Knowing how to choose fresh fish or seafood is a vital skill for a seafood cook. Unless you caught the fish yourself, you need to check the signs to ensure it’s fresh. Buying fresh fish is easy if you know what to look for.
Whole Fish
Look for bright, clear eyes. The eyes are the window to a truly fresh fish, for they fade quickly into gray dullness. Dull-eyed fish may be safe to eat, but they are past their prime.
Next, look at the fish. Does it shine? Does it look metallic and clean? Or has it dulled or have discolored patches on it? If so, it is marginal.
Smell it. A fresh fish should smell like clean water, or a touch briny or even like cucumbers. Under no circumstances should you buy a nasty smelling fish. Cooking won’t improve it.
Look at the gills. They should be a rich red. If the fish is old, they will turn the color of faded brick.
Should you be near a shrimping region or have access to truly magnificent fresh shrimp, by all means, buy them with the head on if possible. Why? Because head-on shrimp stay moister. Remember: Nothing says boring like a dry, overcooked shrimp.
eicadaniella 