Which Is Better – Octopus Or Frozen Shrimp?

Is Sea Food Healthy?

In general, seafood is known to be very healthy. Seafood is known to be protein rich and Omega 3 that is present in seafood is known to be very good for your heart. Seafood is a collective term used to describe food that we get from water and there are many types of seafood that is available. Seafood is less in cholesterol and fatty substances and rich in proteins, minerals and essential vitamins. Shell fish in particular are said to be rich in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fats that are very good for your heart. Seafood is highly nutritious and if properly cooked can be part of your healthy diet.

Frozen Shrimp Or Octopus-Which Is More Nutritious

Shrimps and Octopus both are selfish and are considered to be very healthy. Fresh shrimps are a rarity and hence most of the shrimps available are frozen shrimp.

•People who are on a heart healthy diet have known to consume octopus as a major portion of their meal.

•The thought of having an octopus may be deterring to some. But the fact is that they are highly nutritious when compared to other seafood and especially shrimp, which is very popular seafood.

•Frozen shrimp is said to top the sales in the shell fish variety, but the octopus is slowly becoming a delicacy in many countries.

•An octopus is low on fat and is has very little saturated fat. It contains high amounts of niacin, iron, calcium and vitamins B6, B12 and C.

•Shrimps are great sources of omega-3 fat and are low calorie. But overall nutrition is better in octopus when compared to shrimps.

Easy To Cook-Frozen Shrimps Or Octopus

Having known that octopus is a lot more nutritious, the next question that arises is the ease of cooking. Frozen shrimp being popular seafood, has many recipes that will excite your tongue and since octopus is just catching up in popularity, the recipes are a lot less. Cooking a giant octopus or a frozen shrimp does require a bit of care and expertise. Care has to be taken not to overcook as they will tend to become rubbery. Shrimps and Octopus has to be tender to be enjoyed the most and the skill required is almost the same. For a decent sized family, the number of shrimps required is more and hence you may have to be more alert while cooking them. One giant octopus will be sufficient for a normal family as edible parts are a lot more in an octopus. Frozen shrimp or octopus, care has to be taken while cooking.

Easily Available-Frozen Shrimps Or Octopus

•Shrimps are popular and hence the availability of frozen shrimps is much better than octopus. It is due to this popularity that we will find frozen shrimps in all supermarkets and stores.

•The octopus can be found in large supermarkets or in the local market, but are not as easily available as shrimps.

•Availability of seafood is greatly influenced by the season and demand. It may not be easy to find an octopus, but it has started to become a popular choice amongst people and this will slowly ensure easy availability of a giant octopus ease.

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Freshwater Shrimp Farming-Black Tiger Shrimps

What Is Shrimp Farming?

Shrimp farming is a way of producing shrimps or prawns for consumption. It is an aquaculture business that started in the 1970s and has gained a lot of popularity in recent times. Shrimp farming is done in both marine and freshwater conditions. However, freshwater shrimp farming has been more popular as it is easy to have control over the various factors that could affect shrimp production. Freshwater shrimp farms are abundant in China, which produces a huge majority of the annual freshwater shrimps. Wide varieties of shrimps are produced on these farms and most of them are located in Asia. Asia has grown to be a hub for shrimp production, especially the black tiger shrimp.

What are Black Tiger Shrimps?

Black tiger shrimps are also known as the Black Diamond Shrimp and are very popular. They belong to the Tiger Shrimp species and are selectively bred of the normal Tiger shrimp. Tiger shrimps that originally occur are bred for broader and bigger black stripes and after a few generations they appear to be completely black. There are two major varieties of Black tiger shrimps

•Black eyed Black Tiger Shrimps

•Orange Eyed Black Tiger Shrimps

The orange eyed black tiger shrimps are known to fetch a much higher price than the black eyed shrimp and hence are generally the favorite among shrimp farmers.

Conditions Required for Black Tiger Shrimp Farming

There are a few conditions that have to be met for Black tiger shrimp farming and they are vital for a good yield.

•These shrimps require clean cold alkaline waters.

•The water temperature has to be between 70-74F

•PH of the water has to be above 7.2

•Fed has to be once a day and the preferred food are algae.

