Although I eat it for its properties and health benefits, the truth is that I have always been more into meat than fish, although I adore dishes like Tuscan salmon. This preference for meat has meant that when I go to buy meat I immediately know which piece to choose and which piece to discard.

However, I have to admit that it was more difficult for me to learn to distinguish between fresh fish and one that is not. Without a doubt, it would have helped me to have on hand chef Ferrán Adríà’s book, «Family Food» (RBA).

In this work of great interest to cooking lovers, the chef explained the way the El Bulli cooks work, shared various recipes and a total of 31 balanced and tasty daily menus, based on what the El Bulli team/family ate, a brigade of 75 people no more and no less.

I also shared most interesting tricks that anyone could put into practice and adapt to everyday cooking. As you can imagine, among them are the keys to quickly recognize if a fish is fresh or not. Let’s get to it!

How to know if a fish is fresh

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I can tell you that as soon as you read all the Catalan chef’s tricks, the next time you go to the fishmonger, you will go with him. detective mode activated and your observation skills to the maximum. What are the most important aspects to know if a fish is fresh? Ferrán Adrià is clear: the eyes and the skin, to which we will add a third very revealing element, the smell.

Regard in the eyes«they have to be black, shiny and convex. If they are gray or if they look flat or sunken, it means that the fish is not at its best.» There is little more to say at this point because it makes it very clear.

The second aspect to take into account is the skinalso easy to check since «the skin has to look shiny and smooth, if it is dull or wrinkled the fish is not fresh.» Although they are totally different foods, it is the same thing you look for when you are going to choose vegetables like eggplant.

What does the smell tell us?

And finally, no one is aware that the smell also helps to appreciate its condition; In fact, if it is in bad condition, it will turn you away right away. Popular wisdom says that when the street smells like fish and there is a supermarket nearby, it’s a bad thing. In the words of Ferrán Adrià, «fish does not have to smell or It must smell more like the sea than fish.. «When you notice a strong fishy smell, it means that it is not as fresh as you would like.»

And now all you have to do is go to the fishmonger or supermarket and get to work to apply these tricks that will guarantee that the fish you take home is the freshest.