after re-hydrating and desalinating a salted cod it became slightly brown

I bought a dried and salted cod (aka Bacalhau) and cut it into pieces, used some of those and left about half of it in a dry, dark area in the kitchen cabinet for a month.

Salted cod should last much longer than that, what got me worried is when after re-hydrating and desalinating the remaining pieces in water (about 48 hours). I saw the outside of the fish became light-brown instead of white.

The cod smells perfectly, it's just the appearance. I asked several restaurant cooks and they said it's fine to consume, which I did.

My question, why did the salted cod become brown? Did I make a mistake in the re-hydrating and desalinating process?

Best Answer

I suppose, the reason why the cod got brown, was that after storing the several pieces, the cut face, despite dry and salted, was not covered by the skin of the fish anymore and started to oxidation, hence the brown color.

That is the reason in my opinion.

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How do you know when salt fish is spoiled?

Smell the cod. Properly cured salt cod will have a strong smell of fish and brine, but the odor is not unpleasant. Any moldy, fermented or vinegary smells indicate spoilage, and the fish should be discarded.

How long is salted cod good in the refrigerator?

Salt cod can stay in your refrigerator almost indefinitely -- bringing a whole new meaning to a pantry meal. Before it can be eaten, the product must be soaked in cold water for one to three days, changing the water two to three times a day.

Can you Soak salt cod too long?

Not an exact science, but the smaller (thinner) pieces should take from 24h to 36h, the larger loins can take up to 72h. It's good advice to simply taste it along the way, to make sure it's not too salty. Over soaking is not good, the salt cod will not have that special and enjoyable taste.

How long should salted cod be soaked?

Soaking is the most important step in preparing salt cod. Most recipes say to soak for 24 hours. However, this is risky and may leave the fish too salty. About 48 hours is a better bet.

Chef Mario Batali Shows How to Make Salt Cod

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