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.
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