lautnusantara.com As a country rich in marine products, it's certainly no surprise that eating fish is a favorite in Indonesia. We can enjoy various types of fish every day. Moreover, many fish are sold at very low prices but are rich in benefits. Processed fish dishes are immediately sold out in a number of eateries.

But of course, we prefer to prepare and cook fish at home. However, when buying fish, we must also be careful, as many naughty merchants sell fish that isn't fresh. Fresh fish certainly contains various nutrients beneficial for health. Meanwhile, stale fish becomes an ideal breeding ground for various types of bacteria. These bacteria can risk contaminating the food, leading to health problems and even food poisoning.

So, if you want to make a dish from processed fish, be sure to know how to choose fresh fish. Here are the characteristics of fresh fish suitable for consumption.

1. Fish Eyes

One of the easiest ways to spot the characteristics of fresh fish is by looking at the condition of its eyes. Fresh fish eyes will appear bright, clear, and fresh. Their surface will also feel prominent and resilient when touched. On the other hand, eyes that look wrinkled, cloudy, sunken, and reddish are signs of stale fish and are not fit for consumption. Sunken fish eyes are usually due to the fish being dehydrated, where it spent more time on the surface of the ice than in water when we buy it.

2. Fish Color

Some types of fish have a bright white flesh color, but there are also types with different colors. However, make sure that whatever type of fish you choose has a bright, fresh, and non-dull color. The sign of fresh fish is that its skin color looks shiny, bright, and healthy. The fish scales are still firmly attached to the fish body and are not easily detached when pulled. Conversely, poor-quality stale fish usually have a dull-looking skin color. Furthermore, the scales easily come off when pulled.

3. Fish Flesh/Meat

Typically, fresh fish has a soft texture but is quite resilient and firm. All of its flesh also appears strongly attached to the bone. We can check whether the fish is fresh or not through its flesh texture by pressing the fish's belly with an index finger; if the shape springs back to its original state, it means the fish is still fresh. If the opposite is true, then the fish is stale and not fit for consumption. Stale fish also has a dull color, and its texture becomes softer.

4. Fish Gills

The characteristics of fresh fish can also be seen from its gills. We can check them by lifting the gill cover located on the side of the fish's head. Fresh fish gills are red, look fresh and clean, and have a wet texture. The redder the color of the gills, the better the quality of the fish. Gills that are brownish or grayish and look dry indicate that the fish is not fresh and therefore not suitable for consumption.

5. Smell

The next characteristic of fresh fish is that it has a distinctive smell that is fresh and light. The smell coming from fresh fish does not feel strange or offensive to the sense of smell. Meanwhile, the smell of stale fish is usually quite disturbing to the nose because it is pungent and very fishy (or "off").

It doesn't hurt to ask the vendor at the traditional market or supermarket to confirm whether the fish you are about to buy is still fresh or not. We can cook fresh fish within two days after buying it. If you don't plan to cook it within two days, it's best to store the fish in the freezer to keep it fresh.

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