Is it safe to eat dying salmon?

In this brief guide, we will discuss the question, “is it safe to eat dying salmon?”. As well, we will discuss what is a salmon, what is the commercial species of salmon, what is a dying salmon, why do salmon need to spawn, a recipe, and other concerns about the salmon meat. 

Is it safe to eat dying salmon?

No, it’s not safe to eat dying salmon, because the salmon after spawning their meat tastes unappetizing and contains poor nutrients, lower fat, and many microorganisms because the fish start to decompose. So it’s not recommended to eat a dying salmon.  

What is a salmon?

The word “salmon” is the usual name for many species of ray-finned fish in the family Salmonidae. Salmon are natural to the Pacific Ocean and North Atlantic, but a lot of them were introduced into non-natural environments and they are extensively cultivated in numerous regions of the world. 

What is the commercial species of salmon?

The salmon have 9 relevant species in the commerce and could have different names depending on the region. The common names are Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, Chum salmon, Coho salmon, Masu salmon, Pink salmon, and Sockeye salmon. 

What is a dying salmon?

The term “dying salmon” is normally related to a salmon after spawning, because when salmon start this process to the destination of laying and fertilizing their eggs, they eat nothing so their fat reserve guarantees energy for their journey becoming exhausted after the process is completed.   

Why do salmon need to spawn?

It’s a physiologic and natural process of reproduction of these fishes. The salmon migrate from the profound ocean swimming to their birth river, which could be a journey of 1.000 miles or more, depending on their birthplace. All the mature salmon return to the birth river to spawn.  

How is the meat of a salmon after they spawn? 

As the salmon go out of the ocean to the river, there is a disturbance in their systems because of the absence of salt, so the salmon stop feeding, and then begin to decompose and change their color. This meat is poor in nutrients and can contain microorganisms.   

Why is it not safe to eat dying salmon?

As the fish is dying, their organisms are breaking down and can contain a lot of microorganisms that help with the decomposing process. You can kill the microorganisms by fully cooking the fish, but this food will be poor in all aspects, so it’s not recommended to eat a dying salmon.

How can I know if is it safe to eat fish?

Firstly it recommends acquiring fish from supermarkets and cooking them properly, which ensures the fish is safe and prevents foodborne illness. But if you prefer to catch your fish, there are some tips for you:

  • Don’t catch fish that are visually decaying, as they can contain more microorganisms than fresh fish.   
  • Maintain the fish alive as long you can or catch and keep them in the cooler with ice so that the whole fish is covered;
  • Clean and refrigerate the fish fast, because the meat will keep deteriorating the moments the fish get out of the water, so it’s important to have a cooler with ice to store the fish;    
  • Don’t waste more than 2 hours in the middle of catching and cleaning them, to avoid additional microorganisms growth and deterioration of the flesh; 
  • Clean the fish in a clean place and use just potable water to wash the salmon;
  • If you are not gonna eat the fish soon, you can freeze the fish immediately to preserve it and the salmon will have an extended shelf life.

How to ensure a cooked safe fish?

It’s not recommended to eat undercooked or raw fish, so fully cook the fish. The process of freezing and cooking kills harmful pathogens, to ensure the fish is safe to eat. And while you are cooking the fish, it’s important to wash your hands completely with hot water and soap all the time.   

What is a recipe for salmon? 

You can find many recipes for cooking salmon on the internet. Baking the salmon is an easy way to guarantee the salmon is fully cooked. You can click here to check this delicious garlic butter-baked salmon, this recipe just took a total of 35 minutes.    

Other FAQs about Salmon that you may be interested in.

Can you freeze Atlantic salmon?

Can you freeze smoked salmon?

How to store salmon

Is it safe to eat farmed salmon?

   

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have discussed the question “is it safe to eat dying salmon?”. As well, we have discussed what is a salmon, what is the commercial species of salmon, what is a dying salmon, why do salmon need to spawn, a recipe, and other concerns about the salmon meat. 

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon Accessed: 4/22/2022

https://www.outdoorgeeky.com/can-you-eat-salmon-after-they-spawn/ Accessed: 4/22/2022

https://askinglot.com/can-you-eat-salmon-after-they-have-spawned Accessed: 4/22/2022

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/fall_salmon_and_food_safety Accessed: 4/22/2022

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