If you love making seafood, you need to find a decent supplier who can provide high-quality fish and other seafood. You can buy fish, prawns, lobsters, and crabs at almost any decent fishmonger in your area, however, before you purchase the seafood, it’s important that you know how to select the freshest items on the cold table. Most fishmongers give you the option of checking out different fish in their selection and choosing the one that seems freshest to you. Some places give the option of buying fresh fish while many others also offer frozen fish.
Keep in mind that the frozen fish is usually put in its sub-zero state right on the fishing vessel, a process known as flash freezing. This ensures that the quality of the fish remains as good as that of a fresh catch. You can’t figure these things out by yourself, however, so it’s important that you take a few precautionary steps when buying seafood in Richmond. In the following paragraphs, you will learn how to select the best and the freshest fish, so read on below!
The Eyes
Before you pick up the fish and start checking the softness of the meat, it’s important that you take a look at the eyes. If the eyes have sunken features, there’s a strong chance that the fish isn’t fresh. Usually, the eyes should be plump and wet, and should be crystal clear to view, with a shiny touch. Simply put, the eyes should look good. If you are not convinced by the eyes, don’t buy it. Cloudy eyes are a clear sign that the meat has begun to deteriorate; the eyes will soon begin to shrink and fade away. It’s a clear sign that the fish wasn’t handled properly or is unhealthy.
The Fins
Once you have checked the eyes, it’s time to move to the fins. The dorsal and the tail fins should ideally look healthy and should have a wet texture. They should also be intact, thus ensuring that the fish was handled properly. Because they are so delicate, the dorsal and the tail fins tend to break easily. If the fish was manhandled, the fins will give it away. If the fish was fresh and young, the fins will look wet and intact. Older fish usually have brittle and dry fins, however, so you should know that the meat will take slightly longer to tenderise.
Touch the Flesh
Some fishmongers will also allow you to touch the fish first to satisfy yourself. If the monger allows you, you can just touch the flesh to get a better idea about the health of the fish. Ideally, the flesh should be wet and slippery, but shouldn’t have a sticky feel to it. It should also spring back when you press on it. If that doesn’t happen, you can safely assume that the meat is now soft, and there’s no point in buying the fish anymore. These are just a few tips on how to buy the best fish at the market.