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The Ultimate Fish Buying Guide

From salmon to sea bass, here’s everything you need to know about buying fish. Plus, substitutes if the one you want is unavailable.

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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.

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Arctic Char / Salmon

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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Cod

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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Halibut

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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Mahi Mahi

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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Red Snapper

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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Sea Bass

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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Sole

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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Swordfish

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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Tuna

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

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