The expert named the rules for choosing fish and caviar for the New Year's table
Fish and caviar remain traditional attributes of the festive menu, and their choice requires careful attention due to the wide assortment in stores. Arina Samoilova, an expert of the X5 Club loyalty program, shared with Izvestia on December 19 the key guidelines that will help to purchase high-quality products.
"When choosing a chilled fish, first of all it is necessary to evaluate its appearance. Fresh fish should have clear eyes, a natural sheen of scales and a neutral marine odor. The gills should be pink or red without darkening, which indicates the correct storage and transportation conditions," she suggested.
Frozen fish should be chosen with a minimal, even and transparent layer of ice, as too dense an ice crust may indicate repeated freezing, which worsens the texture and taste. When buying smoked fish, you should focus on the mild flavor and natural shade — too bright a color or a pungent odor is often referred to as the use of unnatural ingredients.
When choosing caviar, it is important to pay attention to its consistency. A high-quality product consists of whole eggs of approximately the same size, which are easily separated from each other, without excessive dryness or an abundance of stretching liquid. The composition should be as concise as possible: caviar, salt and acceptable preservatives in a minimum amount. The shorter and clearer the list of ingredients, the more natural the product is considered. Packaging also plays an important role: a glass jar allows you to visually assess the quality, and the tightness of the vacuum packaging indicates compliance with technological standards. The type of fish, the producer and the region of catch must be indicated on the label.
"Price is an important, but not the only guideline. Significant deviations from the average level can be explained by promotions or the characteristics of raw materials, for example, when selling imitated caviar. Therefore, it is useful to compare offers and take into account the seller's reputation. You should be careful when shopping online, where there are fewer quality guarantees, and give preference to large retail chains where products undergo mandatory checks before hitting the counter," Samoilova advised.
On December 11, nutritionist Sofia Kovanova called drinking alcohol the most harmful habit at the New Year's table. She recalled the need for pauses between meals and recommended alternating champagne with water with lemon, as well as either combining alcohol with fruit or consuming it separately.
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