you.
