![]() Avoid packages where the “frozen” fish flesh is not hard. ![]() Avoid packages with signs of frost or ice crystals, which may mean the fish has been stored a long time or thawed and refrozen.Don’t buy frozen seafood if its package is open, torn, or crushed on the edges.They spoil rapidly after death, so only live crabs and lobsters should be selected and prepared.įrozen seafood can spoil if the fish thaws during transport and is left at warm temperatures for too long before cooking. Check for Leg Movement: Live crabs and lobsters should show some leg movement.If they don’t close when tapped, do not select them. Do a “Tap Test”: Live clams, oysters, and mussels will close when the shell is tapped.Discard Cracked/Broken Ones: Throw away clams, oysters, and mussels if their shells are cracked or broken.This means that the shellfish were harvested and processed in accordance with national shellfish safety controls. These tags and labels contain specific information about the product, including the processor’s certification number. Look for the label: Look for tags on sacks or containers of live shellfish (in the shell) and labels on containers or packages of shucked shellfish.Fresh fish and fish fillets sold as “Previously Frozen” may not have all the characteristics of fresh fish (e.g., bright eyes, firm flesh, red gills, flesh, or bloodlines), however, they should still smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or rancid.įollow these general guidelines for safely selecting shellfish:.Always check the indicators when they are present and only buy the seafood if the indicator shows that the product is safe to eat. Some refrigerated seafood may have time/temperature indicators on their packaging, which show if the product has been stored at the proper temperature.Shrimp, scallop, and lobster flesh should be clear with a pearl-like color and little or no odor.Fish fillets should display no discoloration, darkening, or drying around the edges.The flesh should spring back when pressed. Fresh fillets should have firm flesh and red blood lines, or red flesh if fresh tuna. Whole fish should have firm flesh and red gills with no odor.A fish’s eyes should be clear and shiny.Fish should smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or ammonia-like.The following tips can help you when making purchasing decisions: Because the color of a fish can be affected by several factors including diet, environment, treatment with a color fixative such as carbon monoxide or other packaging processes, color alone is not an indicator of freshness. This brings out the sweet flavor that is the hallmark of this magnificent seafood.Only buy fish that is refrigerated or displayed on a thick bed of fresh ice (preferably in a case or under some type of cover). It is probably at its most delicious simply boiled or steamed and eaten dipped in clarified butter. This prized culinary delicacy is used in bisques, soups, boils, salads and many other applications. There are strict penalties for any deviation from these rules, which are an essential part of maintaining a sustainable lobster population. Fishermen are forbidden from taking any lobster whose shell is longer than five inches, and female lobsters must be V-marked and returned to the sea. Only conventional lobster traps from boats can be used, and even commercial fishermen are limited to a maximum number of traps. Only lobster larger than a legal minimum can be taken, and no lobster at all can be caught between June and October. Known as the king of the crustaceans, lobster is an important New England seafood delicacy, and harvesting it is controlled by strict, detailed regulation.
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