Buy Fresh Tuna ((NEW))
In this ultimate guide to buying tuna, I explain the difference between ahi tuna, yellowfin tuna and albacore tuna (and whether they mean the same thing), where to buy it, what to look for to find the freshest tuna, and whether you really need sushi-grade ahi tuna.
buy fresh tuna
Yellowfin tuna is a sub-type of ahi tuna. Yellowfin tuna can be found along the West Coast of the United States as well as the North-East and is less commonly found than albacore tuna, hence the more expensive cost. It is named so because of its yellow markings around the fin.
Albacore Tuna, aka White Tuna, is a type of tuna, but not a type of ahi tuna. It is much smaller than ahi or yellowfin tuna and more commonly found, causing it to be less expensive. The meat is more firm and lighter or mild in flavor. Albacore tuna can be found along the West Coast of the United States as well as areas in Europe. It is often used to make canned white tuna.
Avoid tuna steaks that are dull, matte or brown. The longer the tuna meat is exposed to oxygen, it will begin to oxidize and turn brown, meaning a brown tuna steak may be old. Also avoid any large gaps between the muscles of the steak where it seems to be flaking off.
While color is a great indication of freshness in ahi tuna, some brands will actually add food coloring to make the fish appear a brighter pink color and mask any unfresh color. This is definitely NOT what we want, so make sure to double check the nutritional label and ingredients.
Sushi-grade is another term for the highest level of quality and freshness. It also means you can consume the fish raw. However, the FDA does not regulate the term sushi-grade, it only created a list of processes to handle fish for raw consumption.
Only buy fish that is refrigerated or displayed on a thick bed of fresh ice (preferably in a case or under some type of cover). Because the color of a fish can be affected by several factors including diet, environment, treatment with a color fixative such as carbon monoxide or other packaging processes, color alone is not an indicator of freshness. The following tips can help you when making purchasing decisions:
Mercury is an element that occurs naturally in the environment and is also released to the environment through many types of human activity. It can collect in streams, lakes, and oceans and is turned into methylmercury in the water or sediment. It is this type of mercury that is present in fish. Methylmercury can be harmful to the developing brain and nervous system. The highest methylmercury levels are found in large, long-lived fish, such as king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish (from the Gulf of Mexico), and bigeye tuna. So, individuals who could become or are pregnant or breastfeeding and young children should avoid these seven fish.
We are offering only the highest quality #1 grade Bluefin available. When we cut your tuna we take the blood-line out for you and clean it up. Your order will be ready to simply place on the grill or cut for sushi.
We stand by the quality and freshness of our product at SoPo Seafood. If you are not 100% satisfied with your order, please contact us immediately at (877) 282-7676 or email sales@soposeafood.com for a full refund/reship.
The Bluefin we offer at SoPo Seafood is caught by hook and line by local fishermen in the Gulf of Maine. By ordering locally caught tuna you are directly supporting the working waterfront of Portland, Maine.
Fresh Hawaiian Yellow Fin or Ahi Tuna is a special treat for all. It's rich texture and color is excellent for sushi. Enjoy your tuna seared in spices or fully cooked. This will be a favorite, for even the most fastidious sushi connoisseurs.
Flavor Profile: Fresh Ahi Tuna Steaks, are mildly sweet in flavor and very lean. This is ideal in a fish because the taste of the freshness will shine through while also allowing you to prepare it with flavors that you love. Choose your favorite cooking style, seasons, rubs, and more to prepare your Fresh Ahi Tuna Steaks how you prefer each time!
Yellowfin tuna is a beautiful fish, with a dark metallic blue body, a silver belly, and bright yellow fins. Its torpedo-shaped body is built for speed. It has to swim fast to catch its prey—smaller fish, squid, and shrimp—and to avoid becoming prey to certain species of whales and sharks. Yellowfin tuna is one of the largest species of tuna. Individuals have been known to weigh up to 400 pounds, but commercial catches tend to be much smaller, usually between 20 and 100 pounds.
When shopping for fresh tuna, look for firm meat with a fresh sea-breeze aroma and no discoloration. Store fresh tuna in the coldest part of the refrigerator at 32 degrees Fahrenheit for up to two days. To freeze, wrap fish tightly to prevent freezer burn. Date the package and store at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for up to two months. Thaw in the refrigerator or under cold running water.
