How to choose a good product
Since chum salmon is expensive, some unscrupulous sellers may try to sell pink salmon instead.
To avoid falling for their bait, you should remember:
- Chum salmon is much larger than pink salmon, whose average weight is 2-3 kg.
- High-quality, fresh meat has a bright pink color.
- The eyes should be clear and free of clouding.
- A fresh smell indicates that the fish was caught not too long ago.
- Selected carcasses are free of stains and bruises.
- There should be no indentations left after pressing on the skin.
Chilled chum salmon can be stored for no more than 8 hours.
What kind of fish
Chum salmon is called Pacific salmon or silverfish. The elongated, laterally compressed body resembles a torpedo. The head is cone-shaped, with a wide mouth and underdeveloped teeth. The length of adult individuals reaches 110 cm, weight – up to 15 kg. They feed on pteropods, crustaceans, and fry.
Industrial fishing in AlaskaDuring the spawning period, they intuitively migrate to the rivers in which they themselves hatched from eggs. Thanks to this feature, chum salmon are divided on a territorial basis into Asian and North American.
Asia lives in Russia. It happens:
- southern (Iturup, Primorye);
- northern (Chukotka, Kamchatka);
- Amur (Bikin, Ussuri);
- Sea of Okhotsk (north-eastern, southern shores of Sakhalin);
- Sakhalin (southwestern part of Sakhalin).
Depending on the seasonality of spawning, chum salmon are distinguished into summer and autumn races. Individuals that breed in summer grow no more than 60 cm. Autumn chum salmon are larger and more fertile.
Color changes:
- silver-gray - in the first 3-4 years;
- yellow-brown with bright crimson specks - at puberty;
- from brown to black - during reproduction.
The only difference is the Sakhalin chum salmon, which is subjected to mass breeding. It is grown on special farms. The scales of the fish are painted in silver-green tones.
Composition, beneficial properties, how many calories are in 100 grams, BJU
The fillet contains high quality proteins as well as healthy fats. In terms of protein content, this fish can be compared with chicken.
Chum salmon is also a source of methionine. This amino acid cannot be obtained from meat. Fish is rich in vitamins E and A, group B, as well as micro- and macroelements.
Fresh fish:
- Proteins - 19 g;
- Fats - 5.6 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content - 127 kcal;
- Glycemic index - 0 g.
Lightly salted chum salmon:
- Proteins - 23.51 g;
- Fats - 9.53 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content - 182 kcal.
Salted chum salmon:
- Proteins - 24.3 g;
- Fats - 9.6 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content - 184 kcal.
Boiled chum salmon:
- Proteins - 19.4 g;
- Fats - 5.4 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content of boiled fish is 126 kcal.
Steamed chum salmon:
- Proteins - 25 g;
- Fats - 9 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content per 100 grams - 181 kcal.
Cold smoked chum salmon:
- Proteins - 20 g;
- Fats - 4 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content - 116 kcal.
Hot smoked chum salmon:
- Proteins - 25 g;
- Fats - 9 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content of smoked fish is 181 kcal.
Chum salmon baked in the oven:
- Proteins - 22.3 g;
- Fats - 7.8 g;
- Carbohydrates - 1 g;
- Calorie content - 160.2 kcal.
Fried chum salmon:
- Proteins - 21.1 g;
- Fats - 13.3 g;
- Carbohydrates - 4.5 g;
- Calorie content - 224 kcal.
Stewed chum salmon:
- Proteins - 19.4 g;
- Fats - 4.3 g;
- Carbohydrates - 0 g;
- Calorie content - 116.1 kcal.
Smoked, dried chum salmon
Dried Pacific salmon is considered a delicacy and can decorate any table.
Both hot and cold smoking methods are suitable for red fish. It is very easy to prepare hot smoked chum salmon at home.
Cooking tricks:
- Use freshly caught fish; frozen carcasses are not suitable.
