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Information About Seafood Found On Redondo Beach

By Sharron Cantu


Redondo Beach CA is known for being rich in various forms of aquatic life. Seafood refers to any kind of sea life that is considered by human beings as food. These organisms can be either plants or animals. In the animal category, the major groups are the fish and shellfish. Shellfish include different species of echinoderms, crustaceans, and mollusks. Dolphins and whales were formerly included in this group of food but they are being excluded because their consumption happens rarely these days.

In the group of plants, several sea plants are consumed as food by people in different parts of the world. Microalgae and seaweeds are part of such plants. The sea also has plants that are called sea vegetables. Mariculture or aquaculture refers to the science of farming or cultivating sea life for consumption by humans. If the organisms being reared are fish, the process is referred to as fish farming. On the contrary, harvesting wild sea life for human consumption is called fishing.

Although these products are harvested for human consumption, some are used to feed farm fish and other farm animals. These animals and plants are rich in many types of minerals required by the body. Some of them include proteins, vitamins, fats, phosphorus, and iron. People living around coastal areas use them in their diets as a source of important body nutrients. Food derived from seas is not categorized as meat although strict vegetarians exclude it from their diets.

After fishing, the animals and plants should be kept in a cold place preferably the coldest part of the refrigerator. Creatures that need to be alive at the time of cooking such as lobsters, mussels, clams, and oysters must be kept in clean water. Proper ventilation must be ensured to allow them to breathe and stay alive. Cooked and raw foods should be kept separately to avoid contamination.

In the case of frozen sea life, a day or so should be allowed for them to defrost and be ready for cooking. If there is no enough time for proper thawing to occur, one can place the food in a plastic bag and dip the bag in cold water. This should be able to allow the animals or plants to defreeze within a few hours.

One must wash their hands with hot water mixed with soap before and after handling sea creatures. After washing the creatures, they must be rinsed properly with cold water to remove any forms of bacteria on the surface. Juices formed must never be allowed to mix with cooked food to avoid cross-contamination. Contaminated food should be disposed off to avoid health problems.

There are many ways of preparing and conserving aquatic foods besides refrigeration. Some of them include baking, grilling, broiling, canning, poaching, microwaving, stir frying, pan frying, and steaming. Some of these methods are applicable to specific creatures while others can be used on multiple creatures. Aquatic food can be served in combination with many other foods, vegetables, and ingredients.

These organisms are used for many other purposes besides food. For instance, they can be used to make fertilizer. Substances like spirulina tablets and fish oil are also common derivatives.




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