How to Tell if Seafood Is Fresh

Knowing how to identify fresh seafood can help you make better choices when shopping for fish and seafood.

Fresh seafood should generally have a clean appearance, fresh smell and firm texture. Here are some simple things you can look for when buying whole fish and prawns.

 Whole Fish

1. Check the Eyes

Fresh fish should have clear, bright and slightly prominent eyes. As fish loses freshness, the eyes may become cloudy, dull or sunken.

Cloudy eyes do not necessarily mean that the fish is unsafe to eat, but they can indicate that the fish is no longer at its freshest.

2. Look at the Skin

Fresh fish should have shiny, vibrant skin with a natural metallic appearance. The skin should look moist and intact rather than dull, dry or excessively discoloured.

3. Smell the Fish

Fresh fish should have a clean, mild smell reminiscent of the sea.

It should not have a strong, sour, ammonia-like or unpleasant odour. A strong chemical smell is also a reason to avoid the fish.

Tip: Your sense of smell is one of the easiest ways to assess seafood freshness. If the smell seems unusually strong or unpleasant, choose another fish.

4. Check the Gills

For whole fish with the gills still intact, fresh gills are generally bright red to pink and moist.

As fish ages, the gills can become darker, duller or brownish.

Prawns

1. Check the Eyes

Fresh prawns should have clear, glossy and slightly prominent eyes.

Dull, cloudy or sunken eyes may indicate that the prawns have been stored for longer.

2. Look at the Shell

The shell should look clean, glossy and relatively translucent, with the natural colour of the prawn clearly visible.

Avoid prawns with excessive discolouration, a dull appearance or unusual blackening.

Small dark spots can sometimes develop naturally due to melanosis, a harmless enzymatic process that affects the shell. While it does not necessarily mean the prawn is spoiled, extensive discolouration can indicate that the prawns are no longer at their best.

3. Smell the Prawns

Fresh prawns should have a mild, clean seafood smell.

They should not have a strong sour, ammonia-like or unpleasant odour.

If the prawns have an unusual chemical smell, it is best to avoid them.

4. Feel the Texture

Fresh prawns should feel firm, moist and resilient.

The flesh should not feel excessively soft, mushy or slimy, and the shell should remain reasonably firm against the flesh.

A Simple Rule to Remember

When buying fresh seafood, use your eyes, nose and hands: