Information One Should Know About Seafood

By Sharron Cantu


Redondo Beach CA is known for being rich in various forms of aquatic life. Seafood refers to any kind of sea life that is considered by human beings as food. These organisms can be either plants or animals. In the animal category, the major groups are the fish and shellfish. Shellfish include different species of echinoderms, crustaceans, and mollusks. Dolphins and whales were formerly included in this group of food but they are being excluded because their consumption happens rarely these days.

In the group of plants, several sea plants are consumed as food by people in different parts of the world. Microalgae and seaweeds are part of such plants. The sea also has plants that are called sea vegetables. Mariculture or aquaculture refers to the science of farming or cultivating sea life for consumption by humans. If the organisms being reared are fish, the process is referred to as fish farming. On the contrary, harvesting wild sea life for human consumption is called fishing.

Even though these organisms are meant for consumption by humans, they may also be used to feed other farm animals and fish. Many minerals required by the human body are contained in these organisms in large quantities. Some of those minerals include vitamins, fats, phosphorus, proteins, iron, and zinc. People who reside along coastal lines derive essential body nutrients from diets made up of aquatic life. Although strict vegetarians exclude sea meat from their diets, flesh from these organisms is not classified as meat.

After fishing, the fished organisms need to be kept under very cold temperatures to prevent them from spoiling. A refrigerator or a freezer can do the job. Creatures like lobsters, mussels, oysters, and clams should be placed in clean water to keep them alive until when they need to be cooked. Ventilation in the water must be ensured to allow fresh air in. To avoid cross-contamination, raw and cooked foods must never be mixed or kept together.

If the food is frozen, it must be allowed sufficient time to defrost before cooking. In case time is a limiting factor for proper thawing to occur, they should be placed in a polythene bag and placed in cold water. It should take a few hours for the defrosting to finish.

Before and after handling any sea creatures, one should have their hands washed with hot water that is mixed with soap. All surface bacteria on the surface of the creatures must be removed by washing them properly in cold water before cooking. Cross-contamination is a common issue, hence it must be avoided at all costs by separating cooked and raw foods at all times. Eating contaminated food can cause serious health problems hence they must be disposed properly.

There are many ways of preparing and conserving aquatic foods besides refrigeration. Some of them include baking, grilling, broiling, canning, poaching, microwaving, stir frying, pan frying, and steaming. Some of these methods are applicable to specific creatures while others can be used on multiple creatures. Aquatic food can be served in combination with many other foods, vegetables, and ingredients.

These organisms are used for many other purposes besides food. For instance, they can be used to make fertilizer. Substances like spirulina tablets and fish oil are also common derivatives.




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