When trying to buy fresh fish, you have to make sure it is truly fresh! And it is tricky business!

Always look for fish with:

- clear, bright bulging eyes
- shiny, taut, bright skin
- dark red gills that are not slippery
- flesh that feels firm, elastic, and tight to bone
- moist, clearly cut fillets and steaks

On the other hand, always avoid fish with:
- strong fishy smell
- dull, bloody, or sunken eyes
- fading skin with bruises, red spots, or browning or yellowing at edges of flesh
- raggedly-cut fillets and steaks

If we could always get fresh fish to cook, that would be great! But ...

Unfortunately, fresh fish isn't always available, so we have to resort to buying frozen fish, which can also be tricky.

You have to rely on you eyes when choosing frozen fish:

- the flesh should be solidly frozen and glossy without dry papery edges.
- avoid packages that have torn wrappers, frost, or blood visible inside or out.