•Overfeeding has to be avoided as it can lead to death of the shrimps and cause the quality of the water to drop

•Even if the shrimps are not fed for two days, they can survive, as they are scavengers

Breeding Constraints

Black Tiger Shrimp is known to be difficult to breed and even more difficult to be kept alive. Since their genetics are poor, this shrimp species are known to be very fragile. In such circumstances, breeding of this variety is a tough task even for experienced breeders. Because of its black color, it is very difficult to spot them in low light conditions and sexing of this species cannot be done on their juvenile stage. You need to wait till they mature as adults to get the sexing done and this can be an issue. The major difference between male and female shrimps is the curved underbelly of the females and the fact that female black tiger shrimps tend to be larger than their male counterparts. These tiger shrimps can grow to about 13 inches, but the regular harvest size is between 9 and 11 inches. When these shrimps are bred under the required conditions, the yield is bound to be good and as it is considered to be a rare species, especially the orange eyed tiger shrimp the profitability of the freshwater shrimp farms producing black tiger shrimp will not be a concern.

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Vietnam And Its Thriving Seafood Market

Trends In Seafood Export

Vietnam is known to be one of the major players in the seafood exports market. Every year there are trend reports on this industry which shows that Vietnam sales and exports are on the rise. Even with the economic slump, there has been a marginal increase in the exports figure of Vietnam fish to countries like the US. If you look at the segregation, the following trends have emerged:

•The export of farmed fish has not been positive in 2012

•The export of Vietnam seafood like tuna, fin fishes and white shrimp has been positive growth in export

Shrimps In Demand

Shrimps are the leader in exports and they make up the largest proportion of the total value of the exports. The two main shrimps on demand in international markets are:

•The white leg shrimp or the Vannamei

•The black tiger shrimp

Both the species have seen a rise in export figures for 2012. The white leg shrimp has sported the highest rise in export value which has gone up by 33 percent. The black tiger shrimp export has gone up by as much as fifty six percent. There are several reasons for the increase of export of these shrimp species against others. These two species of shrimps are relatively cheaper and thus, with low economic conditions, these are better buys as compared to the costlier prawns and lobsters.

Shrimps Of Different Varieties

The Vietnam seafood is of several categories. The shrimp market is the most thriving and there are different kinds of shrimp species which are available in the fish market here:

•Sea tiger shrimp

•Black tiger shrimp

•White leg shrimp

•Cat tiger shrimp and many others

Other Fishes And Cephalopods

Among the Vietnam fish in the market, one can find a large variety of fishes here:

•Groupers

•Red snappers

•King snapper

•Red tilapia

•Black tilapia

The main markets for these fishes are the US, Australia and the EU. These fishes are cultured of export quality and there is even DNA testing guarantee provided.

If you thought that it is the end of the varieties to be found in the Vietnam seafood industry, you are mistaken. There are other varieties of seafood which are cultured and cultivated here for the export markets. Cephalopods are another distinct group of seafood that is available here. These consist of squids, octopus, cuttlefish which are marketed to Germany, Italy, Holland and other countries of the EU. Moll uses or shell based seafish are also in demand in the US and the EU seafood markets. The wild clams of Vietnam are known for their juicy and tasty meat. Thus, there is a large variety of Vietnam seafood that is in demand across international markets and a lot of research and investments goes into ensuring that the fish cultivation farms live up to the export industry standards and produce fish of the right quality.

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Role of Seafood Suppliers in Getting Your Fresh Seawater Fish

Who Are Seafood Suppliers?

Procuring seafood has to be done at its source, which is any water source. Seafood is also grown in farms all around the world, but getting the seafood close to a place where it is accessible to people is the job of seafood suppliers. A seafood supplier in conjunction with a few people like farm owners, transporters and retail outlets to ensure that you get the seafood of your choice in a store near you. Seafood suppliers are responsible for ensuring that seafood is delivered to all supermarkets and stores for consumption in the freshest possible way. Without these suppliers, your plans of having your favorite seafood may not materialize.

What Happens Out At Sea?

There is a lot of planning that goes into the supply chain of seawater fish. Most of the seafood comes from out in the sea and a small percentage from fish farms. Exotic and rare seafood are the ones that are usually bred in farms and seafood that are in abundance in the sea are caught by fishing boats that roam the seas. The fish that is caught by the fishing boats are sorted out and the small fishes are put back into the sea. A fish has to meet a particular weight or size required to be allowed for consumption. Once sorted, the fish are preserved in refrigerated areas in the ship till it reaches the shore. Strict parameters are set for icing the fish and storing them in refrigerated containers so that the fish do not start to decompose. If the fish are intended to be frozen, then the catch is flash-frozen on the ship immediately after sorting. This ensures that the fish retains its flavor and freshness till it gets to the packing facility.

