How to buy the FRESHEST Seafood

• Fresh fish NEVER smells like FISH.
• Fresh seafood smells like sea water.
• If it has a fishy smell it is not as fresh as it should be and you should not purchase it.

• Bright, Clear, Firm and Red
• Colors on fish should be bright and not dull or washed out. Even grays and blacks on fish should have a nice vibrant color.
• Eyes should be clear and not cloudy. This is a sign of freshness of the fish you are purchasing and the longer the fish is out of the water the cloudier the eyes will become.
• Flesh should be firm and spring back when pressed don with the finger. If the flesh does not bounce back the fish is starting to break down
• Gills on a fresh fish should be red or bright pink   

• When selecting live shellfish such as oysters, clams, and mussels here is a good rule of thumb.
• If you knock on the door and no one answers that means they are not at home. They are most likely not alive if the shell does not close or move when tapped. Select another one that is home.


• Live crabs and lobster legs should show leg movement.
• If they are coming out of a cooler they will be a bit slower than if they are coming out of water.
• Raw shrimp meat should be firm and have a mild odor.
• Shells can come in many colors: translucent with a grayish green, pinkish tan or light pink tint.
• Tiger shrimp look like guess… 
• Tigers but the color is a light blue tint with black stripes.

Don’t settle for anything less than the best looking seafood.

Ask your fish monger for what the freshest catch of the day is and they will be more than happy to help you make the right selection for your meal.