Canned or cooked salmon also has a somewhat neutral aroma. Most of the discolorations you’ll find on salmon will be dark. Looking at salmon? A fresh fish should smell like clean water, or a touch briny or even like cucumbers. Use your nose . As long as the flesh is still firm and the skin is shiny rather than slimy, the fish is still fine to cook and eat. I defrosted a whole trout and it was very slimy. If you undercook fish and some of it is still raw, you will not be able to keep it past the best before date. Check the color to see if it has lost any of its vibrancy, look for any slimy residue on the fish (smoked fish is drier than other types of fish) and check the smell. 3. It can cook in many ways. How to tell if crab or lobster has gone bad, How to tell if smoked seafood has gone bad, What Is The Difference Between A Prawn And A Shrimp, What Is the Difference Between Plain and All Purpose Flour, How to Know if Brussels Sprouts Have Gone bad, How to Tell if Mushrooms are Still Good to Eat, 2 Easy Ways to Fry an Egg Without Oil or Butter. Your fresh fish will be light pink or white, but if your fish starts to look glossy or milky, or has a bluish or grayish tint, it’s bad. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Definitely! On the other hand, if it’s a steelhead or tule Chinook, this will reveal pinkish flesh. If it’s no longer firm or doesn’t have its typical white lines, don’t eat it! Discard fresh fish as soon as you notice the beginning of this slimy texture. First exception is if the power goes out, but even then, not always. Bad bacon may look dry and off in color. The white lines between flakes of salmon can indicate its firmness in addition to its freshness. This has never happened before. This pale pinkish-orange colour fish is one of the most nutritious food on the planet. The way to tell if cooked fish has gone bad is similar to fresh fish, but there are some key exceptions: You will need to ensure the fish is cooked properly before you store it. Their appearance must be intact and smell pleasant. "Very descriptive and helpful. This time reduces to one hour on hot days when the room is above 90°F. Once the lines have faded, the meat is all but guaranteed to be mushy. But if it has a weird color, has a smell that makes you lose your appetite, is past its shelf-life date or in a puffy can, throw it away. Bad salmon has dark and discolored eyes. Cooking it thoroughly in the microwave before eating is the safest bet. To tell if fish has gone bad, touch your raw fish to see if it’s slimy, which happens when fish starts to spoil. If you’ve already cooked your fish, it will not develop a milky color. As you peek, see how easily the fish gives way. After this study, researchers came to the conclusion that if a person eats fried fish twice a week, the risk of heart disease is significantly increased. It’s best to discard fish as soon as it starts to smell “off.”. If your seafood smells overpoweringly of ammonia, or is mushy, slimy or otherwise questionable, discard it. Is the trout good to eat? Another important point to take into account is the sort of seafood in question. The bottom of my kipper was green but I'd already eaten half - what should I do? Whether it’s raw or cooked, fish can safely sit at room temperature for up to two hours. To avoid food poisoning, it’s best to discard fish once it shows any signs of spoiling. Tell your fishmonger to make an incision close to the tail of the fish. If you have canned fish more than five years expired, it’s best to throw it out. We may, however, need to get in close. References. While it is related to the fact the seafood has come from the sea, the difference between fresh and bad fish can be difficult to discern for the uninitiated. Although the shelf life of canned, smoked, or even cooked salmon is longer compared to raw salmon, all types of salmon will eventually expire. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Tell-if-Fish-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-Fish-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Tell-if-Fish-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-1.jpg\/aid9309506-v4-728px-Tell-if-Fish-Has-Gone-Bad-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"