210568 392 Food & Drink Cooking Basics true Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:32:32 -0700 /system/videos/1/68/05/21/210568.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, food, cook, cooking How To Buy Fish and Shellfish http://www.howcast.com/videos/210568-How-To-Buy-Fish-and-Shellfish http://www.howcast.com/videos/210568-How-To-Buy-Fish-and-Shellfish/edit approved 210 640 360 <object width="425" height="273" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=210568"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=210568" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="273" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 5 dontwalk http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/buy_fish_and_shellfish_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg 764 false false false 79018 0 20 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/20.jpg Find a fish store Find a specialty fish store with displays of fresh whole fish, mollusks and bivalves, lobsters in tanks, and seaweed decoration all layered on ice. If this is unavailable in your area, go to the fish counter at a high-end food store.

]]> 79019 1 35 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/35.jpg Survey the fish Survey the offerings, and when it’s your turn to be served, say hello to the fishmonger.

]]> 79020 2 42 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/42.jpg Ask for advice Tell the fishmonger what you’re interested in making—fish steaks for the grill, whole roasted fish, boiled lobster, sautéed fillets—so he can point out to you what he has available.

]]> 79021 3 55 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/55.jpg Chat Ask the fishmonger where the fish came from and when it arrived. Chat him up a bit. Ask him what’s good today. Be prepared to change your dinner plans based on his answer.

]]> 79022 4 67 Tip The fishmonger might offer anecdotes, information, or cooking tips—listen carefully.

]]> 79023 5 72 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/72.jpg Avoid farmed fish Ask the fishmonger which fish are farmed and which are wild. Generally speaking, farmed fish should be avoided due to the likelihood of taint by PCBs or even antibiotics. Farmed fish species include salmon, trout, and catfish.

]]> 79024 6 91 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/91.jpg Inspect steaks and fillets If you intend on purchasing fish filets or fish steaks, the surface of the flesh should be bright and shiny. It should appear moist with no spots of brown spoilage or pink bruises.

]]> 79025 7 100 Tip It’s a great sign when the fishmonger cuts steaks or filets from a whole or larger piece of fish, but this rarely happens. Nowadays, most fish is precut and portioned.

]]> 79026 8 112 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/112.jpg Inspect a whole fish If you want a whole fish, it should have bright moist skin and clear eyes. The fish should look almost as alive as it did in the water.

]]> 79027 9 123 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/123.jpg Inspect lobsters If you want lobsters, notice how “lively” they are when the fishmonger takes them out of the tank. The peskier the lobster, the fresher it is.

]]> 79028 10 132 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/132.jpg Inspect scallops If you want scallops, they are usually sold already shucked. They should be firm, succulent, and smell sweet—scallops must be sniffed. Good fresh scallops are not bright white, but cream-colored, perhaps with a hint of rosiness.

]]> 79029 11 144 Tip If the scallops are whiter than an ingénue’s teeth, they most likely have been over-processed (using a food-safe bleach), so it’s probably better to avoid them.

]]> 79030 12 156 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/156.jpg Inspect shrimp Purchase shrimp raw and in the shells. Remember that the vast majority of shrimp sold have already been frozen. How the shrimp were thawed can affect the flavor. If the shrimp appear waterlogged and soggy, skip them.

]]> 79031 13 170 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/170.jpg Unwrap your purchase When handed your purchase, unwrap it immediately for a touch and smell taste. The fish should never smell bad, and whole fish and fish filets should feel firm and supple. If acceptable, wrap it back up and thank the fishmonger.

]]> 79032 14 187 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/210568/187.jpg Return anything unacceptable If the fish is unacceptable, hand it back over the counter and ask the fishmonger, “Would you eat such a stinky, dull-fleshed fish?” Remind him that you weren’t born yesterday. Ask him where he keeps the frozen fish sticks.

]]> 79033 15 199 Fact Fish wrapped in plastic should be avoided—odds are it’s been around a lot longer than fish that hasn’t been wrapped.

