Fresh fish no it's frozen !!!

Vegastare

Forgive me for asking but do you assume fish from the fish counter is fresh or frozen.

Today I was looking to get some fresh fish from supermarket fishmonger and only a couple pieces where on tray so asked if they had more - soon six more were placed on tray and as I picked them I was told they were still frozen as just "out of the back".   I fully understand that fish is packed in ice for transit etc but this warm really firm.

As it was for tonight I said nothing - but back in the car I said to hubby that I thought it was misleading.  He said what does it matter I see you buy fish from there all the time and freeze it.

He had a hard time understanding my logic that I buy it fresh and freeze it....but could have bought defrosted fish and re frozen it in the past and not realized .  

Not mentioning which supermarket - but it has quite put me off getting fish from there and it is only one in area left.

Farway

I always assumed it was frozen unless you live by the sea and local fishing boats,exception maybe mackeral, skate or similar  from local UK seas but most white fish, cod and the like is frozen at sea when caught so not supermarket dependant

Katiehound

Bought prawns from  Mr T on Tuesday and noticed that the pack felt very cold. On the small print it said something like the items had been  frozen , and I'm pretty sure it said they were suitable for home freezing- but I didn't because I planned for them to be eaten before the date on packet anyway.

molerat

Most deep sea fish is frozen - how do you think they stay out at sea for several weeks at a time.  As mentioned above you will likely only ever get fresh fish from a local fishmonger close to a fishing harbour (or one of those with a royal crest in a posh town where you will pay a premium price for it being transported daily from the harbour)

mjm3346

"He had a hard time understanding my logic that I buy it fresh and freeze it....but could have bought defrosted fish and re frozen it in the past and not realized ."

It can be commercially frozen and still suitable for home freezing - if it isn't they should say so

Vegastare

Thanks everyone.....as always I am living in the past - when the local fishmonger went to market at 4 am for his fish.

Brie

Our fishmonger has fresh, not frozen, fish that has in some cases been transported very very long distances.  There's nothing the matter with keeping it chilled, not frozen, for a couple of days minimum.  

My understanding is that legally if they say it's fresh it means it has not been frozen.  If they are selling raw fish that has been frozen that info has to be displayed.

Murphybear

We had a fresh fish from Brixham van in our market town today.  We are 80 miles from Brixham.  They must have got up early 

Vegastare

Brie said:

Our fishmonger has fresh, not frozen, fish that has in some cases been transported very very long distances.  There's nothing the matter with keeping it chilled, not frozen, for a couple of days minimum.  

My understanding is that legally if they say it's fresh it means it has not been frozen.  If they are selling raw fish that has been frozen that info has to be displayed.

This was my understanding.

sarah1972

http://www.foodmate.com/news/201210/news_8366.html

I only buy frozen at sea fish if I can, that way I am happy that it’s the freshest it can be. 

pumpkin89

Brie said:

My understanding is that legally if they say it's fresh it means it has not been frozen.  If they are selling raw fish that has been frozen that info has to be displayed.

Absolutely true.  The only thing that OP is misunderstanding is that fresh is not the default - if you just see fish on a fish counter, you have to look at the small print on the ticket to know whether it's fresh or previously frozen (normally the latter).