How to Buy Fish

Fish is sold in a variety of different ways, including as whole fresh fish, fresh fish cut into pieces, frozen fish, salted fish, and smoked fish. The criteria for buying fish vary slightly depending on which types you’re buying.

How to Buy Whole Fresh Fish

If you’re buying whole fresh fish, follow these guidelines to ensure that you’re buying the freshest possible.

Gills: Should be moist and bright red.
Eyes: Should be full, shiny, and slightly protruding.
Skin: Should be shiny, iridescent, tight, and firmly attached to the flesh.
Flesh: Should be elastic and unmarked, and it should spring back when pressed and should not fall away easily from the bones.
Scales: Should be shiny and intact, and should adhere firmly to the skin.
Belly: Should not be swollen or faded.
Odor: Should be mild and pleasant. A strong, fishy odor indicates that a fish is less than fresh. A muddy odor, though, doesn’t indicate that the fish is no longer fresh, but simply that the fish was caught in muddy waters.

How to Buy Fresh Fish Sold in Pieces

Fresh fish may be cut up and sold as fillets (pieces of flesh cut along the backbone), in steaks (thick cross-sections of the fish), or in smaller pieces. When buying these cuts of fish, look for flesh that is:

Firm, shiny, and elastic
Firmly attached to bones (if any)
Isn’t brownish, yellowish, or dry
Has a pleasant odor

Note that fish that has been frozen and defrosted can sometimes be difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish from fresh fish. Freezing does slightly alter the taste and texture of fish. Fish should be eaten as soon as possible after defrosting and should never be refrozen until after cooking. For these reasons, U.S. regulations require that defrosted fish be clearly labeled as such. When buying pieces of fish that you believe to be fresh, it’s always a good idea to check for any labels that may indicate otherwise.

How to Buy Frozen Fish

Frozen fish may be sold whole, though it’s more often sold as fillets, steaks, or smaller pieces. When buying frozen fish, look for flesh that’s:

Firm and shiny
Free of dryness or freezer burn
Thoroughly and completely frozen
Wrapped in airtight, intact packaging that contains no frost or ice crystals

How to Buy Salted Fish

Salt can be used to preserve fish. When buying salted fish, look for flesh that:

Has an attractive color
Has a pleasant odor
Isn’t dried out

Smoked Fish

Fish can also be preserved by smoking it. When buying smoked fish, look for flesh that:

Has a pleasant odor
Has retained its juices and isn’t dried out

Other Ways in Which Fish is Sold

Fish is also canned (whole, in fillets, in pieces, or flaked) in various substances (water, oil, vinegar, white wine, tomatoes, and sauces). It’s often also frozen in sauces and in the form of croquettes, sticks, and breaded portions. Fish sold in these ways has been inspected already, so you can eat it without worry.

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