If you enjoy fresh swordfish, live Dungeness crab, fresh salmon,
abalone, diver scallops and other quality seafood, you’ve probably
heard a lot about “sustainable seafood” lately. It’s a hot topic on all
the Food Network and Cooking Channel cooking shows, and you can’t miss
the labels on the restaurant menus. Whether you buy swordfish, crab and
diver scallops in your local fish department or buy seafood online from a
reputable online seafood market, you can make sustainable seafood
choices that will help maintain the supply of seafood and reduce damage
to the environment caused by overfishing in general and particular
fishing methods. These tips can help you make sustainable seafood
choices so that you can continue enjoying fresh king salmon, fresh
swordfish, fresh albacore tuna and all your other favorite seafood for a
long time to come.
Buy from Someone You Trust
There are
lots of places you can buy seafood online, but many of them are
wholesale suppliers that sell lots of frozen, imported, low-quality
fish, often passing them off as higher-priced domestic and sustainable
fish. If you decide to buy seafood online, look for an online seafood
market that is an actual, physical market located near the ocean. Check
them out online – not just their website, but on websites where their
customer reviews will tell you all you need to know about their quality,
service and trustworthiness. When you find swordfish for sale or buy
king salmon from a trustworthy online seafood market, you can rest
assured that you’ll get exactly the fish and shellfish you order.
Check a List
There
are a number of organizations that maintain sustainable seafood lists
to help consumers make choices about the seafood they buy. They include
the Monterey Bay Aquarium-Seafood Watch and the Blue Ocean Institute
Seafood Choices Guide. You’ll find a list of seafood guides at the URI
Sustainable Seafood Initiative.
One of the best ways to use a
sustainable seafood list is to look up the types of seafood you most
enjoy and learn about its sustainability. When you buy king salmon, for
example, you’re buying a Good Alternative, according to the Seafood
Watch. While some species of salmon are endangered, king salmon are
carefully managed to ensure that the population of king salmon remains
stable or increases. Ablacore tuna is another sustainable seafood choice
with a high, stable population and well-regulated fishing industry.
It’s easy to buy sustainable seafood online when you take the time to research each online seafood market
you consider. Once you find a market you can trust, learning whether or
not a seafood choice is sustainable is as easy as asking.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
What Are Dry Scallops and Other Interesting Seafood FAQs
What are dry scallops?
It’s a question that any online seafood market hears frequently.
Knowing the answer to that question can mean the difference between a
seafood recipe that’s absolutely amazing and one that’s barely passable.
In fact, understanding a lot of seafood terminology can help you choose
the best seafood for your recipes and meals. These simple answers to
frequently asked questions about seafood will help you pick the right
fish and shellfish for your recipes.
What Are Dry Scallops?
In a word, awesome. In more specific terms, dry scallops are wild, natural scallops that have not been treated with any chemical preservatives. When you buy diver scallops from an online seafood market, they will most often be dry scallops.
Okay, so What Are Wet Scallops?
Wet scallops – and you’re not likely to see them advertised that way – have been treated with sodium tripolyphosphate, a preservative that makes them absorb water. Wet scallops weigh more than dry scallops – and while you’ll be paying for that added water, you probably won’t be eating it. It evaporates when you cook the scallops, taking a lot of the flavor and succulent texture with it.
How Can I Tell the Difference Between Dry Scallops and Wet Scallops?
For starters, if it doesn’t say “dry scallops,” they’re probably soaked in preservatives. Most seafood lovers will happily pay a premium for wild-caught seafood without preservatives, so if an online seafood market is selling dry scallops, they’ll definitely market them that way. Color is another giveaway. Treated scallops tend to be snow-white and look almost opaque. Dry scallops are darker, closer to a natural vanilla color, and they tend to be more translucent than opaque.
So What Are Diver Scallops?
It’s pretty self-explanatory. Diver scallops have been brought up from the ocean floor and cliffs by – you guessed it – divers. Having divers harvest scallops is a lot more labor-intensive than dredging the ocean floor with nets, but it’s far friendlier to the environment and to other critters that might get caught up in the nets.
So… They’re Sustainable, Right? Is There Any Other Reason I Should Care?
The best reason of all, of course. Dry scallops – and nearly all diver scallops are dry scallops – cook better and taste better. Wet scallops won’t sear properly, and they tend to get stringy and dried out very quickly when you cook them. Dry scallops, on the other hand, stay plump, juicy and succulent and are the perfect choice for any scallop recipe, cooked or raw.
What Are Dry Scallops?
In a word, awesome. In more specific terms, dry scallops are wild, natural scallops that have not been treated with any chemical preservatives. When you buy diver scallops from an online seafood market, they will most often be dry scallops.
