How to Pick and Store Fish: A Step-by-Step Guide

The very best meals start with the very best ingredients, and fish is no exception. If you learn how to buy it, you can let the fish do all the work.

Buying Whole Fish
If you're buying whole fish, they should be shiny and sparkly with firm flesh, a clean smell, tight scales, red gills and clear eyes.

Buying Fish Steaks and Fillets
If you're buying fish steaks or fillets, they should have a moist sheen and slightly translucent, dense flesh that feels firm to the touch. You can check online to see which fish are the environmentally safe ones to use by going to MontereyBayAquarium.com.

Preserving Whole Fish
Fill a colander halfway with ice and place over a large bowl; put the whole fish on top. For fresher seafood, gut before storing.

Storing Whole Fish
Add some more ice on top and put the bowl into the back of the fridge, which is the coldest part.

Storing Fillets and Steaks
To store fillets and steaks, leave them in their wrappers and store them the same way as whole fish. Keep all raw fish up to 1-2 days in the fridge and up to 8 months in the freezer. To freeze fish, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the freezer. Watch our how-to video for more.