How To Choose Fresh Fish in Singapore

Do you want to know how to choose a fresh fish? We at Cheng Xin Seafood will tell you what to look out for when buying a fish!

1. The Eyes of the Fish

A fresh fish will have bright, clear eyes. Fish that has been kept for too long will likely start to display cloudy eyes.

For example, let's look at the freshly caught fish above where its eyes are bright and glistening. On the other hand, the eyes of the fishes below are looking murky and bloody.

2. The Body of the Fish

Check if the fish scales are still slimy. That is a sign of a good and fresh fish. Next, hold the fish in the centre by its body. A fresh fish would be firm and remain straight instead of flopping or curving down.

For Batang Fish (Spanish Mackerel), the body of the fish will be very reflective, just like a shiny mirror!

The moment the fish scales start to look dull, this is likely to mean that the fish is not fresh.

3. The Gills of the Fish

The gills of the fish should be bright red and slimy. If the gills are watery, steer clear from that fish! 

You can also try to pry open the gills of the fish. For a fresh fish, it would take some effort to pry them open.

Some fish markets use rubber bands to tie the gills and mouth area of the fish. This is usually done to prevent water from getting in and washing away the "slimy" feeling. This may make the fish appear fresher than it actually is, so buyer beware!

Here at Cheng Xin Seafood, we guarantee every single fish we sell to be FRESH. We are very confident in the quality of the fish we bring in and provide a 1-to-1 Exchange Policy for all our seafood!