How to tell if seafood is fresh

On the occasion of Clean Monday, the EFET provides useful advice on the correct choice of foods to eat during fasting.

How do you know that the fish and seafood laid out in beautiful rows in Greek markets and fish store counters are really freshly caught?

Experts give advice.

1. Cephalopods (for example, octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, etc.)

These seafood are sold fresh, frozen or chilled (on ice). Please note the following:

• They should not have an unpleasant odor, the smell of ammonia or any other foreign “odor”.
• They should exude the characteristic smell of the sea.
• The surface of the carcass should be moist and shiny.
• The tentacles and suction cups can withstand gentle tugging (but do not break) and do not come off easily.
• The pulp should be firm, elastic and shiny.
• The eyes should be clear and shiny (not cloudy).

Frozen (packaged or loose) cephalopods are usually covered with a thin crust of ice. After defrosting, the contents should also have the color and smell of fresh food.

2. Crustaceans (eg mussels, oysters, clams, scallops)

Since they are sold fresh in their shells, they must be alive. This is easy to verify if the following is true:

• The sink is closed and very difficult to open, or it is partially open, but at the slightest pressure it closes itself tightly.
• The contents are clean (no sand, etc.) and odorless.
• The flesh is moist, firmly attached to the shell (a pin prick or a few drops of lemon causes the shellfish to shrink).

2. Crustaceans (eg shrimp, crayfish, lobsters, crabs)

These seafood are sold fresh, frozen or chilled (on ice). Fresh:

• They do not have an unpleasant odor, but exude the characteristic “spirit” of the sea.
• Their limbs are firmly attached to the body and are solid.
• The lining of the chest is strong and transparent.
• The head and chest are light, not dark (without black spots).
• During life, they have reflex movements of the eyes, antennae and legs.

3. Sea urchins and canned food

Sea urchins must be alive when purchased. In this case, their needles will move. When choosing canned seafood that is stored in or out of the refrigerator, make sure the jars are intact and well sealed. They should also not have any dents or bulges.

4. Halva and taramas (small fish roe salad)

Other popular Lenten dishes are halva (special attention to allergy sufferers!), pickles and taramosalata. Tarama is in paste form and should have a uniform color.

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