- Always add olive oil and lemon juice to the marinade.
- Smoke the fish whole, removing the gills and placing a bay leaf in their place.
- Don't put too many different spices so as not to overwhelm the taste.
- Sour or sweet and sour sauces are suitable for serving.
Dried chum salmon retains maximum beneficial qualities, as it cannot be heat treated. Due to the large amount of salt, you can’t eat a lot of it; it retains water and causes swelling.
Features of the effect on the human body, benefits and harms
Adult men and women, consuming chum salmon, take care of their health.
Vitamin B1 stimulates brain activity and helps avoid fatigue during intense mental activity. It maintains muscle tone and improves the functioning of the digestive tract. The vitamin is very useful for the skin and nervous system.
Women during pregnancy and breastfeeding can occasionally enjoy chum salmon , since it is quickly digested and does not burden the digestive organs and allows you to get all the vitamins and microelements necessary for life.
Red fish should be given to children with caution from the age of 2, monitoring its tolerance.
The presence of vitamins A, E, groups B, D and PP allows you to increase immunity and normalize the course of all metabolic processes. Calcium and fluoride will make children's bones stronger and will prevent tooth decay.
Elderly people should also include this product in their diet because it:
- Prevents aging.
- Prevents the development of diseases affecting the heart muscle.
- Has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- Reduces cholesterol levels.
- Strengthens vascular walls, improves blood circulation.
- Increases immunity.
- Prevents thrombosis.
- Increases hemoglobin.
If chum salmon is present in the diet of older people, they can avoid hypertensive crisis, stroke and heart attack.
What are the benefits of chum salmon for the body?
Scientists have long established the undoubted benefits of chum salmon meat, and judging by its composition, there is no need to doubt this. We are talking not only about the general strengthening of the immune system, but also about a targeted effect on the work of certain organs and systems.
General benefit
Chum salmon meat, entering the human body, stimulates metabolism, as a result of which the functioning of organs improves, and the course of inflammatory processes slows down.
- It should also be noted such positive points as:
- lowering cholesterol levels;
- blood saturation with hemoglobin;
- inhibition of aging processes;
- improvement of brain activity and functioning of the visual apparatus;
- preventing the development of early heart attacks, atherosclerosis and thrombosis;
- general strengthening effect on bones, improving the structure of hair and skin;
- a positive effect on the structure of muscle mass, which is very important for athletes.
It is also worth noting that people who periodically consume keta meat experience increased ability to work, accelerated perception of new information, and improved memory. Along with this comes a good mood and well-being. The product serves as an excellent preventive measure for cardiovascular diseases.
During pregnancy and lactation
Chum salmon is one of the few fish that pregnant women not only can, but should also eat. The product helps maintain the strength of the expectant mother, and provides the fetus with many useful substances for proper development. Thanks to the content of Omega-3 acids and other necessary substances, the immune system and skeletal system are strengthened, and the functioning of the brain and nervous system is well formed in the future baby. In the course of research, scientists have found that children of women who consumed red fish during pregnancy are ahead in development of their peers.
Important! Pregnant women are advised to consume chum salmon boiled or baked, but it is better to avoid dried and salted meat or minimize its consumption.
After childbirth, a young mother’s body experiences a significant deficiency of useful elements, and keta meat will be a good helper at this time. In addition, it will be of great benefit to the newborn. Thanks to the content of calcium, phosphorus, iodine and other macro- and microelements in the product, the baby’s body will actively develop.
For children
Eating chum salmon meat is very beneficial for children, because it contains all the necessary substances for the normal development of the body. Due to the rich complex of vitamins and minerals, the child’s immunity will be greatly enhanced, as a result of which the body’s resistance to infections, harmful bacteria, and colds will increase. The presence of phosphorus and calcium will have a beneficial effect on the formation of the skeleton, and a number of vitamins will contribute to the excellent functioning of various organs and systems.
