Jacquelyn D. Kirkland has maintained an abiding love for food and cooking throughout her life. Due to the weekly trips she took with her family to buy fresh ingredients at the local farmer’s market and fishmonger, Jacquelyn D. Kirkland is very skilled at finding the best ingredients available.

2.  Jacquelyn D. Kirkland has maintained an
abiding love for food and cooking throughout
her life. Due to the weekly trips she took with
her family to buy fresh ingredients at the local
farmer’s market and fishmonger, Jacquelyn D.
Kirkland is very skilled at finding the best
ingredients available.
When it comes to buying fresh fish, many
people may be surprised at how simple picking
a good piece is. A major indicator of whether
a fish is fresh or not is smell. Fresh fish typically
will either not have any smell or give off a mild,
fresh ocean smell.

3.  If it has a strong fishy smell or just smells like
it’s rotten, then there’s a good chance it
has begun spoiling. If the smell seems to be
okay, check the color of the fish’s eyes.
Bloodshot eyes often indicate that the fish
has been sitting around for a while or was
previously frozen. A fish that is fresh will have
translucent eyes that still appear almost
alive in texture.

4.  Another good way of determining whether
fish is fresh or not is by feeling it. Ideally, the
fish will feel firm and bounce back when
pressure is added. If any scales are missing,
it’s a sign that the fish has been handled
several times before and may not be as
fresh as other choices. Slimy fish are
generally fresher, as are fish with pink gills. In
terms of buying fresh fish fillets, check for
any discoloration on the edges or for signs
of cracks. These suggest that the fish has
either been frozen or poorly handled.