There are various steps you can take to ensure your fish is fresh, and it doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply look out for signs before cooking.

1. Consider the Eyes

One way of telling whether or not a fish is fresh is by looking at its eyes; they should be bright and shiny rather than cloudy or sunken in. A fish with sunken in eyes indicates an old and decayed condition that won’t do much good for your health.

2. Check for Skin and Scales

A fresh fish should have metallic-colored scales without broken pieces or missing scales, and its skin should remain firm without drying out over time.

3. Check for Bright Red Gills A fresh fish should display vibrant red gills; otherwise it is likely older and has likely been slaughtered recently.

4. Touch the Flesh

To test fish fillets for freshness, press them down on a plate or countertop and see if it springs back after pressing. If it doesn’t, discard as it could already be spoiled.

5. Check for Leg Movement

Crabs and lobsters that are still alive should show signs of leg movement to indicate they can still be eaten safely. This will show whether they have the nutrients they require in order to survive for consumption.

6. Use a Time/Temperature Indicator

Some frozen seafood comes equipped with an indicator to tell you whether it is fresh. Look on its package to ensure it was stored at an ideal temperature, and read out when the indicator shows “fresh”.

7. Check for Signs of Staleness

Unlike other meat types, seafood that has gone bad produces an offensive odor due to the release of trimethylamine oxide (TAMO) chemicals from its tissues.

Be mindful when purchasing fish to purchase! As this odor may take time to develop, be wary when making your purchase!

8. Watch Out for Packages with Ice Crystals or Frost

When purchasing frozen fish, look out for packages containing ice crystals or frost; this could indicate that it was exposed to warm temperatures before it was frozen, possibly leading to its defrosting before you purchased it.

9. Avoid Packages with Staleness

Even with the best of intentions, frozen food can deteriorate quickly when left to sit in normal refrigerator or freezer temperatures for too long, which is why fresh seafood needs to be placed into either fridge or freezer immediately upon purchase.