Okay, so What Are Wet Scallops?
Wet scallops – and you’re not likely to see them advertised that way – have been treated with sodium tripolyphosphate, a preservative that makes them absorb water. Wet scallops weigh more than dry scallops – and while you’ll be paying for that added water, you probably won’t be eating it. It evaporates when you cook the scallops, taking a lot of the flavor and succulent texture with it.
How Can I Tell the Difference Between Dry Scallops and Wet Scallops?
For starters, if it doesn’t say “dry scallops,” they’re probably soaked in preservatives. Most seafood lovers will happily pay a premium for wild-caught seafood without preservatives, so if an online seafood market is selling dry scallops, they’ll definitely market them that way. Color is another giveaway. Treated scallops tend to be snow-white and look almost opaque. Dry scallops are darker, closer to a natural vanilla color, and they tend to be more translucent than opaque.
So What Are Diver Scallops?
It’s pretty self-explanatory. Diver scallops have been brought up from the ocean floor and cliffs by – you guessed it – divers. Having divers harvest scallops is a lot more labor-intensive than dredging the ocean floor with nets, but it’s far friendlier to the environment and to other critters that might get caught up in the nets.
So… They’re Sustainable, Right? Is There Any Other Reason I Should Care?
The best reason of all, of course. Dry scallops – and nearly all diver scallops are dry scallops – cook better and taste better. Wet scallops won’t sear properly, and they tend to get stringy and dried out very quickly when you cook them. Dry scallops, on the other hand, stay plump, juicy and succulent and are the perfect choice for any scallop recipe, cooked or raw.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Buy King Salmon and Fresh Albacore Tuna for Sushi and Sashimi
Are you a lover of raw fish dishes like sushi and sashimi? You can
make your own at home, if you follow some safety guidelines for buying
seafood online or off. For example, did you know that you can buy king
salmon from an online seafood market
and get sushi-grade fresh king salmon delivered right to your door? If
you decide to buy king salmon or other delicious seafood online, make
sure you take these precautions for safe eating.
Always Buy Fresh King Salmon and Albacore Tuna
Freshness is vital to both taste and health. Fish can spoil rapidly, and carry nasty bacteria that can make you very sick. If you decide to buy seafood online, make sure you buy from a reputable online seafood market with a reputation for delivering high-quality fresh fish.
Understand the Risks
When eating fresh fish raw, there are two dangers to worry about: bacteria and parasites. Careful handling and choosing the right fish will protect you from both risks.
Ask for Sashimi Grade Seafood
In the United States, fish sold as “sashimi grade” must be handled and treated in a way that reduces the chances they’ll carry parasites. That means that they are flash-frozen at a minimum of -4 F and kept at that temperature for seven days, or flash frozen to -31 F for at least 15 hours. In either case, the freezing will kill any parasites, and will not compromise the texture and flavor of the fish because it freezes so quickly. Much of the king salmon sold as “fresh” salmon has been flash frozen at sea because it preserves the freshness, but it’s always best to ask.
Check the Shipping Method
Before you order seafood online, call the online seafood market and ask about their shipping method. Only order from markets that ship seafood overnight in insulated coolers packed with cool-packs to keep it at a safe temperature. Keeping the fish cold is essential to food safety because it prevents bacteria from breeding.
Keep Your Fish Cold
When your albacore tuna or king salmon arrives, immediately remove it from cooler to inspect it for freshness. If it smells fishy at all, don’t use it for sushi or sashimi. If it passes the sniff test, either freeze it or place it in your refrigerator on a bed of ice to keep the temperature below 41 F until you’re ready to serve it.
Practice Clean Food Handling
Always wash your hands, utensils and any cooking surfaces before you touch fish. Wash your hands and utensils again after handling fish and before handling any other foods. Keep raw fish away from hot cooked foods.
Refrigerate Immediately
As soon as your sushi rolls and sashimi are prepared, get them back into the refrigerator and keep them on ice until you’re ready to serve.
You can buy king salmon and fresh albacore tuna for sushi from an online seafood market as long as you take the proper precautions in preparing and serving your treat.
Always Buy Fresh King Salmon and Albacore Tuna
Freshness is vital to both taste and health. Fish can spoil rapidly, and carry nasty bacteria that can make you very sick. If you decide to buy seafood online, make sure you buy from a reputable online seafood market with a reputation for delivering high-quality fresh fish.
Understand the Risks
When eating fresh fish raw, there are two dangers to worry about: bacteria and parasites. Careful handling and choosing the right fish will protect you from both risks.