Tuna is traditionally cooked to rare or medium-rare in the center. For a rare center, cook two minutes on each side; for a medium center, cook three to five minutes; and for a well-done center, cook five to eight minutes. As tuna cooks, it turns from pink or red to tan or ivory white.
Versatile yellowfin tuna tastes great raw, grilled, baked, broiled, blackened, pan seared, or smoked. Yellowfin tuna is widely used in sashimi, Japanese dishes featuring fresh raw fish sliced thin and served with a dipping sauce.
Fresh Albacore Tuna is a species of tuna found in the deep waters. This species has many other names including Pacific albacore, tombo ahi, albacore fish and albacore tuna. Albacore tuna are pelagic predators meaning that they are found neither close to the bottom nor near the sea shore and are open-sea hunters. The size of the albacore is approximately 90 to 100 centimeters. Its weight is up to about 40 kilograms. This tuna species is dark blue dorsally. It has shades of silvery white ventrally. The first dorsal fin is a deep yellow. The second dorsal fin and the anal fin are a light yellow.
Albacore tuna is the only tuna type which is branded as white meat tuna in the United States. One is able to find it in the open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, the Mediterranean Sea, Hawaii, Fiji and the South Pacific. It has a moderate to rich flavor and a firm texture. It is also known as "The Chicken of The Sea" because of its delicate aroma. Albacore is a prized food, and the albacore fishery is economically significant. It is suitable for many different preparations. As raw fish, it is softer than the other tunas and is, therefore, more difficult to prepare as sashimi.
Andersonseafoods.com is the best place to buy Albacore Tuna online! Our online seafood store provides clients with all fresh and frozen seafood of their choice, and is the most trusted source of seafood in America with a staff that boasts more than 35 years of experience in the seafood business. Our services include importing, processing, custom packaging and distributing all varieties of fresh, frozen and live seafood products. Our supplies of seafood are healthy choices and provide a very good source of protein and vital nutrients, for example Omega 3's.
Delicious, Omega-3 rich, albacore tuna is perfect for barbecuing and canning. Support your local Oregon fishermen in their dedication to this sustainable, hand caught, hook and line fishery. If every Oregonian eats just one pound of local albacore a year, all of our tuna and the profits from them will stay in Oregon supporting our communities and fishing families.
Looking for fresh tuna for sale? While some people might have grown up with canned tuna as the only option, the reality is that fresh tuna is actually a delicious main course in its own right. Offering a distinct taste and plenty of great preparation options, yellowfin ahi tuna is a very popular fish in restaurants and works well for those fancy home-cooked meals. Like all of the fish here at Anderson Seafoods, the key is to get fresh tuna for sale that best fits your particular needs. Before doing that though, you might want to know more about these delicious fish to begin with.
Yellowfin tuna can be found at various locations around the world, including: Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, the Marshal Islands, and more. In general, you will notice that most of these countries are in the south pacific, which is due to the fact that tuna prefers these more tropical waters. They tend to stick to clearer waters and live far enough off the coast that you need a good fishing boat to really get a good haul. You might also catch them off of Hawaii.
When catching tuna in the wild, fishermen look for those fish that are 60 pounds or more, which means that they never come home with anything light. To catch these large fish, they can use a hand line, which requires them to real each individual fish in. Alternatively, some areas allow for the use of a long line. This method of fishing uses one large line with plenty of smaller ones attached to it. In fact, it can allow for up to 2,500 hooks to be put on a single line and therefore enables a much larger amount to be caught.
A deep red color when caught, the fresh yellowfin tuna cooks to become tender and white. It is rich in healthy oils, which makes it popular among sushi chefs. Found within those south pacific waters, it comes in fresh daily. Once it arrives, the fresh catches are quickly processed and sent out later that same day. This ensures that you get the absolute freshest option on the market today. Our Yellowfin tuna price includes 2 fillets, and since they are caught in the wild, they provide the absolute best taste.
Similar to the fresh variety, this ahi tuna is caught in the wild, usually using long line techniques. As a result, it has that high quality flavor that you would expect from a four or five star restaurant. Of course, sometimes you prefer to have extra tuna on hand rather than just ordering it and using it right away. When those occasions arise, this frozen variety is perfect. It is processed and frozen right away, which helps to seal in that original flavor. Once it arrives, simply defrost for 12-24 hours in the refrigerator and then prepare as you like. 041b061a72