Fish with cloudy white eyes
The eyes of the fish are one of the parts that reveal the freshness of the fish. Fresh fish will have slightly swollen, clear and distinctive eyes. Fish that are dead, spoiled, and have lots of bacteria will have cloudy and unclear eyes.
It should be noted that during the process of catching and transporting fish, collisions can occur, causing the fish’s eyes to turn red. Although the eyes may be bleeding at this time, if they are still bright, slightly bulging, they are still fresh and safe to buy.
Fish with bloated stomachs
If you observe that the fish’s stomach is bloated, it has been dead for a long time. Fish with bloated stomachs are usually no longer fresh, the flesh is rotten, with a strong fishy smell, and contains lots of bacteria. Consuming this type of fish will affect the digestive system.
Frozen fish with yellow-colored meat
Although transportation is convenient nowadays, many frozen fish can still become deteriorated and expired by the time they reach consumers. Many sellers, driven by profit, may change the expiration date. This type of fish may have deteriorated and will have an unpleasant smell after thawing, so it is definitely not recommended to buy.
Fish with less elastic meat
When you go to the market to buy fish, remember to gently press the lower part of the fish’s abdomen to check if it is still fresh. If it is fresh, the flesh will be firm and have good elasticity. It will immediately return to its original state when lightly pressed.
However, if the fish is spoiled and contains harmful bacteria, it will leave a deep dent when pressed. Some types of fish may even become soft and mushy, with the meat breaking apart during cooking. Eating such fish not only ruins the taste but also harms the body.
So what should you look for when buying fish?
Good quality fish is harvested at the right ripeness, raised for a certain period of time, in guaranteed water sources, and fed balanced and high-quality food.
When buying fish, it is best to choose fish that are still swimming. In terms of appearance, the fish should be bright, colorful, and healthy. If the fish’s scales are peeling, fins are scratched, or there are red spots and wounds, it means the fish is damaged or infected and its meat quality will not be guaranteed. These types of fish should not be purchased.
The gills of the fish should be pink, with tightly closed gill covers. When opened, you should see a transparent slimy substance. The fish’s scales should be shiny and tightly attached to its body. Sniffing the fish, you should smell a slightly fishy odor, but not too strong. If there is a strong, foul smell, the fish may have been dead for a long time, and the bacteria produced will make the fish smell bad.
Finally, you can press your finger onto the fish’s body. If the flesh is fresh, healthy, and has good elasticity, the dent will disappear immediately after pressing. This indicates that the fish is still fresh and can be bought and used.