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Picking out the perfect fish can be intimidating, but if you know what to look for you can come out with the freshest, most sustainable fish around. And don't be afraid to ask your fish monger questions if you're confused. Here's what to look for when it comes to serving the freshest fish:
- Do your research on sustainability Before you head to the market, do your research. Find out the latest in fish sustainability by looking at Monterey Bay Aquarium's Endangered Seafood Guide. The site outlines the best seafood choices in terms of sustainability and discusses some good alternatives. It also tells you where the fish are caught and how they are caught. But most importantly, the site tells you what to avoid. If your fish are farm raised, check out this guide to eco-friendly, farm-raised fish.
- Look for high turnover This should be the most important factor in determining where you make your purchase. Your fish market should be receiving fresh shipments everyday.
- Follow your nose Fresh fish has a natural fresh from the ocean, salt water smell. Fish should never have an off-putting, "fishy" smell.
- Be a detective when looking for fresh fish. When examining a whole fish, look for clear, bright eyes that are not sunken. Also look for bright red gills. There should not be any missing scales, and the skin should be moist. Really fresh fish feel slightly slippery and have shiny skin with bright natural coloring. A fresh fish's tail will be stiff. When looking at fillets, look for neat, trim fillets with firm flesh. White fish should have a white translucent color without any discoloration.
Interested in hearing what celebrities have to say about green? Eavesdrop on their dinner conversations on Planet Green TV's Supper Club.
