How to choose the freshest New Year ingredients? Nutritionist reveals the key points you must know when buying fish, meat and dry goods
How to choose fresh ingredients for New Year shopping? 4 parts to look at before buying fish
On the eve of the New Year, every household will buy New Year’s goods. How to choose fresh and safe New Year’s goods in order to cook delicious and healthy New Year’s dishes. Nutritionist Zhang Yuxi said that when purchasing fresh ingredients, including fish, shrimp, and meat, you should pay attention to the color and oil distribution before the New Year. As for the dry goods that many people buy as gifts or for making soup, they also need to pay attention to their appearance, color and smell.
Nutritionist Zhang Yuxi said that when choosing fresh ingredients for “fish”, the first thing to pay attention to is whether the eyes of the fish are clear and full, preferably black and white without sunken spots; the gills should be bright red without a fishy smell; the fish scales should be firm and shiny. There should be no signs of dryness or peeling; the fish should have a thick texture, preferably firm and elastic when touched lightly with your fingers.
The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration also reminds the public that when buying fresh fish, they should pay attention to the appearance and whether the shape is complete, and whether the limbs are not broken, blackened, or damaged. It is recommended to choose fish products that are not sticky on the outside, bright and shiny in color, have clear and bright fish eyes, bright red gills, stiff but not soft, and have a natural flavor but no rancid smell.
When buying meat for the New Year, look at the color and fat! Principles for selecting chickens, pigs and cows
Chicken, pig, and cow are the three most commonly purchased meats for the New Year. Nutritionist Zhang Yuxi suggests that when choosing chicken, you should pay attention to:
chicken skin is milky white, and chicken fat is milky white or light yellow;
chicken Glossy and elastic, clear pink in color.
The recommended selection principles for purchasing “pork” are:
The pork is light red or light pink, and the fat is shiny white;
The skin is moist and feels oily to the touch;
The pig hair roots are preferably white. .
The recommended selection principles for choosing “beef” are:
The meat is bright red rather than dark red;
It feels elastic and rebounds to the touch.
How to buy dry goods for the New Year? Key points to choose when choosing mushrooms, dried shrimps and dried squid
When buying dry goods during the Chinese New Year, it is best to pay attention to the shape and smell and choose fresher ingredients. Nutritionist Zhang Yuxi recommends:
When selecting “shiitake mushrooms”, choose products with thick and firm stems, complete mushroom shapes and aroma.
When selecting “shrimp”, pay attention to the fact that the appearance should be intact and not easy to fall off, and the color should not be too bright.
When selecting “dried squid”, it is normal to have white frost on the surface. It should be elastic and naturally soft to the touch. If it is too hard, it may indicate that it has been stored for too long.
When choosing “red dates”, it is best to choose ones with fewer wrinkles, full grains, and dark red skin with a slight luster. Jujubes that are too fragrant may have the risk of adding artificial flavors.
The Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration reminds the public that when choosing New Year foods, avoid purchasing products that are overly brightly colored, have pungent odors, have incomplete labeling, or have damaged packaging. When purchasing, you should pay attention to whether the packaging of New Year products has information such as product name, content name, weight, expiration date, food additives, manufacturer name, address, phone number, nutrition label, etc. Only by avoiding over-purchasing and mistakenly eating food that has expired or is spoiled and damaged can we ensure food safety and meet delicious and healthy needs during the Chinese New Year.
Further reading:
