How to Test Your Seafood for Optimal Freshness

Making sure the seafood you buy is fresh before consuming it is not only essential for your health and safety, but it also has a major impact on the flavor of your seafood dishes. At Farm-2-Market, we guarantee freshness by harvesting our products only after you buy our fresh seafood online.

For some helpful tips on testing the freshness and overall quality of your seafood, read a few pieces of advice from our experts below.

How to Tell if Your Seafood is Fresh

·       Testing fish for freshness

If you choose to purchase your fish from an in-person market, it is important to know what to look for before ordering. Fresh fish should have bright skin and their scales should present a metallic shine. If you are buying a whole fish, the eyes should be clear and the scales should be completely intact with the flesh. Once you have purchased your fresh fish, you can also test its freshness by gently pressing into the skin to make sure it springs back. We also recommend smelling the fish to ensure a fresh, ocean smell as opposed to a fishy odor.

·       Testing shrimp for freshness

Seafood lovers often buy fresh shrimp online from our market, as it has been ranked as the best shrimp in America. When you are buying shrimp, we suggest scanning the product for black spots and feeling for a slimy outer shell. If you notice either of these, it may be best to buy fresh shrimp elsewhere. It can be difficult to identify freshness based on color because certain types of shrimp like our Mexican Wild Shrimp may be light grey in color while Live Californian Spot Prawns possess a bright pink hue.

·       Testing other crustaceans for freshness

Other types of crustaceans such as lobster and crab can be difficult to test for freshness. Unfortunately, there are no obvious changes in appearance, however, you should be able to tell whether or not the crustacean is fresh based on its smell alone. The best way to ensure fresh lobster, crab, or crawfish, however, is to purchase it live.

·       Testing raw shellfish for freshness

Consuming raw shellfish which has turned can be extremely harmful, which is why it is important to find a trusted seafood market. Speak to your fishmonger before buying oysters, clams, or other raw shellfish.

Farm-2-Market

Buy and get overnight delivery on fresh shrimp, fish, and meat from us today. Contact us for more information on our products and shop now!