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Why buy frozen fish

All the many benefits of freshly frozen fish and seafood

Quick freezing fish seals in nutrients so it is often fresher than 'fresh' fish!

Fish and seafood begins to decline in quality immediately after being caught, so freezing fish as soon as possible retains quality and seals in freshness. When fish is frozen at sea whilst still on board the boat it could not be fresher! Often fish is frozen in port hours are docking! How often is your 'fresh' fish this fresh? Click for our discussion on 'fresh' fish Vs frozen fish. Perhaps you might like to ask us a question on frozen fish? Or feel free to comment at the bottom of this page. 

 

 

Meet the fisherman

Join us on board Dave Hurford's boat The Constant Friend catching Sardines, Sprats and Herring off the South Devon coast. Dave has fished off Brixham for many years and tells us all about catching the fish we all enjoy buying in our shops.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quality Fish full of Nutrition

Freezing fish allows us to eat seasonal fish all year!

Thanks to freezing technology we enjoy fish regardless of season at great prices – offering nutrition for all the family.

 

Frozen fish is often fresher than 'fresh' fish

'Fresh' fish can take a week to reach the shops! Come and join our Field Operative behind the scenes of frozen fish.

 

 

Frozen Fish – Great Value

Frozen fish and seafood can be 25% cheaper than fresh - great value for money!

Whatsmore, its hugely extended shelf life offers year round price stability. Click here to see more about buying and storing frozen fish. And, buying frozen allows you to use as much or as little as you want – reducing waste because what you don't want goes back in the freezer!

 

  

Frozen Fish – Helping Reduce Carbon Footprints

Eco scientists claim that buying frozen is good for the environment

Fresh exotic fish can be flown in daily from afar but frozen fish keeps for long periods in the freezer. This reduces your shopping trips and flights for seasonal deliveries. Read here what the scientists have to say about the matter.

 

 

Buy fish for a balanced diet

Fish is recommended as part of nutritionally balanced diets. Freezing allows year-round availability of fish and stops microbiological activity; including pathogens which cause food poisoning - keeping the family healthy! 

 

Click here to read about Clarence Birdseye's discovery of frozen fish – when he was surveying in the Arctic he noticed that fish left on previous expeditions was perfectly frozen when uncovered months later. He is commonly credited as responsible for modern frozen food as we know it. 

How fresh is fresh?

See below how quickly fish is frozen compared to how long fresh fish can take to reach the shops and eventually your plate

 

Frozen-at-sea fish and cold water prawns

Frozen-at-sea fish and prawns are caught at their peak of quality and frozen within 4 hours giving the freshest and tastiest seafood!

  • Boat caught
  • Frozen within 4 hours of catch

Farmed fish and seafood

Farmed fish and seafood such as salmon and warm water prawns can be frozen within 4 hours of harvest.

  • Farm raised and harvested
  • Often frozen within 4 hours of harvest

Fresh fish and seafood caught and landed at main UK ports and sold frozen though normal distribution chain.

Fresh fish, which is caught and sold to a frozen packer, will be frozen within a day of arriving with the processor thereby ensuring it is frozen at fresh market quality, and ready for you to enjoy!

  • Boat caught, and landed at market
  • Sold at market and transported to processor on the same day
  • Processed and frozen within 8 hours giving you optimum quality

Fresh fish caught in local waters and sold in a local market or direct from a boat to the consumer.

This is the freshest fish but volume is very low and you need to live near a local harbour to buy.

  • Boat caught, normally from a day boat
  • Sold fresh to you within 2 days of catch

Fresh fish caught and landed at main UK ports and sold through normal distribution chain.

This is perceived as being fresh fish but it can spend a long time within the food chain before it is sold fresh to you, the consumer, especially with modern chill techniques.

  • Boat caught, allowing sailing to fishing grounds of 3 days, fishing for 3-7 days and 3 days sailing to return to port
  • Fish can be 10 days old by the time it reaches harbour
  • Sold at market, processed and distributed to consumer within 4 days
  • Then sold as fresh to consumer up to 14 days (2 weeks old) from catch, but can be longer depending on packaging and shelf life

Chilled fish

Chilled fish is often frozen fish, which has been defrosted and is then distributed through the chilled food chain.

  • Follows the same chain as fresh and frozen fish
  • Predominantly frozen fish sold on the defrost
  • Sold chilled to consumer

See what happens to fish after it's caught

Come with us behind the scenes of frozen food

Our independent Field Operatives go behind the scenes of frozen food by investigating the food we eat at source and by following it through to the shop shelves where we buy it. Our Operatives have visited vegetable farms, fish markets and frozen food manufacturers. They publish their discoveries in our Fresh Frozen Process section.  

Nick Adams – Our frozen fish Field Operative

So, you've seen the benefits of frozen fish – 
why not try the real thing?

Our chef has created the perfect seafood recipe – all with ingredients from your freezer readily available from shops and supermarkets on your high street... 

Scallops and Tiger Prawns with Warm Salad of Artichokes, Fine Beans, Chorizo and New Potatoes. Light Coriander, Lime and Chilli Dressing. Click here for full frozen seafood recipe

Click here for defrosting frozen fish safely

 

Or, why not try our frozen fish recipe?

theNewIceAge kitchen has got the perfect light meal for after Christmas – a hassle free tasty and healthy dish with ingredients from your high street shops...

Grilled Cod Fillets with Chips and Home Made Tartare Sauce.

Click here for full frozen fish recipe

Click here for defrosting frozen fish safely 

Or, click here for a selection of other frozen food recipies 


 

Page last updated at 8:57 UTC, Friday, 02 July 2010