1. Choose Fresh Fish for a Healthy Diet
Fish is low in fat and tastiest when prepared simply, without being cooked in heavy sauces or fried in fatty oils. That said, you should buy the freshest possible fillets or shellfish to emphasize the taste of the fish in your recipes. For a healthy diet, combine low-fat fish choices, such as cod or flounder and those high in omega-3 oils, such as wild salmon and rainbow trout. Since your body is not able to create high levels of these nutrients alone, adding fish to your diet provides a way to obtain the good fats you need.
Eating shellfish is an excellent way to incorporate omega-3 oils into your diet. But lately, a lot has been discovered about the quality of fish in relation to where it's bought and how it's raised. For instance, shellfish nurtured in pens, or polluting nets, are less healthy than those raised in environmentally safe tanks or ponds.
2. Look at Visual Clues for Freshness
Spot healthy fish by its color and look. Fish fillets are healthiest when they are a clear, milky color or a translucent pink, with no brown spots. For recipes that require a whole fish, make sure the skin has a natural sheen. A healthy fish will also possess clear, prominent eyes that are not cloudy and flat.
Purchase fish at a market or fish counter of a grocery store that has a high volume of customers. The more product that is sold, the more likely the fish will be fresh. Ask where the fish comes from and where it is raised. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the United States gets only a small percentage of its shrimp from areas that adhere to highly eco-friendly rules, such as the Gulf of Mexico. Other fish markets and restaurants buy shrimp from poorly enforced regions, such as Latin America and Southeast Asia.
3. Evaluate the Texture and Smell
While you can tell a lot from the sight and color of fish, its feel and texture reveals a lot about the freshness too. As you know, fish has many different thickness levels, such as somewhat-thin flounder fillets to thicker salmon steaks. However, a good fish, even a slim fillet, should have a firm texture, and shrimp and crayfish should not be greasy.
When you are choosing fish, don't be afraid to touch the fish to evaluate its texture. A good rule of thumb is to give the fish a gentle poke with your finger. If the flesh springs back easily, you know it's fresh. In addition to scoping out the texture of fish, use your sense of smell. If the product smells overly fishy, it's been sitting too long and is not fresh caught. Raw shrimp, for example, should smell like the sea but without any hint of ammonia. If it does smell like ammonia, it's going bad.
Member Comments