Sorting and Packaging Offshore

• The seawater fish that has been captured and stored gets offloaded at the offshore facility where sorting and packing of the seafood takes place. It is from this facility of a seafood supplier, seafood meant for consumption is distributed.

• In the sorting and packaging unit the seawater fish are sorted according to the type, size and weight.

• They are then washed and cleaned with fresh water before they are sent to the packing section.

• Some of the fish are used to make fillets and steaks and another lot is sent out to stores as a whole fish.

Transportation of the seawater fish from this facility to the store is done through refrigerated vehicles of the seafood supplier. At all times during transportation and storage the temperature of most seafood is kept at 27 F.

Retail Outlets

The job of a seafood supplier is to get the seafood to the retail outlets that he caters to. Once delivered to the retail outlet, it is the responsibility of the store to ensure that the fish is stored at the right temperature and care is taken to preserve the freshness of the product. It is from these stores that we pick up the seafood of our choice and enjoy having them, thanks to the flawless services of a seafood supplier.

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Vietnam Seafood Recipes

Use of White Shrimp in Vietnam Seafood Recipes

Vietnam is a river rich country and this means that there are a lot of rivers flowing within Vietnam. With such huge water resources, it is no surprise that the availability of fish is in abundance. You can get both marine and fresh water fish in Vietnam and due to ease of availability, seafood is cheap and fresh. Vietnam is one of the leading producers of white shrimp and this has led to shrimps being added to the cuisine of Vietnam. Some of the famous Vietnam Seafood recipes will be discussed in detail here.

Caramel Shrimp

This is one of the most tasty and popular of the Vietnam Seafood delicacies.

Ingredients required: White shrimp, caramel syrup, red chilies, vegetable oil, garlic powder

• Heat the vegetable oil in a fry pan and add some chilies and garlic powder. Fry them for about a minute.

• Add the shrimps, stir for a while and then add pepper powder.

• Slowly add the caramel milk while stirring and then add salt to taste.

• Let this mixture boil for another 30 seconds and your caramel shrimp is ready.

This is a relatively easy and quick dish that can be made. It goes well when served with plain boiled rice.

Vietnam Seafood Mix

This is a mix of different seafood items that you can find. Shop for some of your favorite seafood and keep them aside. You will have to grill your seafood for a better taste and this grilled fish can be served with a fish sauce. You can use white shrimps, crabs, any fish or mussels for the seafood mix.

Ingredients Required: Mixed seafood, unsalted butter, olive oil, carrots, onions, pepper corn,

• Boil three or four teaspoons of butter along with some olive oil in a medium sized pan.

• After about a minute add onions, chopped carrots and pepper corns.

• Cook till the carrots and onions become soft and do not forget to keep stirring. To enhance and bring out the taste of the sauce, it is essential to keep stirring.

• After about 10 minutes add small pieces of seafood and some fish bones. This will add more flavor to your sauce.

• When the desired consistency is attained, you can take the pan off the flame and keep it aside.

• Take the seafood mix and put them onto a grill.

• Marinate the seafood mix with some lemon juice before grilling. This will help to soften the fish and also add a bit of flavor to the seafood mix.

Garnish the sauce that you have prepared with cream and small vegetable pieces. Now serve the grilled seafood mix along with the sauce that you have prepared. Your Vietnam Seafood Mix is ready.

Importance of Vietnamese Seafood

The major advantage of a Vietnamese cuisine is that it does not contain unhealthy food preparation methods. They tend to be low on oil and fatty substances and thereby being a lot healthier. You can browse the internet to find more Vietnamese seafood recipes that you can try at home. Vietnamese seafood recipes are renowned worldwide due to its simple nature and ease of preparation. They tend to be delicious and very light and this is a unique combination in any cuisine.

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Frozen Seafood-Is Frozen Seafood Better Than Fresh Seafood?

Is Fresh Seafood Really Fresh?

