Tuna - what kind of fish is this?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

It is a well-known fact that tuna was very popular in ancient Japan. The rich ate sushi from this fish, and the workers prepared canned food. The original production of canned food from this fish was started in 1903, when they learned how to preserve marine life in oil, brine, sauce.

Tuna - what kind of fish is this

This fish is of great commercial importance and in demand takes 2nd place in the world among seafood, after shrimp. As a rule, tunas prefer to stay in groups and usually swim at great depths. They feed on mollusks, small fish and crustaceans. This type of fish can cover long distances very quickly, thanks to the body structure ideal for swimming and a strong circulatory system.

Species diversity

There are about 50 subspecies of tuna, but the most popular ones from the fishing side are:

• Common or red, lives in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea. Occasionally it can be found in the waters of Greenland and in the Barents Sea. The largest tuna of this species was caught with a weight of 690 kg and a length4, 60 m.
• Blue is the largest species. Its length is 4.6 m, weight 680 kg. Its large body is circular in lateral view. The scales on the sides look like a shell. Bluefin tuna lives in tropical waters. This type of fish has the highest commercial value in the world.

• Atlantic or blackfin wild tuna is considered the smallest among these fish. Adult specimens reach 1 m, and its greatest weight is up to 20 kg. These fish live the shortest compared to other species, up to 6 years. Atlantic tuna have yellow flanks and a golden-hued dorsal fin.
• Longfin (albacore) or another name - white tuna. It has incredibly tender but fatty meat. Its weight reaches 20 kg, lives in tropical latitudes. The meat of this fish is incredibly valuable and expensive.
• Yellowfin (yellowtail) lives in tropical places. Its greatest length is 2.4 m, the largest weight is 200 kg. The hind fins are yellow. In the article you can see what tuna looks like, the photo clearly demonstrates how incredibly colorful and bright this fish is.

Hunted for a long time, and it was hunting, not fishing, because the process of catching this fish is very difficult. Sailors say that before everyone made tuna bait himself and kept the secret of its manufacture a great secret. If the treat is good, the fish will peck immediately, and from that moment the battle between the fish and the person will begin. As a result, the person getsvictory and the tuna appears above the water, shimmering in the sun with gold and silver, like a treasure found in the depths of the sea. Salvador Dali even depicted this complex and exciting process in his painting called "Catching Tuna", he devoted two years of his life to it.

Sea fish

Tuna is a sea or river fish? This is a sea fish from the mackerel family. Its length can reach up to 300 cm, and weight - up to 600 kg. This type of fish is found in subtropical climates, in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Mediterranean, Barents and Azov seas. The meat is rich in proteins and vitamins. The fish has an elongated body, or in other words - spindle-shaped. The tail ends with leathery keels on both sides. She has a serious sickle-shaped fin on her back, and her whole body is covered with scales with a powerful shell.

Features of existence

As we found out, tuna is a marine fish that is used to staying in large flocks and swimming in the depths. This type of fish is very fast, can reach speeds of up to 90 km / h. To swim from one hemisphere to another, individuals need only a few weeks. Only swordfish can compete with tuna, but it is only able to withstand a high pace over a short distance. While our fish in its race can overcome more than one thousand kilometers. The body temperature is much higher than the water temperature, and this is constant. Scientists suggest that these fish have a heat exchanger that allows them to regulate their body temperature.

Red or not?

Many are wondering if tuna is a red fishor not. The meat has a reddish-pink tint, which means that the hemoglobin protein containing a lot of iron is present in the fish. Many people wonder if tuna is a red fish or not. Our answer is red. The meat itself is refined and tender, rich in vitamins. When boiled, it looks like steamed veal.

In the main species, as a rule, the meat is light or dark, and it is generally accepted that it is not attacked by parasites, like others. Tuna has a very rich taste, great for vegetables, salads, pasta. It is used to make delicious sauces that are served with side dishes, salads or meat.

Useful properties

The meat of this fish contains the following trace elements:

• Phosphorus.
• Potassium.
• Magnesium.
• Sodium.
• Calcium.

Dietary and beneficial properties of tuna

There are 140 calories in 100 grams. Medical workers from the Netherlands have proven that a daily intake of 30 grams of red tuna meat reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease many times over. Scientists from Austria have concluded that meat can increase the level of testosterone in the blood, which helps maintain libido.

Healing properties

Tuna has the following properties:

• strengthens immunity;
• anti-inflammatory;
• reduces the risk of allergies;
• improves eyesight;
• regulates blood sugar levels;
• reduces arthritis pain;
• effective in skin and oncologicaldiseases.

Tuna indications

Use tuna for pregnant and lactating mothers is undesirable, because mercury can accumulate in fish, it is also contraindicated for small children.

Useful properties of red fish

When we talk about this fish, we can not ignore the culinary theme. Fresh tuna is an excellent fish with excellent texture and pleasant taste. Cooks love to cook steaks from it, because the dish does not take much time, and the result, if everything is done correctly, in the end will be simply incredible. In addition to excellent taste, the meat is more like beef. It contains a whole list of substances useful for the human body.

In the US, for example, the menu of scientists includes tuna dishes in the daily diet. Its substances improve the working capacity of the brain. Soups, salads, vegetable dishes are prepared from fish. It can be baked, fried, stewed, steamed, smoked. The Japanese usually make their popular sushi from this fish, since it is not attacked by parasites, and it can even be eaten raw.

What can be cooked with fresh tuna meat

When cooking this fish, you need to take into account a couple of nuances in order for the taste of the fish to be revealed. If you decide to fry tuna on a grill or pan, you need to constantly turn over and remove from heat as soon as it is reddened. Otherwise, the meat can become tough and completely tasteless. Well fried can be considered that piece of tuna,where the middle is pink in color, and its edges are brown.

What to serve with

The most delicious steaks can be eaten both at lunchtime and in the evening. Cooked fish should be kept under a lid or wrapped in foil so that the meat rests a little and marinates in its juice. Since tuna is a versatile fish, it is recommended to serve it as a main dish, with a salad, side dish, or additional elements to pasta or another dish. Quite often, this fish is accompanied by a variety of sauces, such as garlic aioli, pesto, sauces from fresh products.

Canned tuna

Few people know that canned food is in great demand among the common population. Fish is preserved in its own juice, also in olive or sunflower oil.

This is a ready-made snack, you can season it with lemon juice, add olives and herbs. Canned fish is added to vegetable salads, used as a filling for pies.

Unfortunately, fresh tuna is rare, so canned food is the most acceptable option for most consumers to consume this unique fish. The good thing is that the canned product practically does not lose the valuable qualities of natural fish, and the mass of tuna recipes in a jar makes it possible to enjoy different dishes.