Tuna is one of the most delicious and readily available fish out there, which are two of the reasons it has become so popular. However, there are different types of tuna out there, and blackfin tuna is one of them. Honestly, not many people know about it, which is why they ask if blackfin tuna is good to eat or not. So, if you are going through the same confusion, we have some information that might help.
Is Blackfin Tuna Good To Eat?
Blackfin tuna is known as the smallest species of tuna and are carnivores. In addition, blackfin tuna migrates, which calls for excessive swimming. All these facts mean that its meat will have a lower ratio of fat to fatty acids as compared to other species of tuna. So, it has a lower fat content, which makes it a healthier choice. In addition, it is a great source of protein, omega-3s, vitamin A, vitamin B6, selenium, and thiamine. In simpler words, it’s great to great blackfin if you are trying to eat something healthy.
The best thing about blackfin tuna is that it’s equally delicious. This is widely used in sushi, and its delicious taste also pushes some people to eat it raw. It is suggested to eat blackfin tuna as fresh as possible. As far as use in sushi is concerned, you can slice up the fish and follow the sushi recipe. When it comes down to the flavor, it tastes so much like other tuna species. This is because it has a robust fishy flavor while the meat is dark and firm.
Blackfin tuna can be eaten in raw form, or you can sear it, whatever your taste preferences are. Many people don’t care about this, but how you prepare blackfin tuna can directly impact the flavor.
Preparing The Blackfin Tuna
The blackfin tuna should be immediately carked because it should be bled as soon as possible. Also, for bleeding them, you have to snip through the main artery, and the blood will start pouring out of the fish. This method is great to ensure that the fish is bled-out as quickly as possible. While the fish is bleeding out, you can rest it in the ice-cold brine mixture, and it must be in the mixture for over three hours before you cook and eat it.
Eating Your Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin tuna is pretty popular in restaurants, especially the ones serving sushi, sashimi, and seafood. Keep in mind that blackfin tuna is not commercially harvested, at least not regularly. For this reason, many people catch this fish. Also, blackfin tuna tastes delicious on its own, but you can also use it in sushi. Having said that, if you intend on catching the blackfin tuna on your own, it’s best to go fishing after and before the sunset and sunrise because evening and early morning are the prime times.
When the temperature and lights go down, the blackfin tuna comes around for feeding, and having a bait will make sure that you get to catch them.
Additional Things To Keep In Mind
When it comes down to blackfin tuna, it’s needless to say that it’s safe to eat and has some amazing nutrients, but there are some concerns that you must consider. First of all, this is a saltwater fish and would never enter the brackish water or freshwater. Similarly, they rely on crustaceans and saltwater fish, which means they will be vulnerable to metal pollution. Having said that, there will be trace amounts of heavy metals in blackfin tuna, such as cadmium, mercury, and lead.
As far as toxicity is concerned, it’s a no because the meat is fine to consume as they swim long distances. Having said that, they do feed on different food items. For this reason, you can eat blackfin tuna without worrying about toxicity, but you should always eat it in moderation.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that blackfin tuna is one of the most delicious and safe fish to eat, but you should only focus on the trace amount of metal. For this reason, just have one or two sushis made with blackfin tuna rather than going hard on filling your tummy with it – eat in moderation.