I stopped buying fresh fish when all kinds in the 5 places I shop reached $15 a pound. Today, Costco had U.S. farmed whole trout at $12 a pound. Today is the 5th and the Sell By date is the 13th. Really? Can that possibly be OK? The fish was not on ice but in an open refrigeration unit. I'm tempted to buy some and I would cook all of it right away, but it makes me wonder, how long ago was it harvested? I've never kept raw fish more than 2 days in the fridge. Are they adding some sort of preservative to raw whole fish?
nuraman00,
No, I didn't buy the trout. I've been back 2 times and each time the trout packages had looong expiration dates. The eyes look clear, which I guess is supposed to mean fresh enough. But definitely chilled, no ice crystals when I poke the packages. I wonder if they are treated with some sort of substance that doesn't need to be listed on the packaging.
Clear eyes are part of the equation. They should also appear full or plump. As the fish sits for awhile, they will start to sink into the socket and get a dull look. Those you want to avoid.
I also recall CostCo gives a Packed On date as well as a Sell By date. I try to get as close to the packaging date as possible when I buy fish there.
I think the two-day rule is a little bit of paranoia, if stored properly. Properly stored, fish should last at least a week from the packing date, as the Costco packaging indicates. Of course, fresher is better, but you needn't worry about being poisoned.
But transported home in the trunk of a hot car, it wouldn't even last two days.
The Costco display coolers should have thermometers in them you can check if you are nervous about the temps.
Hi acgold7. I left you a comment on our YouTube channel last week. Did you see it?
Thanks, I will check for the thermometer. Costco opens so late it is hard to avoid the interior of my truck heating up even with sunshields. I do take an ice chest with several ice packs, but they are just slightly cool after the shopping +20 minute drive home. I do most of my grocery shopping at a 24 hour/7 day superstore so I can avoid the heat. I should probably buy more ice packs. As is true for most of the Pacific Northwest, the temperatures are heating up again. The local NOAA office predicts 104F on Thursday.
I will try asking an employee what days the trout I put out. They are always extremely busy and pressured but friendly.
I was at Costco yesterday and looked at the expiration dates on some of their seafood. Here's a sample of what I saw and asked:
Fresh Whole Sea Bass (Bronzino), expiration date 10 days from packed date. same for trout.
Pre Frozen Ahi Tuna, expiration date 8 days from packed date.
Fresh Halibut Fillets, expiration date same day was packed date. (extremely perishable).
Frozen Scallops, Shrimp, expiration date 8 days from pack date.
Fresh Salmon fillets (both farmed and wild), expiration date 8 days from packed date.
There's nothing added to the whole fish, Costco rep says, depending on the species, whole 'unprocessed' fish has a longer shelf life over fish that has been processed into fillets.
Note: All the seafood looked excellent (nothing unusual for Costco) and the whole fish as well, the eyes looked clear and shiny. No odor or fishy smell.
Hope this helps.
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