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http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/9963/25_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/9963-How-To-Peel-a-Potato-in-10-Seconds 392 21314 How To Separate an Egg AssignmentGuide 3986 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:00:40 -0700 9 michaelrsanchez ]]> 85 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/14/13/02/21314.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, egg, separate, cooking Food & Drink Cooking Basics 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/21314/40_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/21314-How-To-Separate-an-Egg 392 97825 How To Clean Leeks AssignmentGuide 2232 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:01:21 -0800 7 michaelrsanchez ]]> 120 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/25/78/09/97825.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, food, make, prepare Food & Drink Cooking Basics 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/97825/Picture_2_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/97825-How-To-Clean-Leeks 392 112083 How To Make Your Own Butter With a Mixer AssignmentGuide 1906 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:02:25 -0800 11 lorishe09 ]]> 124 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/83/20/11/112083.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, food, make, prepare Food & Drink Cooking Basics 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/112083/Picture_8_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/112083-How-To-Make-Your-Own-Butter-With-a-Mixer 392 165793 How To Prepare Healthy Meals in Your Dorm Room AssignmentGuide 2443 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 06:47:23 -0700 15 BatSquid_Studios ]]> 127 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/93/57/16/165793.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, food, cook, cooking Food & Drink Cooking Basics 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/165793/prepare_healthy_meals_in_your_dorm_room_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/165793-How-To-Prepare-Healthy-Meals-in-Your-Dorm-Room 392 179916 How To Make Less Expensive Cuts Of Meat Tender AssignmentGuide 2887 Wed, 06 May 2009 09:02:23 -0700 49 crazyp3t3 ]]> 138 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/16/99/17/179916.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, meats, poultry, butcher, knife, steak Food & Drink Cooking Basics 10 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/179916/image_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/179916-How-To-Make-Less-Expensive-Cuts-Of-Meat-Tender 392 181280 How To Wash Leafy Greens AssignmentGuide 1314 Wed, 13 May 2009 08:17:26 -0700 7 ASFJ ]]> 110 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/80/12/18/181280.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, cook, cooking, eat Food & Drink Cooking Basics 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/181280/Picture_4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/181280-How-To-Wash-Leafy-Greens 392 191496 How To Test Eggs For Freshness AssignmentGuide 3931 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:47:21 -0700 25 lorishe09 ]]> 86 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/96/14/19/191496.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, breakfast, Dairy, milk, flour, farm Food & Drink Cooking Basics 4 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/191496/Picture_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/191496-How-To-Test-Eggs-For-Freshness 392 203601 How To Revive Stale Bread AssignmentGuide 1698 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:17:46 -0700 4 Saysa ]]> 68 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/01/36/20/203601.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, freshness, rye, wheat, white, marble, mold, breadbox Food & Drink Cooking Basics 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/203601/Picture_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/203601-How-To-Revive-Stale-Bread 357 68621 How To Make Mulled Cider AssignmentGuide 1769 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:15:48 -0800 5 lorishe09 ]]> 90 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/21/86/06/68621.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, food, make, prepare Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/68621/Picture_5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/68621-How-To-Make-Mulled-Cider 357 68802 How To Make Hot Chocolate From Scratch AssignmentGuide 5576 Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:30:52 -0800 18 foveacon ]]> 115 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/02/88/06/68802.flv food, winter, warm, drinks, drinking, beverages, making, homemade, home, delicious Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/68802/010_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/68802-How-To-Make-Hot-Chocolate-From-Scratch 357 95432 How To Make Iced Hot Chocolate AssignmentGuide 5470 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:31:13 -0800 13 rsansivero ]]> 77 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/32/54/09/95432.flv drink, drinking, cold, frozen, iced, hot, chocolate, beverage, beverages, summer Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/95432/Picture_15_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/95432-How-To-Make-Iced-Hot-Chocolate 357 174335 How To Make an Egg Cream AssignmentGuide 2553 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:16:57 -0700 5 michaelrsanchez ]]> 82 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/0/35/43/17/174335.flv egg, cream, making, mixing, new, york, milk, soda, classic, traditional Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/174335/egg_cream_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.jpg http://www.howcast.com/videos/174335-How-To-Make-an-Egg-Cream 357 179750 How To Make Tonic Water AssignmentGuide 2013 Mon, 11 May 2009 17:32:38 -0700 6 rsansivero ]]> 100 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/4/50/97/17/179750.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, drinking, seltzer, seagrams, acid, pepsi, soft drinks Food & Drink Coffee, Tea and Other Drinks General Beverages 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/179750/Picture_4_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/179750-How-To-Make-Tonic-Water