RE: Pacific cod

From: George Berkompas (George.Berkompas@noaa.gov)
Date: Thu Mar 08 2007 - 08:49:07 PST

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    A comment based on my limited experience. The key to good quality long
    storage life is constant temperature. Even 5 F variation will
    adversely affect the shelf life. At -20F, unvarying, with adequate
    packaging you should easily get up to 18 months before noticeable
    quality changes.
    George Berkompas

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Greg Hardy <GHardy@FPIL.com>
    Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2007 4:28 am
    Subject: RE: Pacific cod

    > Hi Steve,
    > Over the years we have completed some trials and production on Pacific
    > Cod and we have found real good Pacific Cod and we have
    > encountered some
    > real bad Pacific Cod (probably aged before we got this); however, it
    > seems no matter how good it is once you get the Raw Material, after
    > about 6 - 8 months in storage (Raw Fish) the texture of the
    > Pacific Cod
    > begins to show signs of becoming tough, we have however, found a
    > markeddifference in the smaller Long Line fish vs.. trawl caught
    > fish; also,
    > as Steve notes some anecdotal info that we have been able to
    > garner from
    > looking into this is that the handling of the fish prior to
    > freezing and
    > storage temperature after freezing has a lot to do with the
    > characteristics of the thawed product into production later on....
    >
    > One thing that we have found is that you can't really compare Pacific
    > Cod to Atlantic Cod mainly because you see quicker changes in
    > storage in
    > Pacific Cod that you do not see in Atlantic Cod, especially when it
    > comes to texture / toughness....
    >
    > Gregg
    >
    > www.fpil.com
    >
    > ________________________________
    >
    > From: owner-seafood@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-seafood@ucdavis.edu] On
    > Behalf Of Jon McGraw
    > Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:20 PM
    > To: 'Steve_Lamming@youngsbluecrest.com'; 'seafood@ucdavis.edu'
    > Subject: RE: Pacific cod
    >
    >
    >
    > Hi Steve,
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > I'm here in Seattle and can't remember the last time I saw
    > Atlantic cod
    > so can't comment on that. As for P cod (one of my all time favorite
    > fish), I have noticed the following (all anecdotal):
    >
    >
    >
    > One year seems to be the maximum shelf life in most cases (we
    > generallyhold at -8 to -20 F depending on freezer box). That said,
    > I have seen 2
    > year old that was acceptable (with some dryness and tough texture and
    > beginnings of yellowish discoloration).
    >
    >
    >
    > This fish is highly susceptible to fluctuating freezer temps or
    > elevatedholding temps (0 F is so not cold enough for this and most
    > otherseafood). Cold (-10 F or below), steady temps and it does
    > quite well.
    > Fluctuating (even at cold temps) and/or elevated and shelf life
    > reducedto 3-6 mo. What were your holding temps?
    >
    >
    >
    > Temp abuse (e.g. malfunctioning reefer) and/or slow freeze is not
    > tolerated at all well. Discoloration, dryness and texture issues.
    >
    >
    >
    > Other thoughts:
    >
    >
    >
    > There are large differences between pot cod, trawl cod, spawning
    > seasoncod and pre, concurrent or post rigor freezing. All
    > variables that
    > should be taken into consideration when comparing the two.
    >
    >
    >
    > No idea re the difference in results between sizes. Probably a
    > biochemical issue (glycogen, ph, etc) but I do know I prefer the
    > largersize for its firmer texture and more characteristic flavor.
    >
    >
    >
    > Regards
    >
    >
    >
    > Jon McGraw
    >
    > Seafreeze
    >
    > Seattle
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > ________________________________
    >
    > From: Steve_Lamming@youngsbluecrest.com
    > [mailto:Steve_Lamming@youngsbluecrest.com]
    > Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 1:10 AM
    > To: seafood@ucdavis.edu
    > Subject: Pacific cod
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Dear all,
    > In shelf life trials of samples of frozen Pacific cod (Gadus
    > macrocephalus) and Atlantic cod (G.morhua) we are seeing far more
    > rapiddeterioration of the Pacific compared to Atlantic in terms of
    > development of tough texture, stale flavour and discolouration. Also,
    > fillets/blocks from bigger fish (>2kg as H&G) seem to be "going off"
    > much more quickly than product derived from smaller fish.
    > Does this ring any bells with anyone?
    > Thanks and regards,
    > Steve.
    >
    >
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