How to choose quality fresh fish, whether in the market or supermarket

Fish stores a myriad of nutrients that are beneficial to health, but the content of these nutrients is no longer optimal if you eat fish whose quality has decreased. Fish that are no longer fresh are also ideal breeding grounds for a wide variety of bacteria. These bacteria can contaminate food, causing health problems, even food poisoning. To avoid this, here's how to choose fresh fish that you can apply.

How to choose fresh and nutrient-rich fish

Low-quality fish have characteristics that differentiate them from fresh fish. You may have seen fish that smells fishy with a soft texture, but this is not the only sign that the quality of the fish has deteriorated. Here are a few things you need to look at.

1. Eyes

The fresh fish eye looks bright and clear with a black color in the middle. The surface also feels protruding and supple when touched. On the other hand, the eyes of the fish that were not fresh looked shriveled and cloudy. The part of the eye which should be yellowish white also turns reddish in color.

2. Gills

Lift the gill covers on the sides of the fish's head. Freshly caught fish has red gills that look clean and fresh. The redder the color of the gills, the better the quality. Brownish or grayish colored gills with separate parts of the gills indicate that the quality of the fish has deteriorated.

3. Skin and scales

One easy way to pick fresh fish is to observe the skin color and scales. Good quality fish skin looks shiny with a light color. The scales are still firmly attached to the body of the fish and do not come off easily when pulled. Meanwhile, low-quality fish have skin and scales that appear dull. When held, the scales also come off easily.

4. Fish meat

Fresh fish flesh looks clear with a bright translucent color. Some types of fish have a bright white flesh color, but there are also types of fish that have different colors. Whatever type of fish you choose, make sure that it is bright and not dull.

Fresh fish has a soft texture, but is chewy enough so that it resumes its shape when pressed. The whole flesh is also firmly attached to the bone. In contrast to fresh fish, fish meat whose quality has decreased is dull. The texture also changes to become softer.

5. Stomach

Another way to select fresh fish is to press the stomach. Fresh fish belly feels chewy when pressed and can return to its original shape. Meanwhile, low-quality fish has a soft belly texture. The contents of its stomach can also easily unravel when you press on it.

6. Smells

Good quality fish has a distinctive smell that is fresh and mild. The smell of fresh fish does not irritate the smell or taste strange. On the other hand, a strong fishy smell indicates that the fish is no longer fresh. The fish have also been left at room temperature for too long and have begun to decompose.

Besides being useful for maintaining optimal fish quality, knowing how to choose fresh fish can also reduce the risk of food contamination. After choosing fish, don't forget to immediately store it in the refrigerator or prepare it as soon as possible. You can keep it fresh by adding lemon juice and fresh spices according to your taste.