Ask for Sashimi Grade Seafood
In the United States, fish sold as “sashimi grade” must be handled and treated in a way that reduces the chances they’ll carry parasites. That means that they are flash-frozen at a minimum of -4 F and kept at that temperature for seven days, or flash frozen to -31 F for at least 15 hours. In either case, the freezing will kill any parasites, and will not compromise the texture and flavor of the fish because it freezes so quickly. Much of the king salmon sold as “fresh” salmon has been flash frozen at sea because it preserves the freshness, but it’s always best to ask.
Check the Shipping Method
Before you order seafood online, call the online seafood market and ask about their shipping method. Only order from markets that ship seafood overnight in insulated coolers packed with cool-packs to keep it at a safe temperature. Keeping the fish cold is essential to food safety because it prevents bacteria from breeding.
Keep Your Fish Cold
When your albacore tuna or king salmon arrives, immediately remove it from cooler to inspect it for freshness. If it smells fishy at all, don’t use it for sushi or sashimi. If it passes the sniff test, either freeze it or place it in your refrigerator on a bed of ice to keep the temperature below 41 F until you’re ready to serve it.
Practice Clean Food Handling
Always wash your hands, utensils and any cooking surfaces before you touch fish. Wash your hands and utensils again after handling fish and before handling any other foods. Keep raw fish away from hot cooked foods.
Refrigerate Immediately
As soon as your sushi rolls and sashimi are prepared, get them back into the refrigerator and keep them on ice until you’re ready to serve.
You can buy king salmon and fresh albacore tuna for sushi from an online seafood market as long as you take the proper precautions in preparing and serving your treat.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Fun Facts About Seafood: Why You Should Buy King Salmon
Why should you buy king salmon
and add it to your regular repertoire of healthy foods? Fresh king
salmon may be one of the healthiest, most health-giving foods you can
eat. In fact, the more you know about fresh salmon, the more you’ll
understand why nearly every nutritionist tells you that you should be
eating more of it. Here are some fun facts about king salmon – also
commonly called Chinook salmon.
King salmon is the largest of the salmon species – you don’t think they call it king for nothing, do you? The royal fish is also known as Tyee salmon, Columbia River salmon, black salmon, chub salmon, winter salmon, blackmouth and hook bill salmon. It’s one of the most highly regarded fish, both for sport and for eating. The succulent bright orangey-pink flesh is everything that makes people love to eat fresh salmon.
The largest king salmon on record was caught on May 17th, 1985. The 97.4 lb. beauty was nearly 5 feet long. While that particular fish was exceptional, it’s not at all unusual for fishermen to bring in fresh king salmon weighing between 10 and 50 lbs., and king salmon of 100+ inches are not uncommon in some waters. That’s an awful lot of king salmon fillets.
King salmon are strictly West Coast fish. You won’t find them hanging out off the boardwalk in Jersey or lazing around the Florida shores. They’re native to Alaska, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. In other words, if you’re not from the West Coast and you want to buy king salmon, you won’t find fresh king salmon in your local fish markets. Luckily, you can buy king salmon from an online seafood market on the West Coast.
While the king salmon is the least abundant of all salmon species, the population is carefully managed to ensure that there are abundant stocks of salmon, as well as other Pacific fish. That means that when you buy king salmon, you’re making an ecologically responsible choice – it truly is sustainable seafood.
Much of the fresh king salmon available is caught in the pristine northern waters off the Pacific Northwest coast. Wild-caught fresh king salmon is a treasure trove of heart-healthy omega-3s. High in protein, low in saturated fat, king salmon packs a whopping 1,700 mg of omega-3s in a single serving.
Cook it or eat it raw, you can’t beat fresh king salmon for flavor. The high fat content makes them the ideal candidate for grilling, broiling, baking or sautéing. If you decide to buy king salmon for sushi, make sure you only buy the freshest fish available. Check out an online seafood market to get the freshest king salmon steaks and king salmon fillets possible without living on the wharf.
King salmon is the largest of the salmon species – you don’t think they call it king for nothing, do you? The royal fish is also known as Tyee salmon, Columbia River salmon, black salmon, chub salmon, winter salmon, blackmouth and hook bill salmon. It’s one of the most highly regarded fish, both for sport and for eating. The succulent bright orangey-pink flesh is everything that makes people love to eat fresh salmon.
The largest king salmon on record was caught on May 17th, 1985. The 97.4 lb. beauty was nearly 5 feet long. While that particular fish was exceptional, it’s not at all unusual for fishermen to bring in fresh king salmon weighing between 10 and 50 lbs., and king salmon of 100+ inches are not uncommon in some waters. That’s an awful lot of king salmon fillets.
King salmon are strictly West Coast fish. You won’t find them hanging out off the boardwalk in Jersey or lazing around the Florida shores. They’re native to Alaska, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. In other words, if you’re not from the West Coast and you want to buy king salmon, you won’t find fresh king salmon in your local fish markets. Luckily, you can buy king salmon from an online seafood market on the West Coast.
