The Classification of Fish: Market Forms
The Classification of Fish: Market Forms
fins, some
unpaired fins, and a set of gills.
Fish do not represent a single clade but are instead paraphyletic. They include hagfishes, lampreys, lobe-finned fishes,
cartilaginous fishes and ray-finned fishes.
Where they come from: sea, or freshwater, farmed or wild (e.g. salmon), exotic (imported from all corners of the world:
examples include snapper, shark, parrotfish and tuna). Freshwater fish are sometimes divided into river and lake fish.
But perhaps the most useful way of classifying fish for caterers is:
} By their shape, whether they are flat or round
} By the general characteristics of their flesh, whether they are white or oil-rich
} Flat fish such as sole and plaice, because of their shape, are filleted in a different way from round fish, such as cod,
hake, whiting, salmon and herring.
} The flesh of the last two examples, salmon and herring, has a different and easily detectable characteristic: it is oily.
Other oily fish are mackerel, tuna, anchovy and sardine, quite different in flavor and taste from white fish such as turbot
and halibut.
Market Forms
} Whole or Round-fish are those marketed just as they come from the water.
} Drawn-fish are marketed with only the entrails removed.
} Dressed-fish are scaled eviscerated, usually with the head, tail and fins removed.
} Steaks-are cross-section slices of the larger sizes of dressed fish. A cross-section of the backbone, usually the only
bone in the steak.
}Fillet-the sides of the fish, cut lengthwise away from the backbone. They are practically boneless and require no
preparation for cooking.
}Butterfly Fillet-are the two sides of the fish corresponding to two single fillets held together by uncut flesh and the
skin.
} Sticks-are pieces of fish cut lengthwise or crosswise from fillets or steaks into portions of uniform width and length.