www.fgks.org   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

Frozen Seafood

In Many Ways, It's Better Than Fresh

Photo: Frozen shrimp

Photograph by Ray Kachatorian, Getty Images

Eating frozen seafood used to seem like a punishment. But with today's technology, the fish you pull from your freezer is delicious, nutritious, more economical, and often better for the environment—and fishermen—than fresh-caught seafood.

Why Buy Frozen?

• Reduce your environmental impact. Fresh fish has to be shipped by air to reach most consumers; frozen can be freighted by ship, rail, or truck with significantly lower environmental impact.

• Keep fishermen safer. Without the urgent pressure to deliver fresh fish immediately, fishermen can have a safer time line in which to bring their catch from sea to table. They also can choose to fish only in the best conditions.

• Reduce waste in processing. By freezing fish at sea, fishermen can use economies of scale to consolidate processing, adding value with volume to the total utilization of the fish.

• Use only what you need. By pulling from the freezer exactly the amount you need—when you need it—you avoid wasting highly perishable fresh fish.

• Get the best seafood year-round. Taste and nutrition are locked in when fish is frozen at sea, and you're never restricted to just what's available fresh today.

How to Store Frozen Seafood
Most of the seafood you buy frozen comes prepackaged in a vacuum-sealed bag. Store it in your freezer for up to five months. Do not refreeze, as you will lose quality.

How to Thaw Frozen Seafood
Thaw frozen seafood in the refrigerator overnight, placing it in a dish to catch any water that melts off. Avoid thawing at room temperature or in warm water, as it will negatively affect the texture.

Share

Email

More »

More About Seafood

  • Photo: Salmon with vegetables

    Sustainable Seafood

    Find out how we can balance our tastes with what's right for the oceans.

  • Photo: Display of fresh seafood in market in London England.

    Ocean-Friendly Seafood Substitutes

    Learn how to make sustainable choices when selecting your favorite seafood.

  • Image: Marine food chain

    Marine Food Chain

    The sea is so vast that a million or more as yet unknown species may live in its waters, and most of these aquatic species are tied together through the food web.

  • Photo: Crabs

    Cook-Wise

    Join chef and conservationist Barton Seaver in a new series exploring sustainability, community, and environmental concerns as they relate to one of the world’s most common rituals—dinner.

Restaurant Ratings

Ocean Photo Galleries

National Geographic Magazine

  • Photo: Waves crashing over rocks covered with sea grass and kelp

    Tide Pools Pictures

    A cast of thousands clings to rocky real estate in a narrow strip of shore called the intertidal zone.

  • Photo: Parrotfish smile, Heron Island Great barrier Reef, Australia

    Great Barrier Reef Photo Gallery

    From tiny coral polyps grew a marvel: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Could it all come crumbling down?

  • Photo: Seafloor bubbling due to the higher levels of CO2

    The Acid Sea

    Carbon dioxide we pump into the air is seeping into the ocean and slowly acidifying it.

Get More From the Magazine »

Your Ocean

  • Photo: Clown anemonefish

    For Kids

    Learn about the ocean with activities, photos, and games.

  • Photo: A school of fish and a shark swim in a coral reef.

    Ocean Education

    Bring engaging and important ocean learning to your classroom.

Support the Ocean

Explore the Ocean

Engage, Conserve, Restore

  • Photo: Sunset at waterfalls

    Freshwater Initiative

    The National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative is a multi-year global effort to inspire and empower individuals and communities to conserve freshwater and preserve the extraordinary diversity of life that rivers, lakes, and wetlands sustain.