What do you look for to make sure that Conch is fresh?
I recently saw a stew recipe for Conch and wanted to try it - I've never purchased it before from an actual fish market (only in cans). What should I look for and any tips on cleaning would be great!!
Best Answer
Conch should have a nice light pink color. If it's gray or browned, steer clear. Like most seafood, the best indicator is smell. If it smells salty like a walk near the beach, it's fine. If it smells like a stagnant wharf or a warm dumpster, steer clear. To clean, run it under cold water. Cut off any membrane, and drain it before cooking. Conch is chewy, so don't treat it like scallops or lobster. It can be tenderized through pounding, cooked in a pressure-cooker, food-processed and stewed, or slow-cooked. Keep an eye on the texture. Chewy conch is not ideal.
This is assuming you aren't buying conch in the shell.
If you decide to buy the conch in the shell, you’ll need to extract it. Wash the shell containing the conch under cold running water. Carefully drop 1 to 3 whole shells into 6 quarts of boiling water, adding in a tablespoon of salt. Boil for about 40 minutes. Using a fork or other pronged instrument, pull out the conch meat from the shells and throw away the green matter. You can save the shell for decoration if you like. Rinse the extracted meat under cold water.
Another procedure for cleaning out the shell is to whack the bulging side of the shell with a hammer to break it. Slip a knife into the shell and twist it around until you feel the muscle detach from the shell. Grab the piece of meat sticking out and pull hard, then cut away the stomach and tail.
Read more: article.cfm/how_to_buy_and_clean_a_conch
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How can the freshness of conch be tested?
Check the color. When choosing conch, look for pieces that are white with some pink and orange tinges. Avoid any conch meat that's gray in appearance or has a fishy smell. Like any fresh, quality seafood, it shouldn't smell fishy.What is fresh conch?
About Conch Conch is the popular and common name of a variety of different medium-to-large-sized sea snails or shells that have a high spire and noticeable siphonal canal. Conch meat is commonly eaten raw and used in salads. It can also be cooked and used in burgers, chowders, fritters, and gumbos.How do you know if conch is bad?
If it smells salty like a walk near the beach, it's fine. If it smells like a stagnant wharf or a warm dumpster, steer clear. To clean, run it under cold water.How do you store fresh conch?
Storage - Fresh or precooked conch is highly perishable and needs immediate refrigeration. Store fresh conch for up to one day, precooked conch is best if used within two days. After opening, canned conch should be covered with water and stored in an airtight container; refrigerate and use within three days.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Amina Filkins, Andrea Piacquadio, Yan Krukov, Anna Shvets