This is a question that has always got me thinking. We talk about fresh seafood that is available in the local market and in some supermarkets. But is this seafood really fresh. For that we need to first define what we mean by fresh. A fish that has never been frozen is what I term as fresh fish and for that you will need fish that comes right out of the water. When transportation of fish is needed, then you can be rest assured that there is some sort of freezing process that is involved to keep the fish as fresh as possible. However most of the frozen seafood is flash frozen and that means the frozen fish you get are frozen on the fishing boat immediately after capture.

Advantages of Frozen Seafood

Let us have a look at the advantages of frozen seafood that you may not be aware of.

• Most of the frozen fish available in the market are flash frozen and that means they are frozen immediately upon capture

• Flash freezing assures you highest quality seafood and is bound to taste better.

• Frozen fish are checked for quality and only the ones that satisfy the quality check are put out for sale.

• As the fish are frozen immediately upon capture, the process of decomposition of fish never takes place.

• Frozen sea foods are known to preserve the proteins in the fish much better than the so called fresh fish.

Disadvantages of Fresh Fish in Markets

Proper fresh seafood will be only available to people who are near to the fishing area and only during the fishing season. You need to go fishing in order to get fresh fish or you may have to get the services of professionals to help you get some. There are a lot of disadvantages to the so called fresh seafood that are available.

• Seafood once harvested will start to decompose in a short time and will continue to decompose throughout the transportation phase.

• Any fish that has to be transported will have to be refrigerated and in most cases the refrigeration will not be up to standards.

• Enzymes that are in the muscles of the fish will start to break down the flesh of the fish and this process can affect the quality of the fish.

• If the fish is left exposed to the sun, some freshwater fishes will release toxins and this can be harmful to you.

What to Look Out for When Buying Frozen Fish?

As with any product, you need to be aware of what you need to look out for when buying frozen seafood. Go for the products that are available in a vacuum sealed pouch as they are better. Never buy fish in a Styrofoam package or the ones which has thick ice on top of it. Such products are not flash frozen and hence the quality may be compromised. Do read the label to understand the date of packing and expiry date to ensure that you get the best. So contrary to the fact that frozen seafood is not as fresh as the ones in the market, one can be assured of quality when it comes to frozen fish.

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The Kid Friendly Pollock

The Alaskan Pollock

All the fish fans will know the real relevance of a white-fleshed fish. The light flour and succulent and tender flesh is something that can make one drool over it. Though it has been around for quite some time now, but it is only now that it is gaining fast popularity. This is because it feels like world has just now woken up to its taste as well as the goodness that makes it a close cousin of the cod. Be it for the sake of nutrition as well amazing taste, the Pollock definitely wins hands down. Moreover its tender flesh and high nutritional count make it a great stuff for the kids.

The Efforts of the Fishermen to Sustain the Pollock

Pollock needs a lot of clean and clear water to survive. So maintain the gulf of Alaska and the Bering sea has been the major task of the fishermen who have understood the real worth of it. In fact they have proved to be successful in their efforts of the past 30 years as they have come up record production of the fish.

The Cross Cultural Connect of the Pollock

Even though being of the Alaskan region it has added a fair share of its flavor to the recipes across regions. With the globalization of the seafood it has made a very strong presence for itself in the world cuisine. The mix and matches are simply endless and mouth watering with Pollock definitely making its presence felt.

The Asian Shrimp and It’s Amazing Recipes

Seafood seems to be incomplete without the shrimp in all its forms that it can be made. In fact Asian Shrimp is making its presence in the world market of fish as it comes in a variety of sizes. In fact nothing can beat the remarkable tiger prawns for its royal tastes and size. You will go berserk if you think of the various recipes that are available for making your style of shrimps. If you are really big time into enjoying the seafood you cannot afford to give shrimp cocktail a miss.

The Asian Tiger Shrimp Shifting to the East

What is a very interesting fact is that the Asian shrimp is not longer restricted to the seas surrounding the Asian continent. It is fast spreading in the Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Seaboard. This is more like an invasion that is taking place that is decreasing the sales of the shrimp that is native to the region. Many scientists are trying to figure out the reason for this shift. In fact this is quite disturbing to the marine ecosystem of the region. 

Try Out the Amazing Recipes of the Asian Shrimp

Asian shrimp is an amazing delicacy that is enjoyed all over the world. You are sure to find all the interesting recipes that will be sure to delight your taste buds. In fact shrimps are one of the favorites of the people who their seafood platter.

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