Saturday, 16 April 2016

What To Know When Buying Live Lobster And Other Seafood

By Debra Reed


Indulging in delicious seafood meals is rather healthy since they contain less fat than poultry or beef. In fact, dishes containing seafood are not just tasty but are ideal for daily consumption without the fear of significant weight gain. So when you feel the need to shop for such edible products but are unsure about what to choose, the handy tips listed below should clarify a few key points for you.

Lobsters are big and formidable crustaceans that also happen to be delectable crowd pleasing items when cooked in certain dishes. Selecting a live lobster is rather easy since the ideal choices are those who curl up their tails when picked up. But should you opt for the frozen route, make sure that the lobster is really frozen solid before you decide to buy one or more of them.

Fish, whether they are freshwater or from the ocean, are common food staples in our daily life. Determining fresh ones is easy enough since they should have a firm texture and give off the scent of the water from where they were caught. This is the opposite for frozen fish, because when they are packed the right way by fishmongers, they should have little to no odor whatsoever.

One of the prevalent types of shellfish we consume are clams, and these are often present in dishes such as chowders or bisques. Because of their diminutive size, they are typically sold in bulk by weight by vendors. Watch out for those with closed shells and a sweet aroma emanating from them as these are good signs that the product is alive and fresh.

Another extremely coveted sea ingredient from the mollusk family is the oyster. Highly prized for their exquisite texture and savory flavor, oysters can be consumed fresh or cooked. However, it is strongly recommended that you buy them fresh as they do not hold up well when frozen. Additionally, you must prepare and cook the oysters on the same day you bought them.

Love them or hate them, shrimps are pretty nice when served grilled or stir fried with some vegetables. That being said, there are some things you should look out for when shopping for shrimp, and that is firmness of texture and a pleasant odor of the ocean when inspecting them. You can either buy them as they are or have them taken out of their shells with the heads removed.

Much like lobsters, crabs look quite intimidating because of their pincers but they can be very tasty and nutritious when cooked. This ubiquitous crustacean can be found in most markets that sell seafood. Should you prefer to butcher fresh crabs instead of buying canned crabmeat, make sure they are alive if you do not want to get the frozen varieties on hand.

A rising star in the culinary world comes in the unexpected form of the sea urchin. Chefs and diners alike praise the innards of this forbidding sea creature for possessing complex flavors with a delicate texture. The meat of this particular seafood is called uni, and the best indicator of high quality is if it shows off bright colors of either orange or yellow.

Being interested in culinary pursuits is both nourishing and educational. You may have learned quite a few tricks when shopping for seafood courtesy of the advice featured in this guide. Give yourself a pat on the back when you successfully purchased the finest quality ingredients available.




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