Guidelines For Buying Fish Flashcards
List the guidelines to follow when buying fish.
8
Clean and hygienic fish counter
Use-by date
Fish flesh texture
Eyes and gills
No discoloration
Shellfish
Smell
Buy at end of shopping trip
Explain why you should buy fish from a clean and hygienic fish counter.
(2)
Buy fish from a retailer with a clean and hygienic fish counter
The retailer should have a strict food hygiene and safety policy to ensure any fish being sold is safe and fit for consumption
What type of fish counter should you buy fish from?
A clean and hygienic fish counter
What type of policy should the retailer have in place for fish?
A strict food hygiene and safety policy
Why should the retailer have a strict food hygiene and safety policy in place?
To ensure any fish being sold is safe and fit for consumption
Explain why you should inspect the use by date on fish before buying.
(2)
Check the use-by date on pre-packaged fish
After this date fish is unsafe to eat
Why should you not eat fish after the use by date?
Because after this date fish is unsafe to eat
Explain why you should inspect the flesh of fish before buying.
(2)
Ensure fish has firm, elastic flesh
The skin should be shiny, moist, unbroken and slime-free, as slime is an indication of bacterial growth
The scales should be tightly attached and not loose
How should the flesh of fish feel?
It should be firm and elastic
Describe the appearance of healthy fish flesh.
4
Shiny
Moist
Unbroken
Slime-free
Why should fish flesh be slime free?
As slime is an indication of bacterial growth
Describe the scales of a healthy, fresh fish?
The scales should be tightly attached and not loose
Explain why you should inspect the eyes and gills of fish.
2
Ensure whole fish have bright and bulging eyes
Gills should be bright red
Describe the eyes of fresh fish.
2
Bright
Bulging
Describe the gills of fresh fish.
Bright red
Explain why you should inspect flesh for discoloration.
2
Ensure cuts of fish have firm, transparent flesh
No discoloration such as bruising should be evident
Explain why you should inspect shellfish carefully.
4
Shellfish should feel heavy for their size
Molluscs’ shells should be closed or close when touched
Open shells indicate that molluscs are dead and not edible
Crustaceans should be alive to reduce the risk of food poisoning, as they spoil quickly when dead
Comment on the weight of shellfish.
Shellfish should feel heavy for their size
Describe how molluscs should be bought.
Mollusc’s shells should be closed or should close when touched
Why should you only buy molluscs whose shells are closed or close when touched?
As open shells indicate that molluscs are dead and not edible
How should one buy crustaceans?
Crustaceans should be alive to reduce the risk of food poisoning, as they spoil quickly when dead
Explain why should inspect the smell of fish when purchasing.
(3)
Check fish have a smell of the sea
An unpleasant smell is an indication of bacterial growth
Smoked fish should have a fresh, smoky odour
How should fish smell?
They should have a smell of the sea
What is an unpleasant smell an indication of?
Bacterial growth
How should smoked fish smell?
They should have a fresh, smoky odour
Explain why you should buy fish near the end of a shopping trip.
Buy fish near the end of the shopping trip to minimise the amount of time it spends at room temperature (optimum temperature for bacterial growth) before returning to a fridge
Where should you store fish at home?
In a fridge
When should you buy fish during you trip?
At the end of the shopping trip
