Do fish or shrimp smell bad?
No! Fish and seafood should not have an unpleasant odor or bad smell. While saltwater fish should have a smell reminiscent of sea air, freshwater fish should have a natural, neutral smell. Of course, provided they are well-preserved!
Always be aware that fish or shrimp do not have a bad odor; unpleasant smells are exuded by products or compounds resulting from the beginning of the decomposition process of aquatic organisms. This does not always mean they are spoiled; there is a limit of acceptability. However... it will no longer have that delicate and subtle flavor that most fresh fish offer.
If, upon opening the packaging of any fish, you detect a slight unpleasant smell, it might be resolved by rinsing with water and a little lemon. However, if the initial impression is a very strong odor characteristic of decomposition, it's best not to consume it.
When purchasing, it is not appropriate to touch or bring your nose close to fish and seafood displayed in the fish market. But if you smell something very unpleasant, you can and should ask the fishmonger which species is emitting such a bad odor.
In the case of frozen products, it is much harder to identify this at the time of purchase. However, as we have already mentioned in the article here on the blog about frozen fish and seafood, if the fish or shrimp was frozen while fresh, you can buy it with no mistake.
In short, whether fresh or frozen, fish that has been stored correctly should not have a bad smell.
A good tip: When buying fresh fish, whether at the market or supermarket, always ask the fishmonger to put some ice with it. This will maintain the quality of your fish until you get home.
