Can you eat frozen tuna raw?
In this article, we will answer the question “Can you eat frozen tuna raw?”, and how to safely eat raw tuna?
Can you eat frozen tuna raw?
Yes, you can eat frozen tuna raw. But it is not free of any health risks. Read on if you want to know who should not eat raw tuna and how to eat tuna safely.
Who should not eat raw tuna?
Any individual within the immunocompromised category should stay away from raw meat including raw tuna. These people have a higher chance of getting an infection and further health complications if they eat upon eating raw tuna.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women, older adults, young children, and individuals with immune threatening diseases like HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis, etc belong to the immunocompromised category.
Healthy adults should consume fish that is lower in mercury to fulfill their omega-3 fatty acid requirements. These fish include salmon, cod, or crab. The healthy intake of fish for adults is 3–5 ounces (85–140 grams)at the rate of 2–3 times per week.
How to safely eat raw tuna?
Freezing and cooking procedures can eliminate the parasites and risk of food-borne illnesses that result from eating raw tuna. The FDA recommends freezing tuna according to the following guidelines for the safe consumption of tuna.
- Freeze at -4℉/-20℃ or below for 7 days
- Freeze at -31°F/-35°C or below until solid and keeping at -31°F/-35°C or below for 15 hours
- Freeze at -31°F/-35°C or below until solid and keeping at -4°F/-20°C or below for 24 hours
Dangers and benefits of eating raw tuna
Types and nutrition of tuna
Each type of tuna such as skipjack, albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, and bigeye has a different nutrition profile and a unique taste and texture. A single 2 ounces serving (56 grams) of albacore tuna provides the following nutrients.
| Calories | 70 |
| Carbs | 0 g |
| Protein | 13 g |
| Fat | 2 g |
Moreover, tuna is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, potassium, iron, and B vitamins. Omega-3 fatty acids are needed to maintain healthy cognitive health and prevent inflammation.
Selenium, an important trace mineral, is a powerful antioxidant. It reduces the risk of heart diseases and other chronic illnesses.
May have parasites
Raw tuna is commonly contaminated by parasites such as Opisthorchiidae and Anisakadie. The most common symptoms of a parasite infection include diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, etc.
The symptoms may be mild or severe depending upon the type of the parasite and the immunity of the individual. Most of the parasite infections from raw tuna are caused by poor food handling and storage techniques and harvesting from polluted waters.
Can be high in mercury
Tuna fish feeds on the smaller fish that are lower in the food chain. Thus, it is more likely to accumulate mercury in its fatty tissues. Some types of tuna contain a higher level of mercury than others.
These include albacore, yellowfin, bluefin, and bigeye. Frequent and excessive consumption of tuna rich in mercury can result in damage to the heart and brain.
How to freeze tuna?
Raw
Wash the raw tuna thoroughly. Pat dry the tuna using a paper towel. It is important to get rid of all the surface moisture because it will spoil the texture and flavor of tuna when frozen. The other method is to freeze-store raw tuna after dipping it in an acidic solution.
To prepare the solution, add 1Tsp ascorbic acid and ½ cup of salt to a quarter cup of water. Dip the tuna fish in this solution and let it stay for about 5 minutes.
Then wrap the fish tightly with a plastic sheet or aluminum foil. You can also put it in a freezer bag. Keep the wrapped tuna in the freezer. For defrosting, place the frozen tuna in the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight.
Canned
Canned tuna should never be stored in its original metal packaging. Transfer the tuna from its original container and put it in a zip-lock or a freezer bag. The metal will not protect the tuna from freezer burn.
Cooked
Cooked tuna in the form of tuna salad can be stored in the freezer. Simply toss the leftover tuna in a freezer bag, squeeze out all the air from the bag and keep it in the freezer. Do not forget to label the bag. Store in small batches to avoid defrosting bulk when you need it.
Other FAQs about Tuna that you may be interested in.
Can you eat yellowfin tuna rarely?
How many times a week can you eat tuna?
What is the difference between albacore and yellowfin tuna?
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Can you eat frozen tuna raw?”, and how to safely eat raw tuna?
