Cod
Category	Seafood

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Cod is a popular food fish, though it is currently significantly overfished.

Characteristics

Cod flesh is thick and white, with a mild flavor and very flaky, lean texture once cooked.^[1][2][3] It is often preserved by drying and/or salting. Salting, in particular, changes the ultimate flavor and texture of the meat, making it chewier and slightly less "fishy".^[4][5]

Selection and storage

When selecting fresh cod, look for moist, not dry flesh.^[3] Avoid any fish that is acutely slimy or that has off odors. Fresh cod does not last very long, keeping only a couple days in the fridge. Conversely, salt cod has an extremely long shelf life, keeping for months.^[4] Look for salt cod that is still slightly pliable instead of stiff as a board.^[4]

Use

Cod is extremely versatile and popular, with a variety of applications.^[3] Fresh cod can be prepared in almost every style of cooking except for grilling, where it has a tendency to break apart due to its texture.^[1] It is commonly fried or flaked and turned into cakes, and it is also included in chowders.^[3] Salt cod must be soaked in multiple changes of water over the course of a day to make it ready for cooking—after this, it can be flaked and fried or used in stews or other preparations.^[4][5]

Substitution

If cod is not available, or if you wish to avoid it due to its overfished status, many thick, firm-fleshed, mild fish can be used as a substitute. Haddock is one example of these.

Recipes

References

1. 1 2 Labensky, Sarah R.; Hause, Alan M.; Martel, Priscilla (2018-01-18). On Cooking: A Textbook of Culinary Fundamentals. Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-444190-0.
2. ↑ Davidson, Alan (2014-01-01). Jaine, Tom (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780199677337.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-967733-7.
3. 1 2 3 4 America, Culinary Institute of; Ainsworth, Mark (2009-02-04). Kitchen Pro Series: Guide to Fish and Seafood Identification, Fabrication and Utilization. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-4354-0036-8.
4. 1 2 3 4 "Unsung Ingredient: Salt Cod". Food52. 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
5. 1 2 "Salt Cod 101 | The City Cook, Inc". www.thecitycook.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.