FISH
 


 








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All about Eels includes Recipes   All about Trout includes recipes

Buying Fish.
Fresh fish is a boon to families looking for nutritious, cost-effective meals that can be prepared quickly and very easily. 

Fresh fish is a highly nutritious, economical addition to any menu. It usually costs less than other protein foods and is easy to prepare cooking in minutes rather than hours. 

In addition to seafood and fish markets, many grocery stores now offer a variety of fresh fish for sale. If you recognize the signs of good quality fish you can make better selections.
Follow these guidelines when checking for good quality.

Check the skin of the fish. It should be shiny, almost metallic, with color that has not faded. As the fish decomposes, its skin markings and colors become less distinctive.

Look at the scales of the fish. Scales should be brightly colored and tightly attached to skin. The gills should be red and free from slime. As fish ages, the gills change color, fading gradually to a light pink, then becoming gray and eventually brownish and greenish .

If the head is still on the fish, check the eyes. They should be bright, clear, transparent and full often protruding. As the fish decomposes, its eyes become cloudy, and may turn pink and shrink.

The flesh of whole or dressed fish should be firm, elastic and not separated from the bones. Fish fillets should have a fresh cut appearance and color that resembles freshly dressed fish.

Last, but not least, don't forget to check for odor. The odor should be fresh or mild...not fishy.

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIN FISH
Fish vary in meat color and flavor. Check the ranges of characteristics below. Compare the fish you prefer to the ones available to decide which fish to substitute. Remember that the size of the fish and the way it's cut (dressed, steak, fillets) will also help you determine whether you can substitute the fish you want to try in your favorite recipe.

Meat Color Range

White

Light

Medium

Dark

Flavor Range

Very Light Delicate

Light to Moderate

Moderate

More Pronounced

Cooking Techniques

Bake

Broil

Poach

Stew Fry



FISH

MEAT COLOR

FLAVOR

COOKING TECHNIQUES

Bluefish

Dark

Moderate

Bake, Broil

Butterfish

White

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil

Carp

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Poach, Stew

Catfish

White

Light to Moderate

All

Cod

White

Very Light Delicate

All

Croaker

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry, Poach

Cusk

White

Very light Delicate

All

Drum

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Poach, Fry

Fluke (Flounder)

White

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Fry, Poach

Grouper

Light

Very Light Delicate

All

Haddock

White

Very Light Delicate

All

Hake (Steakfish)

White

Light to Moderate

All

Halibut

White

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Broil, Poach, Fry

Ling

White

Light to Moderate

All

Mackerel (Boston & Spanish)

Medium

More Pronounced

Bake, Broil, Stew

Mahi Mahi

White

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Poach, Fry

Monkfish

Light

Light to Moderate

All

Orange Roughy

White

Light to Moderate

All

Perch, Ocean (Redfish)

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry, Poach

Perch, Yellow or White

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry, Poach

Pike

Light

Light to Moderate

All

Pollock

Light

Light to Moderate

All

Pompano

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil

Porgy (Scup)

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry

Red Snapper

White

Light to Moderate

All

Salmon

Medium

Moderate

Bake, Broil, Poach

Sea Bass, Black

Dark

Moderate

All

Sea Trout

White

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry

Shad

Medium

Moderate

Bake, Broil

Smelt

Light

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Broil, Fry

Sole

White

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Broil, Fry, Poach

Swordfish

Light

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Stew

Tilefish

White

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Broil, Poach, Fry

Trout, Rainbow

Light

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Broil, Poach, Fry

Tuna

Medium

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Stew

Turbot

White

Very Light Delicate

Bake, Fry, Poach

Whitefish

White

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry, Poach

Whiting

White

Light to Moderate

Bake, Broil, Fry, Poach

 

How much to Buy?

  • Whole or round fish - 3/4 to 1 lb. per person
  • Dressed or cleaned - 1/2 to 3/4 lb. per person
  • Fillets and steaks - 1/3 lb. to 1/2 lb. per person
  • About 1/4 lb. to 1/3 lb. per person for cooked crab meat, cooked lobster meat, surimi products, cooked and peeled shrimp, raw scallops, raw cleaned squid
  • Live:
    • 1 to 2 lb. lobster per person
    • 1 to 2 lb. crabs per person
    • 12 to 15 mussels per person
    • 6 10 12 oysters depending on size
    • 6 to 12 clams depending on size

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