السبت، 26 يوليو 2014

Information One Should Know About Seafood

By Sharron Cantu


If there is anything Redondo Beach CA is popular for, then it is richness in aquatic life. All forms of life found in the sea and considered as fit for consumption by humans is called seafood. Both animal and plant lives fall in this definition. Animal life comprises shellfish and fish. Various varieties of mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans are comprised in the shellfish category. Formerly when mammals like whales and dolphins were still consumed by people, they were classified under this category but that changed with decline in their consumption.

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.

These organisms are primarily fished to make human food although they may also form food for fish and other farm animals. Large deposits of most minerals required by human bodies exist in these organisms. Examples of such minerals include fats, proteins, vitamins, iron, zinc, and phosphorus. Aquatic life forms the bulk of the diet for the coastal population. All the important nutrients required by the body are derived from them. Flesh from sea life is not grouped as meat even though some vegetarians do not include it in their diets.

After fishing, the animals and plants should be kept in a cold place preferably the coldest part of the refrigerator. Creatures that need to be alive at the time of cooking such as lobsters, mussels, clams, and oysters must be kept in clean water. Proper ventilation must be ensured to allow them to breathe and stay alive. Cooked and raw foods should be kept separately to avoid contamination.

Frozen food should be given enough time to defreeze before it is cooked. If one is in a hurry, defrosting can be accelerated by putting the organisms in a polythene bag and then placing the bag in water. This way, defrosting takes a few hours to complete.

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.

Preservation and preparation of aquatic foods can be accomplished through several other methods apart from refrigerating. Some of the commonest methods are baking, stir frying, broiling, grilling, microwaving, canning, steaming, poaching, and pan frying. Some creatures can only be prepared and conserved through specific methods only. Other foods, ingredients, and vegetables can be served together with sea organisms.

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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