When the fish is brought to you by a neighbor who caught it that morning, it is clear that it is fresh. Or if you pull her out of the water yourself. But how do you know it in a vat where fifty carp are grinding? It’s not a science. “You can already see it when you see it,” says Josef Kalenda.
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Nobody wants to buy a bad fish. And most likely no one wants to sell it to you on purpose. But in the hustle and bustle of the vats of Christmas carp, it happens once in a while. That is why it pays to inspect the carp properly before selling it. Where to look? An expert will advise.
Cheerful guy
You don’t look into the tub, you just tell the fishermen how big a fish you want roughly? But that’s a mistake. You will already know at that moment when something is wrong. “Watch how the fish behaves in the water,” recommends Josef Kalenda, owner of Prague’s Chabrybárna. “When he’s lying on his side or stomach up, it’s obviously wrong. Likewise, if it’s light, it means it doesn’t have enough oxygen.” Don’t take that either.
A clear view
The second moment of truth comes once the fish is out of water. Ask the seller to show you the gills and the eye. “The eye must be clear, shiny. And the gills are red. As soon as they start to light up, it’s not good,” describes the expert. Just like a dull eye, it will tell you that you should definitely not buy or eat this fish.
