How to ensure your fish is fresh?

Step 1: Eyes Don’t lie

The eyes of the fish don’t lie. This may sound weird but it is actually true and the best way to check if your fish is fresh or not. The fish eye should be clear, shiny, bulging with dark pupils and bright. Ensure that there is no cloudiness as this would means the fish is stale or rotting, or that the fish is old. Checking the fish eye for freshness of the fish, is the quickest way.

Step 2: Have a good sniff

A fresh fish should not have strong foul odours or sour smell, smelling the fish may seem gross to many but experts believe that it is important as it ensures that the fish you are consuming is fresh. Fresh fish should have a mild and natural pleasant scent, have a good sniff and if that passes the test, the fish is fresh.

Step 3: A firm and shiny flesh

The flesh of the fish should be bouncy when you are touching it. The skin has a natural metallic glow and should not look dull at all. The surface of the skin must be tight, and the scales must be attached tightly, the scales tend to slide off easily if the fish isn’t too fresh. Simply, a cracked skin or loose scale could be a sign of a rotting fish.

Step 4: Check the gills

If your fish is a whole fish, the gills should be bright pink or reddish in color. Peer into the gills to ensure that the insides are red, this is where the fish’s oxygen vessels are and the redder it is, it means the fresher it is. Fresh fish should have a slightly wet texture and it won’t be dry.

Step 5: Other important signs

Other important signs to look out for in a fresh fish is if any kind of discoloration of the flesh, brown or yellow sliminess around the edges or a spongy texture are signs of old fish. Fresh fish is best used right away within the same day or alternatively you may store it up for two days in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Frozen fish can keep in its original wrapping, froze it at 0 degrees or lower, for up to 3 months.