Foods and home making

Dry fish are so called not because they contain little water, but because they contain little fat. Notice that the cod is only 0.4% fat. Compare the percentages of protein and water with those of beef. (See Figure 102, page 349.) Vitamins: A — to +, B -J-, C*, G -f- (see Note 1. page 37). Some other dry or lean fish are pike , haddock, and brook trout. There are so many kinds of fish, that it is perhaps not worth while to try to learn about all kinds. However, if you live near a body of water, you should know what kinds of fish live in that body of water. You will then know whether the fish you buy has been obtained near your home or shipped a great distance. Are fish alike in composition? Study carefully Figures 123 and 124. What are some points to notice when buying fish ? In buying fish, it is most important to know whether or not the fish is fresh. Chicken and Fish for Dinner 403 It is a serious thing to eat spoiled fish. Illness usually follows. Some points to notice when buying fish are : 1. The gills — These should be bright red. In old fish the gills become pale. 2. The eyes — These should be bright and bulging. 3. The firmness of the flesh — The flesh should be not only firm but elastic. When the flesh is pressed with the fingers, it should spring back into place. Finger prints should not be left in the flesh. However, there are some kinds of fish whose flesh is soft even when fresh. 4. The odor — Although fish has a pronounced odor, the odor of fresh fish is very different from that of decayed fish. Fish varies in cost. Comparing the costs by the pound of different fish does not always indicate the true difference in cost. Figure 124. Composition of Fresh Mackerel (a Fat Fish) Notice that this fish contains almost 18 times as much fat as cod. Certain fat fish contain more fat than mackerel. Salmon contains 17.8%, almost as much as beef steak. Vitamins : A+, B + , C*, G+ (see Note 1, page 37). Some other fat fish containing more than 5% fat are lake or salmon trout, shad, pompano, herring, whitefish, and halibut. There is much more bone and other waste in some fish than in others. In general, it has been found that fish steaks have less waste than large whole fish and that small whole fish have less waste than large whole fish. Hence, not only the cost a pound but the amount of waste should be considered in buying fish. 4°4 Dinner Are frozen fish objectionable ? Because fish spoils so quickly, it must be frozen if kept for any length of time. Fish that is to be shipped is frozen. Fresh fish cooked immediately after being caught is thought to have a finer flavor than frozen fish. How- ever, fish that is frozen quickly by modern commercial methods and kept frozen until cooked has a fine flavor and good texture. If frozen fish is bought at market, be sure to keep it in a frozen condition until you are ready to cook it. Thaw fish out by soak- ing it in cold water. Fillets may be cooked without defrosting. What foods taste good with fish? You will remember that the extractives in meat give the latter its flavor. Fish is lacking in extractives. For this reason foods of pronounced flavor taste good with fish. Tomatoes and lemon are especially good with fish because of their acid taste.