When you go to the store to buy a six pack of fish, you’ll often see that they are on sale for 2 for $4. You’ll probably go home and pull out your phone to see what coupon you can use to get that price again, right? Wrong. That’s the price you’ll always see, but it won’t be for long. Once you get the fish home, you’ll see the usual price stamped on the package.
More and more people are realizing the value of frozen fish. When you’re craving seafood but don’t want to spend much money, frozen fish is a great option. You’ll see that it’s incredibly popular at restaurants and food trucks around the country. Even fast food chains are jumping on the bandwagon, with more and more locations adding their own freezer sections. This is because people are realizing the value of frozen fish compared to fish that have been previously frozen and then thawed. This practice does two things: 1) It prevents ice crystals from forming, and 2) It allows seafood merchants to freeze large quantities of fish at one time, which then gets shipped to restaurants and food trucks across the country.
The problem is, how long does frozen fish last? For most, the answer is ‘not long.’ In fact, the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) has stated that, on average, frozen fish loses 75% of its market value after three months of storage.
So if you’re planning on buying some frozen fish and planning on cooking it later that day, you might as well buy fresh fish instead. This is where you’ll usually find the best selection of fresh fish near the cooler. You can take your pick of the fish, without having to worry about whether or not it will defrost by the time you’re ready to eat.
Why Buy Fresh Fish Instead Of Frozen?
You don’t have to look far to know what’s causing the shift to fresh fish. It’s all about food safety and the quality of the ingredients. Frozen fish is great because it’s easy to purchase in large quantities, and it travels well, which saves you money and is often less damaging to the environment. However, food safety is a major concern when it comes to purchasing seafood. This stems from the fact that fresh fish is often transported and stored at higher temperatures than frozen fish, which makes it more susceptible to contamination. It also doesn’t take long for fresh fish to lose its taste, compared to frozen fish, which has been frozen and stored for some time. Furthermore, some seafood, such as fish and shrimp, are easier to transport alive, which makes it much easier to contaminate the entire batch. The result is that you can end up with anything from an ordinary meal to something completely untrustworthy.
When you compare the two, it’s pretty evident that fresh fish is the way to go, even if you’re planning on cooking it immediately. If you do decide to buy frozen fish, make sure to cook it thoroughly and avoid purchasing anything with a questionable origin, e.g., China.
The Importance Of Good Hauling
When you’re hauling a load of fresh fish, you want to make sure that it’s safe and that the conditions are right for the fish. This involves checking the weather, traffic, and the temperature of the water. If everything checks out positive, then it’s time to hit the road. You don’t want to be loading and unloading your truck all day, so make sure to plan out a route that’s as direct and quick as possible. This will help reduce your trip time and maximize your profit. During high traffic times, such as the evening and night hours, it is better to wait until there’s less cars on the road. You can use map apps to pinpoint your location and find the least traffic-prone route to your next fish delivery.
In the end, it’s all about what you need and want. If you’re looking to save money, then you can get great value out of frozen fish. If you want to cook something quickly, then fresh fish is the way to go. As with most things in life, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. You’ll have to decide what is most important to you and work from there.