Five Reasons to Buy from a Fresh Seafood Market

Are you looking for great food additions to your menu? Do you crave exotic tastes and flavors? Are you trying to add healthy new foods to your diet? Seafood is both delicious and nutritious. Studies show that people who eat fish or seafood – especially fatty fish like king salmon or albacore tuna – cut their risks of many major illnesses significantly. But don’t visit your local seafood market just because it’s good for your health. Here are five delicious reasons to put the seafood market on your list of must-visit shops when you do your weekly grocery shopping.

Dungeness Crabs

Crab is high in protein, but also high in cholesterol. If you can’t get enough of the sweet, delicate flavor of crab, though, you can indulge more often when you buy Dungeness crab. Dungeness crab is lower in calories, fat and cholesterol than most other shellfish, but still has a smooth, sweet, almost buttery flavor. Buy live Dungeness crab for the freshest flavor and most tender meat.

King Salmon

Fresh king salmon is one of the most forgiving of all sea fish. Its high fat content makes it tolerant of overcooking, so it’s perfect for broiling, frying, baking, smoking and grilling. The fat in salmon is of the healthy type that’s packed with omega-3 fatty acid, making it just as good for you as it is tasty. You can buy king salmon frozen, but if you want to enjoy it as sushi or sashimi, look for a seafood market that has fresh king salmon for sale. For a real treat, try smoked salmon, or smoke it yourself on your home grill.

Diver Scallops

Sweet, tender and easy to cook, diver scallops are nearly the perfect food for hot summer days. Why should you buy diver scallops as opposed to dredged scallops? In a nutshell, they’re better. Divers tend to hand-pick the most mature scallops, so you’re getting the cream of the crop. On top of that, divers don’t indiscriminately scoop up all sorts of other shellfish and sea creatures when they’re harvesting diver scallops.

Swordfish Steaks

Swordfish is one of the “meatiest” of all fish. Its steak-like texture and mild flavor make it a seafood favorite even with people who don’t particularly like seafood. Swordfish steaks are a low-fat, low-calorie protein choice that’s high in omega-3 and potassium. You can buy swordfish steaks, fillets or kabobs, and bake, broil, grill or pan-fry swordfish for a delicious alternative to meat.

Albacore Tuna

Albacore is the premium tuna most sought by consumers, and with good reason. Fresh albacore is firm-fleshed, succulent and milder in flavor than other types of wild-caught tuna. Try tuna ceviche for a delicious change-of-pace from typical seafood entrées.

In addition to fresh fish in season, a good seafood market will also offer a variety of frozen fish, smoked seafood and condiments to add to your seafood recipes. Step outside your typical menu and enjoy fresh fish from your local market or an online seafood market this week.