Old Fashioned Candy Source

An important part of any healthy diet is seafood. Not only is it high in protein, it contains much needed omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. To get the most out of your seafood, it needs to be handled safely. Keep in mind the following safety tips when you go shopping for fresh seafood.

At any fish counter, the seafood should be displayed either refrigerated or on a bed of fresh ice, that shows no signs of melting. The case should be covered and smell clean, not fishy. Look at the seafood. When you look at a whole fish, the eyes should be clear and slightly bulged. There are only a few types of fish with naturally cloudy eyes, like walleye pike.

Both fillets and whole fish should have flesh that is firm and shiny. The gills should be a nice bright red and there should be no evidence of slime. Dull colored meat could mean the fish has been sitting there too long. If you press the meat with your finger, it should spring back. Fillets should not look like they are drying out or darkening around the edges. There should be no yellow or green discoloration and there should be no areas that look dry or mushy.

Shellfish come with a tag or label from their processors. No fishmonger should have a problem showing you these tags or labels if you request it. Really good ones will have them displayed with the seafood. These tags are marked with the processor’s certification number and other information you may need to know about your seafood.

Do not eat any mussels, clams, or oysters that have broken or cracked shells. Whole shellfish can be tested by tapping on the shell. Live shellfish will close up quickly when tapped. If they stay open, do not buy them. Lobsters and crabs that are purchased alive should be showing leg movement. These crustaceans spoil very quickly, so unless you are eating them right then and there, you are better off buying them alive.

Once you get home, put the seafood in the fridge if you will be eating it within two days. Any longer than that and you had better consider freezing it. Living seafood should be eaten that same day if possible. Frozen seafood should be thawed gradually overnight in the refrigerator. Follow standard cleanliness routines and sanitize your hands, knives and cutting board to prevent cross contamination.

It does not matter if you are making a full seafood meal or some easy appetizers. Always make sure your seafood is cooked properly. Fish will turn an opaque color and flake easily when it is done. Lobster and shrimp will take on an opaque pearly quality when they are perfectly cooked. Scallops will be a nice milky white and firm to the touch. Oysters, mussels, and clams are done when their shells open. Discard any that do not open.

These steps will help ensure that your seafood turns out perfectly. Your guests and family need to have a meal that is not only delicious, but also safe to eat. The worst that can happen is that someone gets sick from your food. These simple rules will keep your seafood safe and delicious.

Making effortless Superbowl party recipes means that you can prepare all your munchies well in advance and relax with your guests when the game starts. There are lots of Superbowl recipes to choose from and meat munchies, like chicken wings, ribs and hot dogs, are always incredibly popular. You will find hundreds of quick effortless appetizers at our website to give you some more ideas.

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