Eating raw fish has been part of our normal diet since our evolution. The Hunter and the Provisioner would find and provide this new resource for their party to share. In many cases, freshly caught fish was preserved by salting, smoking and drying. Some methods were as simple as burying them in the sand above the high-water mark.
With the widespread availability of refrigeration equipment, options for serving raw fish dishes are now designed to deliver great flavors and textures as opposed to long-term preservation. Just think of the exciting flavors of freshly caught, lightly dried and smoked wild salmon. The salty salmon dishes are seasoned with Scandinavian herbs. Herring fillets marinated or pickled in brine. All tasting options in the mouth.
The benefits of eating raw fish dishes
Most importantly, they all taste delicious and look great on the plate, and there's plenty to choose from. Cold smoked fish with all kinds of fries and flavors. Coating fish with herbs, spices and flavored liqueurs such as Liqueur de Fenouil. The discussion could stop now. However, there is one very important fact to consider as a health benefit for all of us.
They are raw and as such all offer us great health benefits.
During the normal preparation and cooking process, some of the vital ingredients, such as vitamins and minerals, are lost by being washed away or destroyed by heat. This happens to most fresh foods when they are cooked. Raw fish is of course not cooked and therefore benefits us all by retaining very high levels of nature's gifts such as vitamins and minerals. This is how we can eat really healthy food that tastes great. However, look at the other side of the equation.
The dangers of eating raw fish dishes
Now nobody needs to get paranoid about the dangers because they are not widespread and easy to solve. The potential problem is a parasitic infection, commonly referred to as worms, that spreads naturally through the food chain. If the parasites are not recognized, they can cause us serious intestinal problems that we often do not know about. Stomach problems arise from eating eggs, which then grow and develop in our stomach.
Parasites themselves traverse the food chain from the smallest to the largest species. In some cases, they can be visually seen on the stomach wall. In most cases, however, they are not noticeable, as these are very small eggs, which when preparing raw fish dishes can get into the finished dish and contaminate work surfaces. .
But fear not, as help is at hand in the form of temperature, whether hot or cold. Any parasitic infection will be completely eliminated when your fish's core reaches at least 62 degrees Celsius. So for cooked seafood there is no problem. It is of course ideal for checking the temperature of cooked dishes with a digital probe, very quickly and cheaply. So you can be sure that your cooked fish dishes are completely safe when they reach the minimum temperature.
Coming back to raw fish dishes, the problem can also be solved simply and easily. The fish must be frozen. There is no doubt that cries of terror are now being heard all over our planet. Why do we freeze fresh fish? The reason is simple, this process will completely kill any parasitic action. There are several recommendations for the time and temperature to achieve. The most common standard is freezing for 120 hours at a temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius. Other options require a shorter period of time but at a lower temperature that most domestic freezers cannot match. As long as the fish, whether whole or filleted, is tightly wrapped or sealed in cling film, it loses very little moisture and will not suffer freezer burn.
With the freezing process complete, you can now proceed with drying, salting or marinating your fish with the confidence that there will be no potential problems. Some of the fish you buy may already be frozen. For complete peace of mind, freeze any version for 120 hours, then enjoy the amazing Raw Fruits Of The Sea.
Whether smoked, pickled, marinated, salted, or just plain raw, raw fish dishes offer seafood lovers wonderful flavors that other types of food can't match. Being aware of the dangers and knowing how to counter them is the key to eating healthier and enjoying good food.
No comments