- We cannot deny that tuna is one of the most popular fish sold worldwide.
- It is packed with proteins, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and tuna makes sushi and other fish delicacies.
- Well, if you are wondering if you can eat tuna directly from the grocery shop while raw or not, this is the article to read.
- Here is all information you need to learn about tuna, the best tuna for making sushi, how to prepare it, and where to get safe tuna for raw consumption or cooking.
Can You Eat Raw Tuna from the Grocery Store?
Not all tuna sold at grocery stores can be consumed directly. Only tuna labeled to be sushi grade or sashimi-grade are recommended for consumption while at the store.
Why? Such tuna is cleaned and frozen immediately after being caught while on the boat. Such tuna is not exposed for too long before being preserved and cleaned too.
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Are all tuna steaks sushi grade?
No, in fact, the manufacturing companies make sure to label sushi tuna on the packaging. So, if it is not marked as sushi or sashimi-grade, you should not use it for sushi.
However, the tuna that is not safe to use for sushi will always be labeled” don’t eat it raw” on the packaging packet.
Is sushi-grade tuna safe?
As long as tuna has been labeled to be fit for sushi, sashimi, or crudo, then know that it is purely safe. Sushi involves the tuna being eaten raw or partially cooked under low heat.
Therefore, any tuna packaged for such meals are thoroughly cleaned and well preserved from the time of capturing to ensure the tuna does not trap dirt or grow parasites.
Does tuna steak need to be cooked through?
This depends on how you like having your tuna. If you are okay eating medium-rare tuna, sear it on the outside and leave the middle part raw or medium cooked; (it should have a pink color when you cut in the middle).
You can cook it for those who cannot handle raw tuna, but make sure you don’t overcook it as it may “kill” the nutrients.
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What does sushi-grade tuna mean?
In the most straightforward words, any tuna labeled sushi-grade means the best quality sushi being sold at the store, and it is entirely safe to be eaten raw.
Note that such tuna are not found in all stores. Only designated stores sell the sushi-grade tunas and are pretty pricy.
What kind of tuna can you eat raw?
Any tuna fish can be eaten raw as long the right processes are undertaken when preparing it.
The method includes; thoroughly cleaning the tuna after capturing and freezing it while still at the boat. Thus, you can eat; bluefin, yellowfin, skipjack, or even albacore while raw.
Can canned tuna be eaten raw?
Canned tuna has been well processed and preserved using the canning method.
The canned tuna is also packaged in clean and air-tightly cans to prevent contaminants from accessing the fish inside. So, it is safe to be eaten raw if you prefer your tuna raw.
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Can I eat tuna steak rarely?
You can prepare your tuna rarely, but it is not advisable to eat raw tuna regularly regardless of whether it is safe for sushi or not.
This is because even if the tuna has been prepared well to secure it for raw consumption, you are not guaranteeing that the fish did not have germs or parasites when captured.
Partially cooking tuna before consumption is recommended.
Does raw tuna have parasites?
As long as the tuna has been frozen immediately after cleaning it when captured, then chances of it having parasites are rare since freezing helps kill the parasites.
But, tuna that has been directly caught from waters have parasites like Opisthorchiidae and Anisakadie
Can I use supermarket tuna for sushi?
This depends on how you plan to prepare the tuna for your sushi. Meaning, if you plan to cook the tuna to prepare rolls for your sushi partially, then supermarket sushi may work in this process.
The partial cooking process helps to kill the germs and parasites that may be present in the fish.
But, if you plan to prepare tuna raw or rare, consider getting it from high-end stores designated to sell grade 1 tuna.
The high-end sellers only buy tuna that has been carefully prepared before packaging, and their tuna is safer to eat when raw.
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Conclusion
There you have it! All crucial information you need to know about sushi and how to prepare it, especially for sushi.
There are safe tuna recommendable for raw eating and preparing delicacies like sushi, and there are other packed tuna you can use for regular cooking.
Also, tuna is safe to eat raw in minimal and if you don’t like it raw, cook it but do not overcook.