Chook Me!

How do you determine the freshness of frozen poultry and fish from the supermarket?

The lady keeps telling me that everything is fresh or new stock but I don't really believe her. How do you determine its freshness cos I hear that these frozen poultry and fish are that way cos some chemicals are added to extend its shelf lifespan. Thanks in advance.

Public Comments

1. fresh fish does not smell fishie,poultry is not white or has no smell.
2. Look on the packaging for a date of any kind there should at least be a `best before' or `eat before' date. Frozen poultry can be a year or two old.
3. ALL commercial meats have chemicals added, but for some reason only chicken has to label it as "up to 12 percent solution" It is injected into beef, pork, etc to disinfect the meat because of deplorable factory conditions and fecal material. These solutions are toxic to people with food allergies, (like me) because they contain wheat and soy ingredients. If you must eat meat, try to make sure it is organic and minimally processed. You can google for more info on this
4. fish is sometimes frozen packed in ice on the boat, and therefore is fresh as just caught when it comes to you in the supermarket. check the eyes of whole fish, a clear eye is fresh, and a cloudy/murky discoloured eye is a fish that is not fresh or one you would want to buy or eat
5. well if the food is raw, then for meat(like beef) look for bright red meat, and look at the expiration date. For chicken, look for that light tan skin color meat. Same goes for pork, usually. And for fish, look at it's eyes(if it has any) and if the eyes are clouded, then its not fresh, and the meat should be firm and well stuck together, if it splits up and the meat is kind of "crumbly" and falls apart, that's not good. If it's frozen, then all you have to worry about is the expiration date, since it's not exactly the freshest of the fresh and not "raw", they'll be ok without any "examinations".
6. If it is frozen then its okay. You can read the packaging and see if anything was added, most do not have anything added. I have never had frozen fish or poultry that was bad. By careful how you thaw it though.
7. Well think for a minute if it's fresh why is it frozen. A person can tell you anything you want to hear so they can make a sell. But when it's frozen depends where it comes from,it's how you can tell how fresh it is. SO it probablt is from 4 days to 10 days since it was frozen.
8. fresh fish usually has a reddish gills., doesn't have bad smell., its eyes are not colored red., and its body is firm., fresh poultry on the other hand must not be pale in color., no bad smell., and also firm., of course they should not be frozen when you buy it., check the department of trade and industries' seal of approval that it's fresh., c",)