How to enjoy shellfish dishes-without upsetting your stomach

There is an increasing number of seafood lovers who cannot resist the taste of seafood and its flexibility in preparation. Even though the seafood taste is special and cannot be replaced by any other food products, it cannot be denied that there is the problem of fear of food poisoning. Among the various seafood varieties, the shellfish is one of the better known type as it is quite easy to catch and absolutely delicious to consume. But the risk of food poisoning as a result of eating shellfish is also high as it can be rather difficult to clean them, so proceed with caution when consuming shellfish.

Best location to purchase shellfish

Fresh shellfish are normally hard to find, as what may seem to be fresh may turn out to be full of dangerous bacterium and all sorts of harmful germs naked to the eyes. If you are trying to look for the cleanest and safest shellfish you should go and visit your local fishing authorities and seek their input as to the whereabouts of the fishing area that are deemed to be safe by them. Otherwise, you will need to get your shellfish supply from the local market. One note before purchasing anything from the market is to ensure that the turnover of the stocks are fast so that the chances of your seafood being freshly caught is higher as a result.

How to check for shellfish's freshness

If you are worried because you are not sure whether the shellfish you are buying are fresh, there are a few methods that you can use to check to ascertain their freshness. The first thing you should check for is the outer appearance of the shellfish. From the outside the shellfish must look fresh and newly caught and the hard shell must be closed tight and remain close when you are purchasing it. This applies for hard shell types of shellfish such as clams, mussels, scallops and oysters. As for prawns, you can press their body and when you let go fresh prawns should be able to spring back up. Another way to check the freshness is by their smell. When the shellfish is not fresh anymore, normally they will release a smell that is similar to ammonia. If the scent appears when you go near the shellfish this means that the shellfish freshness has been long gone. Fresh shellfish like other seafood should smell of the ocean and sea. By following these signs you will be able to check for shellfish that is not safe and fresh anymore.

Containment

When you are storing your shellfish, this is the period of time where they face the possibility of being contaminated. When trying to preserve shellfish, you should determine the method of storage according to the type of shellfish on hand. The most basic rule states that the shellfish should not be kept for more than twenty four to forty eight hours before they are cooked. By limiting storage time to certain hours, you cut down the chances of having bacteria contamination. One of the best ways to keep the shellfish before going on the trip home is to use an airtight container and fill it with enough ice. Germs that cause harmful disease to anyone who consumes the fish will only be active if it is exposed to high or warm temperature so using an airtight container with enough ice will keep the temperature from rising. If you are planning to keep live oysters, mussels and clams then make sure there are holes to keep the container ventilated and also remember to put a wet towel over the top part of the container.

Cooking and food preparation

If you need to thaw the frozen shellfish then do it by having them under a running water tap. When cooking the shellfish make sure that all parts of the shellfish are cooked so that you do not suffer from food poisoning when eating them. When you are cleaning the outer shell, find a brush or make use of the back part of the knife and scrub the pebbles and gravels off the shells thoroughly while washing it under a running water tap. You will also have to keep full watch over the food during the cooking process. If the hard shell of the seafood starts to open by itself it means it is almost ready to be eaten, but give it an extra two or three minutes inside the extreme heat so that any leftover bacterium and germs will be killed. If you are using the steaming method to cook the shellfish, steam it for as long as possible to avoid complications from eating them such as cholera from happening. If you have cooked your shellfish for a long time and yet some of the shellfish's shells still remained closed then dispose of them. Prepare and cook other shellfish such as lobsters while they are still alive because once they die the deterioration process is fast and might post a health threat to consumers.

When planning to prepare seafood the best plan of action is to sanitize the kitchen and the utensils that are going to be used during the preparation. Also ensure that the utensils used on the raw shellfish are not re-used on the cooked fish. If you are planning a picnic then keep the hot and cold food apart and stored in containers that retain their respective temperatures. Pregnant women and the elderly must avoid contact with raw fish because there is a very high possibility that the raw fish contains bacteria. The best way to enjoy seafood is the clean and hygienic approach.

Robert Packer loves seafood and lives near the coast of California where he enjoys harvesting his own shellfish during the season. For easier access, he highly recommends Fins Seafood Market and Grill for the best Roseville seafood restaurant in town.