At first glance, the sight of cod, salmon and tuna fillets bedded on ice in your grocery store may look tempting; however, these delicious fillets could have been sitting there for days – possibly losing both flavor and freshness in as little as five to 10 days after being frozen! So it is crucial that consumers know how to tell whether their seafood is fresh. Using your senses is an easy and reliable way of identifying whether something has passed its prime.

Lyf Gildersleeve, owner of Flying Fish Market and Restaurant, advises that fresh-caught fish should have an oceanic aroma and bright, shiny skin. She suggests checking its flesh by gently pressing your hand against it; firm yet slippery texture indicates freshness.

If you’re shopping for whole fish or fillets, pay special attention to its eyes, gills and tail. Fresh fish typically feature protruding and bright eyes while its red or pink gills should not be cloudy, dull or sunken; additionally, its tail should not contain milky slime as this indicates age.

For those who live inland and must purchase seafood in grocery stores, knowing how to select the highest-quality products can be daunting. A great way to do this is visiting a fish market or the seafood section at your grocery store; if the selection is limited, ask an employee at that store to point out freshest choices.

At a grocery store, there are a few indicators you can rely on in order to make an informed selection:

Refrigerated fish typically has a best-by or sell-by date on its packaging that should indicate how long it has been in the refrigerated display case. If in doubt about its shelf presence, take note of your store’s refrigeration temperature with an accurate thermometer – typically 41 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit is optimal depending on its species of fish.

Seafood that’s been frozen will be clearly labeled with this information on its packaging, so when shopping at chain grocery stores be sure to read labels carefully for “Previously Frozen”. As with fresh seafood, check for indicators like bright eyes or slippery textures indicating its quality as you would for fresh products.

When purchasing fresh seafood, be sure to put it on ice as soon as you can and use within two days of purchasing it. When purchasing unpackaged seafood for immediate cooking purposes, ensure it is physically separated from raw seafood in the display case and labeled accordingly. Also ensure you wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water after handling any seafood – this helps prevent cross-contamination and food poisoning.