How to Tell When Fish Goes Bad

Bad seafood can make you very sick. Fortunately, it is usually pretty easy to tell by smell, feel and appearance if fish is going bad. Read on to learn how to tell when fish goes bad.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Follow your nose. When fish goes bad, it generally develops a strong fishy smell. Some fish already smells pretty strong to begin with, however, so you need to know how good fish smells to know how bad fish smells.

2. Look for discoloration. If the fish looks brown, yellow, or grayish around the edges, it is quite likely to be going bad.

3. Check the expiration date.

4. Think about how long the fish has been out for. Fresh fish should not be left out at room temperature for longer than half an hour or so, or in the refrigerator for more than a few days. If it is left for too long, it can go bad.

5. Press on the flesh. If the fish is fresh, it should spring back. If it feels mushy, the fish might be going bad.

6. Look at the fish. If the flesh has a dull color or the fish looks slimy, it is probably going bad.

Tips & Warnings

• Err on the side of caution when cooking fish. You really don't want to eat bad fish.

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