Seafood
Seafood refers to any form of water life regarded as food by humans, mostly fish and shellfish. This can be freshwater or saltwater.
What is Seafood?
I didn’t grow up eating much seafood. My mom made shrimp cocktail and crab legs on occasion, but it wasn’t the norm and my parents still won’t eat actual fish other than canned tuna.
I distinctly remember eating salmon for the first time at a friend’s house in highs school. I was skeptical, but then really enjoyed it and sheepishly asked for seconds.
Since, I’ve learned more about it and tested new recipes and types at home. While it can be pricier than other proteins, it is one of our favorite quick and easy meals.
The benefits of preparing seafood are:
- Typically low in calories and fat
- Doesn’t need much prep time
- Doesn’t require long cook times
- Fairly verstile
There are literally hundreds of types of edible fish and shellfish and then several species of each variety, so here are the most popular.
- Shrimp
- Scallops
- Salmon
- Cod
- Halibut
- Clams
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Squid
- Anchovies
- Tuna
- Pollock
- Tilapia
- Crab
- Lobster
- Catfish
How To Select Your Seafood
High quality ingredients are always important, but this really rings true with seafood because there is also a higher chance of contamination.
Frozen seafood is often better than fresh since it was flash frozen when fresh and also those cold temperatures kill bacteria. Unless you are buying it off the back of the boat that brought it in or you know and trust your seafood monger, then stick with frozen or even previously frozen.
Sushi grade fish also needs to have a level of confidence your seafood monger and might be better frozen first.
Seafood will smell a little fishy, but it shouldn’t be overpowering. Anything that looks dull, limp or mushy isn’t a good buy. It should be bright, taunt and healthy looking.
Storage
Seafood is best eaten fresh or right after defrosting, so if you bought it already hawed form the fish case, eat it without 24 hours.
Store it in the coldest part of your refrigerator and make sure it is well wrapped. Scents from seafood can also infiltrate other things in the fridge, like butter, so give it a little space of its own.
Cooking Seafood
Preparation and cooking methods for seafood tend to be quick and easy. Here are a few of our favorite recipes.
- Scallop Pasta
- How to Sear Scallops
- Fish Tacos
- Citrus Baked Salmon
- Shrimp Kabobs
- How to Steam a Lobster
