Where does the earth-fishy smell of fish come from?
It's also fish. Why is there so much earth-fishy smell? Is it medicated? Many people have such doubt…It's also fish. Why is there so much earth-fishy smell? Is it medicated? Many people have such doubts. Where on earth does the earth-fishy smell come from? How to remove it?
Chen Shunsheng, chairman and professor of aquatic products processing and storage engineering, Food College of Shanghai Ocean University, told that freshwater fish, such as carp, grass carp and silver carp, generally have a earth-fishy smell, which is closely related to their growing environment. Freshwater fish generally grow in ponds, rivers and lakes, where humus is abundant and suitable for microbial reproduction and growth. Bacteria with earthy odor attach to plankton such as diatoms, cyanobacteria and some aquatic plants. Freshwater fish ingest these substances through the food chain and then enter muscle, blood and tissue cells. There are less humus and plankton in the surface waters of big rivers, big rivers and reservoirs, and the fishes in them have a weak earth-fishy smell. The composition of earth-fishy smell is very complex, but it is harmless to human body. At present, there is no evidence to support the relationship between earth-fishy smell and drugs.
When purchasing freshwater fish, we should choose fish gill filaments which are clear and bright red, transparent mucus and odorless. Such fish are fresh and have a light earth-fishy smell. On the contrary, when the gill color darkens to grey red or grey purple, the gill smells bad, we should buy them carefully.
Before cooking freshwater fish, after cutting the stomach and removing dirt, soak in dilute brine, vinegar or tea water for more than half an hour, which can help to reduce the earth-fishy smell. When cooking, add onion, ginger, garlic and other condiments, you can remove most of the odor.
