How to Buy Fresh Seafood: It's Easier Than You Think

We all know that eating seafood is healthy making it low fat and nutritious. There are some things you need to know in order to get the best deal on it, though. Do you know how to tell if it is fresh? It is easier than you may think. Here are some helpful suggestions to use the next time you are at the market -

Use your sense of touch to help you with your fresh fish purchase. When you gently press the flesh, it should bounce back quickly. The flesh of a fresh fish will be both elastic and firm. Nonfresh fish will feel soft to the touch. It also will easily slip away from the bones. Another thing you may feel on a fish that is not fresh is slime. If you feel slime, do not buy the seafood.

Another natural way to determine if a fish or seafood is fresh or not is to smell it. By using your sense of smell, you will easily notice disagreeable or offensive odors. Those are sure signs that the seafood has been sitting around for too long. It is too old to be bought and eaten. Even if it is labeled as fresh, the unpleasant smell will indicate otherwise. It should not smell fishy. A shellfish, such as mussel or oyster will have a pleasant smell similar to the ocean air.

There is another surefire way to tell if fish or seafood is fresh. That is to simply use your eyes. Visual appearance is important in helping you determine whether the seafood is ready to be purchased. Look for tight scales that are closely attached to the fish's body. If the scales are loose, do not buy the fish. It is not fresh. Also look for shiny skin. A healthy, fresh fish will have a pleasing, vibrant looking skin. Another feature to look for on any fresh fish or seafood is color. Color should be vibrant and bright. If the color looks dull, do not buy it. Also, if you are buying fillets or steaks, if the edges are grey...it is not fresh. Discoloration is a sure sign that fish or seafood have been sitting around awhile. Spots are another indication that seafood is not fresh. Overall, you can tell quite a bit about the freshness of seafood simply by looking at it.

By using your senses of touching, smelling, and seeing when checking out the freshness of your potential fish or seafood purchase...you will be rewarded with a healthy and tasty delight.