A lot of people stick their noses up at frozen fish. There are prevalent seafood myths regarding fish, and one of them is that frozen fish is inferior to fresh. But this is not true, and in fact there are many benefits to frozen fish you may not know about. So before you think a dinner can only use fresh fish, consider the hidden benefits of frozen fish.
Frozen Fish Tastes Delicious
Some people say that frozen fish has a distinct, unpleasant taste and the natural flavors are diluted. However, with today’s freezing technology, this is rarely the case. Food is now frozen faster than ever, often when it’s at peak freshness. This means that flavor and nutrients are preserved. Even if you believe that frozen fish tastes different, there are numerous ways to make frozen fish taste fresh.
It’s Safer to Eat Frozen Fish
“Fresh” fish isn’t always as fresh as you might think. The longer a fish has been dead, the more time bacteria has to grow on it. This can make you sick, especially if improperly prepared. By freezing fish immediately, bacteria can’t grow and any parasites that the fish might be carrying are killed off. This keeps diners safe when they tuck into a baked or poached fillet of fish from a restaurant or cafeteria.
In fact, many fish served raw, like sushi, are frozen first, then thawed out. So even if you order sushi at a restaurant, your “fresh” fish has likely been frozen for 15 hours at -31 degrees fahrenheit per FDA requirements.
Frozen Fish is Affordable
A great benefit of frozen fish is that it’s affordable. Fresh fish can be expensive, whether you’re buying a fresh fillet for a special dinner or buying in bulk for a restaurant. But frozen fish is generally cheaper as it has a longer shelf life. Many wholesale retailers and grocery stores sell lots of affordable frozen fish products that taste delicious and will be a great addition to any meal.
It’s More Sustainable
Fish doesn’t stay fresh for long. Like most things, it will decompose and eventually be inedible. This means that if fresh fish isn’t sold and eaten quickly, it goes to waste. As more than 3 billion people in the world eat fish, this waste is not only bad for the environment, but bad for the people.
This is why fishing sustainably is important, and freezing fish is part of that. By freezing fish we extend its shelf life, so the food doesn’t go to waste nor do we need to keep replenishing the stock. Overfishing is a massive problem for both the environment and the fishing industry. If fish don’t have time to repopulate, there becomes a shortage of fish. This is bad for the ecosystem, the fishermen who rely on them for income, and the people who eat them as a major source of protein.
The hidden benefits of frozen fish need to be known to more people, as the myth that fresh is better than frozen can be harmful. While fresh fish is indeed good, frozen fish deserves more praise for its environmental, health, and flavor benefits.
