Photo: Stephanie Carter
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All the Fish in the Sea
Next time you’re shopping for fish, know what you’re getting!
All Illustrations by Stephanie Carter for Food Network Magazine.
From salmon to sea bass, here’s everything you need to know about buying fish. Plus, substitutes if the one you want is unavailable.
Next time you’re shopping for fish, know what you’re getting!
All Illustrations by Stephanie Carter for Food Network Magazine.
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These two members of the salmonidae family have a pink-orange flesh. They’re extra-rich, oily fish, which means they’re high in omega-3s.
Substitutes: Ocean Trout, Black Cod, Mackerel
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This lean white fish will flake into large tender pieces when cooked. Go with Pacific cod, if you can — it’s a more sustainable choice than Atlantic cod.
Substitutes: Haddock, Pollack, Monkfish
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A meaty texture distinguishes halibut from other types of lean white fish. Look for wild Pacific or farmed Atlantic halibut, which are the most humanely and healthfully sourced.
Substitutes: Flounder, Sole, Cod
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This lean tropical fish is named after the Hawaiian word for "strong." Its light pink flesh cooks up white and firm — and it’s both flaky and dense.
Substitutes: Halibut, Swordfish
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Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico snapper have a distinctive reddish-orange skin and pinkish flesh. Snapper is lean and mild; some say it tastes slightly nutty.
Substitutes: Grouper, Black Sea Bass
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Black sea bass is one of the most widely available in this group of white-flesh fish. It’s lean and delicate, with a buttery and slightly sweet flavor.
Substitutes: Flounder, Red Snapper
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These fillets are super thin, so they cook quickly. Sole generally comes from European waters; its American counterpart is flounder, which is similarly light and delicate.
Substitutes: Red Snapper, Pollack
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If you like meaty fish, swordfish is for you — it’s generally sold in hefty steaks. When cooked, it’s moist and firm and the flavor is mild but distinct.
Substitutes: Halibut, Tuna
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The albacore variety usually goes into cans; bluefin, skipjack, yellowfin and others are sold as steaks. Because tuna can toughen quickly, it’s best served rare.
Substitutes: Swordfish, Mahi Mahi