How To Determine Freshness
Here's a guide for you to determine the freshness of the seafood you are about to purchase. By going through these steps listed below, you're 90% certain to get fresh seafood.
Whole Fish
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Look for bright, clear eyes.
The eyes are the window to a truly fresh fish, for they fade quickly into gray dullness. Dull-eyed fish may be safe to eat, but they are past their prime. -
Next look at the fish.
They should be beautiful, meaning they shine in metallic brilliantness and are perfectly clean. -
Smell it.
A fresh fish should smell like the sea. Under no circumstances should you buy a really bad fishy smelling fish! NEVER buy a fish with a strong chlorine smell! Unethical fish sellers soak the fish in chlorine to mask the fishy smell or even worse, the smell of Formaldehyde. -
Look at the gills.
They should be a rich red. If the fish is not fresh, they will turn the color of faded brick.
Shrimps
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Look at the eyes.
The eyes should have a prominent appearance in the head and appear glossy or shiny. -
Next look at shrimp.
The shell should have a firm and glossy appearance. Black spots on the shell are an indication that the shrimp is no longer fresh. -
Smell it.
It should smell of the sea. It should never smell fishy. NEVER buy a shrimp with a strong chlorine smell! Unethical fish sellers soak shrimps in chlorine to mask the fishy smell or even worse, the smell of Formaldehyde. -
Touch.
The body of the shrimp should feel moist and firm. If it is dry and tough, it's not fresh.