Seafood is highly nutritious, but it often leaves a strong, lingering odor in your home and on your clothes. Here are some effective methods to eliminate the unpleasant smell of seafood and enjoy your meal without any worries.
The following are some tips to remove the fishy odor from seafood:
How to Get Rid of the Odor from Sea Fish
Sea fish often has a strong odor due to improper freezing during transportation. To reduce this, ensure you remove all the blood from the fish, especially the blood gathered near the spine and the black membrane. Cut off the fins, scales, and rinse off any slime. Soak the fish in water mixed with basil, vinegar, ginger wine, strong tea, or rice water to effectively eliminate the odor. You can choose any of these liquids to soak the fish before cooking.
When stewing the fish, add some tea leaves or lemon juice to reduce the odor. Tea leaves also help firm up the fish meat and enhance the flavor. Additionally, always use hot water when preparing fish as it causes the flesh to contract quickly, reducing amino acid breakdown and thus minimizing the odor.
How to Get Rid of the Odor from Sea Shrimp
Sea shrimp is usually rich in nutrients and larger in size, making it a popular choice. To reduce the odor from shrimp, cut off the whiskers and devein them. The shrimp’s vein is the digestive tract, which contains impurities. The head of the shrimp is an empty space that holds waste and may contain heavy metals and parasites. Next, soak the shrimp in water mixed with salt, sugar, and white wine to eliminate the odor and firm up the meat, making it sweeter and crisper after cooking.
How to Get Rid of the Odor from Squid
For squid, clean it thoroughly and then soak it in strong tea. This will not only remove the odor but also enhance its flavor. You can also wash the squid with ginger water, but using green tea makes it even more delicious and appealing.
How to Get Rid of the Odor from Sea Snails
Sea snails should be cleaned thoroughly to remove any sand or dirt. If the snails are large, use a steel brush to scrub them clean. Then, soak them in cold water. When cooking the snails, whether boiling or stir-frying, add ingredients like lemon leaves, lemongrass, basil, ginger, or wine to eliminate the odor and impart a pleasant aroma.
How to Get Rid of the Odor from Crabs and Crayfish
For crabs and crayfish, clean them thoroughly, scrubbing the shell and apron with a steel brush. Then, soak them in a mixture of wine and crushed ginger. This not only helps eliminate the odor but also adds a delightful aroma when the seafood is steamed.
Some Things to Keep in Mind When Preparing Seafood
Seafood often has sand and algae attached to it, so rinse it several times with water. When cooking, keep the lid open to allow the amino acids that cause the odor to escape with the steam. Always use appropriate seasonings like lemongrass, pepper, chili, ginger, onion, coriander, or celery to enhance the flavor and color of the dish while reducing the odor. You can also use sour ingredients like lemon, star fruit, tamarind, pineapple, or vinegar to achieve the same effect.