While the king salmon is the least abundant of all salmon species, the population is carefully managed to ensure that there are abundant stocks of salmon, as well as other Pacific fish. That means that when you buy king salmon, you’re making an ecologically responsible choice – it truly is sustainable seafood.
Much of the fresh king salmon available is caught in the pristine northern waters off the Pacific Northwest coast. Wild-caught fresh king salmon is a treasure trove of heart-healthy omega-3s. High in protein, low in saturated fat, king salmon packs a whopping 1,700 mg of omega-3s in a single serving.
Cook it or eat it raw, you can’t beat fresh king salmon for flavor. The high fat content makes them the ideal candidate for grilling, broiling, baking or sautéing. If you decide to buy king salmon for sushi, make sure you only buy the freshest fish available. Check out an online seafood market to get the freshest king salmon steaks and king salmon fillets possible without living on the wharf.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Nothing says 4th of July weekend like a clambake – but why not give
your clambake a decidedly West Coast flavor this year with fresh Dungeness crab,
diver scallops and abalone? You don’t have to live on Fisherman’s Wharf
to enjoy fresh swordfish, live Dungeness crab, albacore tuna and other
delectable Pacific seafood. Thanks to the Internet, you can easily order
seafood online from some of the best seafood markets on the West Coast.
Looking for ideas for your 4th of July shindig? Here are a few ways to
turn your New England Clambake into a Pacific Jamboree.
Substitute Dungeness Crab for Lobsters
You can buy Dungeness crab online from a reputable West Coast seafood market and have it delivered to your doorstep, still live and ready to cook. Live Dungeness crab is as easy to cook as lobster, and has a buttery, sweet flavor that’s delicious in just about any recipe calling for lobster meat. Buy it live for a clambake, or picked to make crab cakes, lazy crab pie or crab fritters.
Supersize Your Mussels
Forget those tiny steamers. Find an online seafood market that has abalone for sale and upgrade your clambake experience. Abalone are not actually mussels, but they can take a similar place in your menu. Clean and prep the abalone in advance and then let the kids pound it tender with a hammer. Grill sliced abalone on the grill, or fry up fritters to serve on the side.
Grill It Up
Fresh king salmon, fresh swordfish and fresh albacore tuna are all incredibly grillable fish. You can buy swordfish steaks, tuna fillets or king salmon fillet from an online seafood market and know that they’ll be fresher than anything you find in your grocer’s freezer or seafood case. The simplest preparation is often the most flavorful. Brush the grill with olive oil. Sprinkle the steaks or fillets with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil, then grill over hot coals just until the flesh is opaque.
Spice Up the Fixings
Give the sides a decidedly Pacific flavor as well by tuning up the seasonings you use. Add a salsa – with lime and cilantro, of course – to the table, and spike the potato salad with a hit of cayenne and some diced jalapenos.
Fresh salmon, whole Dungeness crab, swordfish steaks and fresh king salmon can tune up your 4th of July clambake and turn it into a West Coast party. Just order your seafood online by midweek to have it for the weekend.
Substitute Dungeness Crab for Lobsters
You can buy Dungeness crab online from a reputable West Coast seafood market and have it delivered to your doorstep, still live and ready to cook. Live Dungeness crab is as easy to cook as lobster, and has a buttery, sweet flavor that’s delicious in just about any recipe calling for lobster meat. Buy it live for a clambake, or picked to make crab cakes, lazy crab pie or crab fritters.
Supersize Your Mussels
Forget those tiny steamers. Find an online seafood market that has abalone for sale and upgrade your clambake experience. Abalone are not actually mussels, but they can take a similar place in your menu. Clean and prep the abalone in advance and then let the kids pound it tender with a hammer. Grill sliced abalone on the grill, or fry up fritters to serve on the side.
Grill It Up
Fresh king salmon, fresh swordfish and fresh albacore tuna are all incredibly grillable fish. You can buy swordfish steaks, tuna fillets or king salmon fillet from an online seafood market and know that they’ll be fresher than anything you find in your grocer’s freezer or seafood case. The simplest preparation is often the most flavorful. Brush the grill with olive oil. Sprinkle the steaks or fillets with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil, then grill over hot coals just until the flesh is opaque.
Spice Up the Fixings
Give the sides a decidedly Pacific flavor as well by tuning up the seasonings you use. Add a salsa – with lime and cilantro, of course – to the table, and spike the potato salad with a hit of cayenne and some diced jalapenos.
Fresh salmon, whole Dungeness crab, swordfish steaks and fresh king salmon can tune up your 4th of July clambake and turn it into a West Coast party. Just order your seafood online by midweek to have it for the weekend.
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