Fish meat consumed by a child at least once a week improves speech and visual-spatial abilities by 8% and increases mental abilities by 2 times.
Also learn about the beneficial properties of chum salmon caviar.
When losing weight
According to nutritionists, the meat of any red fish, like other seafood, promotes weight loss . The calorie content of the product is quite low, and it is easily absorbed by the body, digesting in the stomach 30% faster than animal meat. In this case, you need to follow one rule: fish can only be eaten boiled, steamed, stewed and baked. During the diet, you should not eat fried or smoked meat. It is also recommended to avoid salt. To give the dish an original, pleasant taste, you can use lemon juice and herbs.
Having chosen chum salmon meat as the main dietary product, select appropriate companion products for it. Carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, beets, cabbage and a variety of greens are compatible with fish. It is better to exclude potatoes, eggplants and tomatoes from the diet.
For diseases
Chum salmon meat is good for diabetes because it contains taurine. The substance stimulates the body's production of insulin, which, in turn, regulates blood sugar levels. Boiled or baked keto meat effectively helps with hypertension. It contains active components - mediators, which contribute to the dilation of blood vessels, as a result of which blood pressure is normalized.
Patients with anemia are recommended to consume chum salmon meat, as it can increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood. But with gastritis you need to be extremely careful: you cannot eat fish fried in batter or breadcrumbs. It is recommended to consume the product boiled little by little; you can steam the fillet or bake it in foil. During an exacerbation period, it should not be used in any form.
You will be interested to know about the benefits and harms of pink salmon.
Potential dangers and contraindications
Chum salmon meat suits almost everyone.
The exception is people suffering from intolerance to protein foods or fish.
Chum salmon is capable of accumulating harmful substances , so when purchasing in a store, do not hesitate to ask for documents confirming its high quality and safety.
People with liver and gallbladder dysfunction should not get too carried away with this fish, as it contains quite a lot of fat.
Use of chum salmon in medicine
The fat contained in chum salmon is a healthy product and is recommended by doctors for the treatment of atherosclerosis, anemia, stomach diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
Thanks to fish oil, lipid metabolism in the body improves and the condition of skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis) is normalized. READ OTHER INTERESTING ARTICLES ON THE TOPIC
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Recommendations for use
Chum salmon is baked, boiled and fried. It can be purchased salted and smoked. If you want to fry a product, then you need to do it on the grill or in batter. The best cooking option is baking in the oven in foil.
It is recommended to soak salted fish before eating, since it is specially salted to increase shelf life.
Frozen chum salmon does not lose its original properties for a long time. It should be defrosted slowly, being careful not to damage the texture.
It is acceptable to introduce fish into your diet a couple of times a week in the amount of 200 g. This applies to baked or boiled chum salmon; salted or smoked chum salmon can be consumed in 100 g.
Use in cooking
You can cook excellent fish soup from chum salmon, or make aspic or fish soup. It goes well with vegetables and mushrooms.
Fish stuffed with mushrooms
Recipe:
- Clean the fish and make a cut on the belly.
- Rub the carcass with spices and salt and put it in the refrigerator overnight.
- Chop the mushrooms and mix with rice, boiled until half cooked.
- Place the prepared filling into the belly and place the carcass in a baking sleeve.
- Cook the dish in the oven for about 40 minutes.
- Serve with steamed vegetables.
The benefits of chum caviar
Chum salmon caught in mid-summer or autumn may well be caviar. Summer spawning is favored by small-sized individuals, and from September to November there is a high probability of finding eggs in fish over 70 cm in size.
The concentration of necessary chemical elements in caviar is higher than in fillet.
Benefit:
- Improves vision.
- Increases male potency.
- Has an anti-carcinogenic effect.
- Protects the body from harmful environmental factors.
The eggs are large - up to 7 mm in diameter, orange in color, shiny and elastic. You can salt them yourself or buy a ready-made product in the supermarket.