What is the proper smell of Basa?
I buy basa frozen (note, not the same as bass). It's not something readily available here but I like it because it's affordable and easy to prepare.
I go through the appropriate steps of fish prep by defrosting it in the fridge and rinsing the filets before use.
I've made it in many different ways and even purchased it from different places but my husband says it still tastes strongly of mold. I can't taste that in it at all.
Is there something I'm doing wrong?
Note, I know it's not the same as getting fresh fish but I wonder is there an extra cleansing step I missed? Does mold survive the cooking process to rain in taste?
Best Answer
Basa is in the catfish family (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basa_fish), so it shouldn't require any special treatment.
Buying frozen fish, even from different stores, you may be getting it from the same supplier. Perhaps it's something the supplier is doing, some kind of preservative treatment or something of that nature that your husband can taste, but you can't. Check the ingredient label on one brand that you've purchased before and look for what was used, if anything, to treat the fish. Then, assuming something was used, seek out a different brand and check its label to see if they used something different.
Now, all that being said, I've purchased Basa from the seafood counter before. Coming from Vietnam, it had to have been previously frozen, but it had no real scent at all. After you defrost the fish, it should have very little scent. A strong "fishy" odor just means you have old fish, and perhaps he's picking up on some funky compounds in the old fish (some people are much more sensitive to bitter flavors than others).
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Quick Answer about "What is the proper smell of Basa?"
After you defrost the fish, it should have very little scent. A strong "fishy" odor just means you have old fish, and perhaps he's picking up on some funky compounds in the old fish (some people are much more sensitive to bitter flavors than others).Does basa fish have a smell?
Another strong attribute of basa is that it doesn't smell, which puts it in a sweet spot. Indian sea fish such as mackerel or kingfish are less bony than fresh water varieties but are smellier. Freshwater fish such as carp smell less than sea fish but have many bones.What is the taste of basa fish?
Its flesh has a light, firm texture and a mild fish flavor \u2014 similar to cod or haddock. In fact, it's often sold as boneless fish fillets and used in the same way. Basa fish are native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers, which run through several countries in Southeast Asia.How do you know if basa is off?
To tell if fish has gone bad, touch your raw fish to see if it's slimy, which happens when fish starts to spoil. You can also smell your fish. If it has an increasingly fishy smell or starts to smell like rotten meat, it has gone bad.What should fresh fish smell like?
Fresh fish should taste and smell that way: fresh, briny and sweet, not musty, yeasty, bitter or fishy. The texture should be resilient, firm and smooth. Older fish that has become mealy or mushy tastes bad and smells worse.How to treat body Odor by Doc Liza Ramoso- Ong
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