How To Choose Fresh Whole Fish In 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Check the eyes If you don’t have the time to spare or prefer not to get touchy with fresh fish, the quickest way to tell if a whole fish is fresh is to check the eyes. They should be clear, bulging with dark pupils and look as life-like as possible. Cloudy eyes where the pupil isn’t visible is a surefire sign that the fish is old. Step 2: Check the fins and tail The fins and tail of the fish is another tell-tale sign of whether the fish has been handled properly. These are the parts that jut out the most and mishandling would cause the fins to tear. To test if the whole fish is still fresh, touch the tail to make sure that it is still nimble. Dried, brittle fins are a mark of age.

Step 3: Have a good sniff If you’re at a market to get your fish, be sure to have a good sniff around as any foul odours indicate that the seller might not be a reputable one. If that passes the test, then get close to your selection to detect any smells. Fresh fish should smell like the sea – any odd smells are an indication that the fish is not just old, but has started to rot. Step 4: Check the gills If the fish monger allows, it’s time to get handsy. Peer into the gills to make sure that the insides are red. This is primarily where the fish’s oxygen vessels are and the fresher it is, the brighter red it should be. The gills tend to darken over time as its myoglobin would oxidise into metmyoglobin. Avoid the fish it has turned brown or even black. Step 5: Feel the scales Yes the fish may appear shiny and metallic (two visual cues of freshness) but put it to a real test and run your hands on the scales. They should be still feel firm as it’s a form of armour for the fish. The scales tend to slide off easily if the fish isn’t too fresh.

And also if you buy fillet then fresh fish fillet have a strong texture, vibrant and little bit like transparent.

As far its getting worst it becomes soft, and faded.