foto: Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
Brilio.net - Fresh fish is a source of protein that is favored by many people because it tastes delicious and has high nutritional content. However, storing fresh fish for too long can be a challenge. Although initially the fish looks fresh and chewy, over time, its quality can decrease drastically. One of the main problems that often occurs is that the fish becomes soft and loses its original texture.
The process of fish spoilage begins as soon as the fish is caught, as natural enzymes in the fish's body begin to break down muscle tissue. If the fish is not stored properly, for example at temperatures that are not cold enough or in unhygienic conditions, this process of spoilage will occur more quickly. Fish that is stored too long in the refrigerator without proper temperature control can become soft and even smell bad, which indicates the growth of bacteria and microorganisms.
But before the fish really rots and gives off an unpleasant odor, you can immediately process it and make the fish fresher, you know. There is a trick that can be done to restore the freshness of fish that has become soft because it has been stored for too long. This trick shared by Instagram user @nurulkomariah3112 is quite effective because it makes the texture of the fish chewy and dense again.
tricks to make fish fresher
Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
As reported by BrilioFood from Instagram @nurulkomariah3112 on Friday (12/27), the technique is quite simple. You only need to soak the fish in vinegar. The method is, prepare a basin and fill it with water. Then, put in the fish to be cooked.
tricks to make fish fresher
Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
Once done, pour a few drops of vinegar into the basin. Then stir and soak the fish for a few minutes. Now, the soaked fish can be rinsed and processed immediately. In addition to making the texture chewy again and fresh, soaking fish in vinegar water also makes the fishy smell disappear, you know.
Soaking soft fish in vinegar water is one of the effective traditional methods to restore the texture of fish to be chewy, dense, and fresh. This process works through several chemical mechanisms involving the interaction between the acid in vinegar and the protein in fish meat.
tricks to make fish fresher
Instagram/@nurulkomariah3112
Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is quite acidic. When soft fish is soaked in vinegar, this acetic acid helps rearrange the protein structure in the fish meat. Proteins, such as collagen found in fish connective tissue, can break down into more soluble forms under certain conditions, including improper storage. Acetic acid works by denaturing (changing) these proteins, which in turn helps tighten and strengthen the fish's muscle tissue. This denaturation process strengthens the bonds between muscle fibers, making the fish more elastic and dense.
Additionally, the acid in vinegar has antibacterial properties that can help reduce the number of bacteria and other microorganisms that may have started to grow on mushy fish. By reducing the bacterial population, vinegar not only helps improve the texture but also improves the freshness of the fish by reducing the unpleasant odor that often occurs due to bacterial activity. This makes the fish look and taste fresher.
On the other hand, vinegar also has the ability to improve the surface pH of fish, which can affect the perception of texture and taste. When fish is soaked in vinegar water, this change in pH can make the fish flesh taste fresher and more delicious when cooked or served. Although this method will not completely restore fish that has been badly damaged or rotten, soaking in vinegar water can be a temporary solution to improve the texture of fish that has started to become mushy.
(brl/ola)
