Qualities of Fish and Shellfishes

• Eyes should be clear and raised, not sunken
• Should not smell like ammonia (just like smell of urine/sweat) or have an unpleasant smell
• There should be slime on it and its skin should be moist
• what slime’s purpose?


  it prevents parasites from attaching at the body of fish
• it’s gills should be bright and pink
• Should be firm of texture
• should have no external damage (cuts, loss of fins)
• should be kept at right temperature

  Frozen fish: -18 - -25^C

  Fresh Fish: 5^C
• If frozen, there should be no evidence of freezer burn
• Once thawed, should have firm flesh
• shellfish is fresh if it’s alive
• if mollusks are open and it closes when you tap it, it’s alive or fresh
• Shellfish should have salty smell
• Crustaceans are fresh if claws and legs are properly intact
• Shellfishes should not have barnacles
• Shellfish should be a good weight in proportion to their size