Fresh Fish versus Frozen Fish: Which is best?
Fresh Fish versus Frozen Fish: Which is best?
You might not know that most of the fish that’s available at HarvesTime Foods is actually frozen! According to co-owner Chris Dallas, frozen fish can be just as fresh and is a more practical option when freshness is the top priority for those living in non-coastal areas like Chicago. In this issue, Chris reveals why he chooses to stock the store primarily with frozen fish. He also shares tips on how to properly work with frozen fish to get the best-tasting, freshest results.
Why does frozen fish get a bad reputation?
Firstly, frozen fish can also be fresh fish. “High quality frozen fish is caught, processed, and frozen, all within minutes of being caught,” Chris explains. “A lot of unscrupulous companies only care about optimizing the price of the product they put out rather than the quality. Some [companies] will even dip the seafood product in water and then freeze it, up to 3-4 times. This means you could be paying for a pound of fish that is partially frozen water weight.” Chris is selective when it comes to which fish and seafood products he brings into the store because it’s of utmost importance to him that they are both top-quality and sourced responsibly. “I always try to let my customers know where it was caught and where it came from because that’s what I want to know.”
Chris’ Tips for Properly Preparing Frozen Fish
Cook it and eat it as quickly after thawing as possible.
If you have time to thaw your fish, lay it out in a container and move it from the freezer to the fridge overnight/for several hours.
If you’re thawing your fish last minute, run the package of frozen fish under COLD water constantly until it is thawed. (Do not use warm water or sitting water, as it will cook the fish as it warms–and never use a microwave, in Chris’ opinion!)
Never let it get to room temperature! After the fish is thawed, either use it ASAP, or put it back into the fridge short-term until you are ready to cook it.
For optimal freshness, fish should be cooked the same day it is thawed.
Chris’ Frozen Fish Favorites at HarvesTime Foods
While Chris stands by all of the HarvesTime Foods frozen seafood, he highly recommends anything from the brand Wholey, especially the red wild-caught Argentinian shrimp. “Their flavor is perfect.”
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