Shopping for a fresh seafood dinner doesn’t have to be difficult – especially after reading this article about how much does a cod fish weigh. You will learn all about identifying various types of fish, as well as how much they weigh. So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
The Importance Of Knowing The Weights Of Different Types Of Fish
One of the first things you will learn when shopping for seafood is how much each type of fish
- weighs so you know how much you need to order
- thickness so you know what kind of knife to use
- size so you know what kind of pot to use
- availability so you know when and where to order
- cost so you know what kinds of savings you get with bulk buying
- season so you know when to order to get the best flavor
- what are its best cooking methods so you know what to look out for
- texture so you know what kind of taste you can expect
Some types of fish, such as salmon, swordfish, and tuna, are fairly cheap and widely available – making them good choices for beginners. Other types of fish, such as cod or shark, are much more expensive and can be challenging to find. Knowing this makes a lot of sense when you are deciding what kind of seafood to order for dinner – especially since some expensive types of fish are quite difficult to cook properly.
But what if you are in a hurry and don’t have the time to find out what kind of fish is available at the local seafood shop? Learning the weights of different types of fish is very helpful in this case. It allows you to choose the freshest and most affordable option available, regardless of what kind of fish it is. This can save you a great deal of time and money when ordering food in a hurry – not to mention the fact that it’s generally healthier and more environmentally friendly to buy local foods when possible.
The Types Of Fish
To begin with, there are five different kinds of fish you need to be aware of when ordering seafood:
- cod (Gadus morhua) – weight varies from 3 to 18 kilograms / 6.6 to 40.8 pounds
- haddock (Haddock) – weight varies from 2 to 15 kilograms / 4.4 to 33 pounds
- mackerel (Scomber scombrus) – weight varies from 1 to 8 kilograms / 2.2 to 18.4 pounds
- sea bass (Dolichos bifasciatus) – weight varies from 1 to 6 kilograms / 2.2 to 22.8 pounds
- sole (French Bread) ((Hippoglossoides vieilloti) – weight varies from 0.3 to 1.5 kilograms / 0.66 to 3.3 pounds)
- tuna ((Thunnus albacores) – weight varies from 125 to 500 grams / 0.33 to 1.7 ounces)
You should be able to find out the weights of these fish species easily enough from simple online searches. This will give you an idea of what kinds of seafood are available in your area. Keep in mind that some of these fish are quite large, so make sure you order plenty when you do order.
How To Identify Fresh From Frozen Fish
One of the things that make some kinds of fish more affordable is that they are often available in large quantities and are cheaper due to their high volume. It is important to be aware that the price of these fish will be significantly higher if you buy them fresh, so you might want to consider ordering frozen versions instead.
The best way to tell if a fish is fresh is by looking at its eyes. When a fish is alive, it has two small black spots in the center of its eyes. These spots are called the frost pockets – they contain a small amount of liquid that re-freezes as soon as the fish is removed from the water. With a frozen fish, these spots are typically not visible, so you will have to rely on other methods to determine if the seafood is fresh or frozen.
The Weighing Scale
It is important to note that the weights of various types of fish can vary a lot. Some are quite heavy while others are light as a feather. This makes it difficult to give you an average weight for each kind of fish. To make matters worse, some heavy fish are actually quite small – the opposite of what you would expect. For this reason, we recommend you use a scale that can weigh fish. This is the simplest and most efficient way to find out the true weight of each individual fish after you have bought it.
If you don’t have a scale, you can use the pygmy sardine ( (Cherax destructor) ) which is widely available near the coastlines as an approximation. It will give you an idea of the weight of the fish, but don’t mistake it for an exact measurement. You should also keep in mind that fresh water weighs more than salty water, so the weight of the fish will depend on its location. For example, Lake Superior (fresh water) weighs a lot more than the ocean (salty water).
The Best Time To Order Fish
One of the most significant factors that affect the weight of a fish is time. After all, a lot of water sloshes around in the ocean, so if you catch a fish at a certain point in time, it will likely be heavier than one caught at another point in time. This is because the amount of food in the water changes with time – the older it is, the less food there will be in the water, resulting in the fish being relatively thinner. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.
The best time to order sea bass is during the summer months, as they are generally fattier and bigger in size during this time. Therefore, you will want to order them well below the water’s surface to ensure they are fresh. The optimal time for cod and haddock is the fall and winter months, as they become more stable in weight during this time.
The Available Options
Once you have learned the weights of various types of fish, it is time to expand your knowledge and consider various options that are available to you. One of the best places to do this is Seafoodwatch.org. This is a reliable resource that will give you an idea of what kinds of fish are available in your area and how much each one weighs. You can input the address of the seafood shop you are planning to visit into the search bar, and the site will give you an accurate idea of what kinds of fish are available there and their weights.
Some types of fish, such as salmon and trout, are available in different styles and colors these days, so it is important to consider this before you order. For example, you might want to order a rainbow trout just to vary the style and have something different to eat – but you should still expect to pay the same price as you would for a normal trout. It is also a good idea to read reviews before you order – this will give you an idea of whether or not the style and color of the fish you have chosen is typical of what others have ordered and how they liked it. This can help you decide if it is a good idea to order the particular fish you have chosen or if there are better options available.
What About Fish Sustainability?
Another significant factor that influences the price and quality of seafood is sustainability. It is often the case that sustainably caught fish are more expensive than those caught using traditional methods. The reason behind this is that the fishermen who use these methods put a lot of effort into conserving the ocean’s resources and protecting its biodiversity. This gives the fish a better texture and smell – as well as the consumer’s perception that the fish are healthier and more environmentally aware.