5 Tips to Cooking Seafood at Home
#1. Get the Best
When you buy seafood, trust your nose and your eyes! If it smells too fishy or looks slimy or mushy, don’t buy it! These are signs that it isn’t fresh.
How fresh seafood is has a big impact on the taste. If you are buying seafood from behind a counter, make sure it looks and smells right. (It should smell salty, like the ocean. It should look firm and a little moist.) If you don’t like what you see behind the counter, don’t be afraid to go to the frozen section. Most fish is flash-frozen at sea. You can find high-quality seafood in the frozen aisle. Just be sure it hasn’t passed the expiration date. You will find the best fresh selection and top quality at a seafood market, like City Fish Market, with a good reputation.
#2. Always Pat it Dry
Any chef will tell you that meat should have a nice sear. It creates a crispy, golden crust that locks in moisture. To get a perfect sear, you need to remove water from the outside of the seafood. Before you toss shrimp into a pan or place a fillet in the oven, pat the outside dry with a paper towel. (Don’t worry; removing moisture from the outside won’t make the inside dry out.)
If you are worried about the fish drying out, removing it from the refrigerator 15 to 20 minutes before cooking it. When you cook fish that’s just left the fridge, the outside often dries out while the inside takes a long time to cook. Letting it warm to room temperature before cooking will help it cook uniformly.
#3. Preheat the Pan or Oil
If you plan to pan-fry or fry seafood, give the pan or oil time to heat up. Preheating the pan will help sear the meat. You’ll know the pan is ready when a splash of water immediately sizzles and beads when it
hits the pan.
If you plan to fry seafood, preheat the oil to 350 and 375 degrees F using a candy thermometer. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, you can test the oil by tossing in a small piece of bread. You will know it’s ready when it browns in around 45 seconds.
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Frying fish at home is easier than ever with an air fryer. You can fry frozen or fresh seafood in an air fryer that tastes like it’s straight from your favorite seafood restaurant’s kitchen. You don’t have to worry about getting minor burns from hot oil splashes or added calories from cooking it in fat. Just follow this guide to learn how to cook fish in your air fryer.
Seafood plays a large role in the diets of the top 10 healthiest countries. It’s not a coincidence that countries—like Japan, Italy, and Australia—who eat lots of fish and shellfish have longer lifespans and fewer health risks. Seafood is full of nutrients essential that are for good health. It is also low in calories
and saturated fats.
Not a fan of that fishy taste? Your stomach might turn thinking about your mom’s unappetizing tuna casserole or a fishy salmon burger. Many people shy away from eating seafood because its distinctive flavor and texture turn them off. You can learn to love it!
Fish is an important part of a healthy diet. That’s why the American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish per week. Numerous scientific studies suggest that eating fish regularly can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, which has been the leading cause of death in America. Eating fish twice a week can also reduce your risk of mental decline as you age and much more. These are just a few of the reasons why it’s wise to learn to love seafood.
Fish sticks aren’t just for kids! Baked fish sticks are a light, delicious meal the whole family can enjoy. This recipe for healthy fish sticks with cucumber dill sauce is perfect for a warm New England evening. You can enjoy these fish sticks with a side salad or throw them into tortilla shells on Taco Tuesday.
What do you do when you want to improve your health? The answer for most Americans is to hit the gym, count calories, or cut down on carbohydrates. Eating more seafood isn’t a standard answer, but it is an easy lifestyle change that can greatly impact your health.
Have you heard the rumor that seafood is difficult to grill? If you have, don’t believe it! Grilling seafood is simple and delicious! You can cook any seafood you like on the grill, from shrimp and clams to tilapia and tuna steaks. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite seafood to grill.
