On the Internet, a lot of information on the topic: "Caution Pangasius!" Why did you dislike the fish and how to distinguish truth from fiction? Is Pangasius so harmful as they say?
What kind of fish is pangasius?
Pangasius fish or "shark catfish" belongs to the family of pangasius catfish. The fish lives in fresh water and rivers. Under natural conditions, fish can only be found in East Asia, in the waters of the Mekong River. But the pangasius is perfectly bred in captivity. By the way, exported fish are grown that way.
Pangasius is a predatory fish that lives on the bottom of the river. It feeds on small mollusks, fry and crustaceans. Pangasius is growing quite rapidly, and therefore is of industrial value. For example, in six months, one individual gains up to 2 kg of weight.
Not whole carcasses of pangasius come on sale, but a ready-made fillet. It is obtained by cutting fish in specialized factories. Skin is removed from the carcass, bones and fat are removed. The finished fillet is packed in vacuum bags.
Pangasius is often confused with the marine language, but the fish have a difference. The marine language does not live in ponds and rivers, it lives in salt water. In appearance, the carcass of the tongue does not have fat and a pronounced red strip along the ridge.
What is the harm of pangasius?
Why is pangasius blacklisted by customers? The thing is that at home, fish lives in the Mekong River, which is not distinguished by its purity. It passes between city blocks and it often gets waste from factories and factories, and urban residents pour everything into the river. How the fish survives in such conditions is not clear, because the pangasius cannot live in a polluted environment. Even in an aquarium, he needs clean water that is constantly filtered.
But, as already mentioned, for export pangasius is grown in captivity. To do this, equip special ponds that are cleaned in advance. From here the fish gets to the factory for cutting, where fillets are prepared from it in compliance with all sanitary rules.
Is it possible to poison fish with pangasius, because in industrial production fish are fed hormones and antibiotics? It is unlikely that raw materials undergo careful selection and control before being sent. And the dose of growth hormones in one carcass is negligible. However, it is better to buy pangasius fillets in a store where there are all necessary documents. In the underground market, buying high-quality fish meat simply will not work.
The fish itself is not capable of harming the body. But the conditions of its maintenance and storage can affect health. A poor-quality product will lead to food poisoning. In addition, it is worth abandoning the use of fillets in case of individual intolerance and allergies to seafood. Caution should be taken with fish in case of problems with housing and communal services.
The undeniable benefits of pangasius
Fish fillets are exported to more than 140 countries. What is the reason for such consumer interest?
1. Affordable price.
2. Juicy and tender filet.
3. Relatively low calorie content.
4. Rich composition.
5. Easy to cook.
Mistresses fell in love with these soft pink pieces of fish fillet for their useful composition. The fish contains enough protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins of groups B, PP, K, A and E. In addition, the composition of the pangasius includes:
• magnesium;
• zinc;
• potassium;
• iron;
• chrome;
• sodium;
• sulfur;
• calcium;
• phosphorus.
The protein that is part of the carcass is in an accessible form and is easily absorbed by the body. In addition, fish contains a lot of antioxidants that positively affect the human body, slowing down the aging process and protecting against cancer.
Regular consumption of pangasius normalizes sleep, improves mood and prevents stress, normalizes metabolic processes in the body. The fish is good for diet, since pangasius is able to reduce weight. In 100 gr. The product contains up to 80 kcal.
Indispensable pangasius for people of mental labor. Phosphorus improves brain activity, and vitamins strengthen the immune system. In addition, fish fillet strengthens the heart muscles and improves the functioning of the organs of vision.
Fillet contains up to 80% protein, so it is recommended to use it for people leading an active lifestyle.
In addition, pangasius can be included in the diet of patients with atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue, pregnant and lactating mothers, and children.
How to choose a good product
Of course, only a quality product will benefit the body. When buying a pangasius fillet, you should pay attention to the following points:
• how fish is frozen. To preserve all useful qualities, fillets are frozen by a shock method. Information about the type of freezing is applied to the packaging with the product.
• where the product is stored. According to all rules, fish fillets should be delivered frozen and stored in freezers;
• quality of packaging. A good product is packed in a vacuum film, indicating the date and batch number;
• appearance of the filet. A standard piece of fillet contains up to 10% water. The carcass should be whole, light pink in color. Dark shade and broken pieces indicate violations of storage rules, most likely, the fish was repeatedly frozen;
• the presence of fat. The larger the carcass, the fatter it is. Small pieces of fillet are preferable to take to children.
If the fish meets all sanitary standards and has been frozen by the shock method of freezing, then it will not harm the body. Whether to buy thawed pangasius fillet without packaging is a personal matter.
How to cook a healthy pangasius filet
It is better to defrost a fish naturally by taking it out of the freezer and laying it out of the bag.
Do not defrost fish in the microwave or in hot water. This will only break the delicate structure and degrade the quality of the product. The benefits of such fish are few.
Pangasius fillet is suitable for cooking fish nuggets, frying, stewing and steaming.
Boiled fish is good for salads or just as an appetizer. You can bake slices in cheese foil or prepare fragrant soups.
Pangasius is cooked quite quickly, the fried pieces can not be stewed. After 10 minutes, a fragrant dinner is already on the table.
If the household smell is not pleasant to fish, then stewing the fillet is better in milk. It kills the smell of fish, the fillet is tender and dietary.
For those who still do not trust the pangasius suppliers. Cooking fish is recommended according to the following principle.
• Put thawed carcass into boiling water.
• Boil for 10 minutes.
• To the water where the pangasius was brewing.
Then the carcass can be baked, stewed or simply served with porridge sauce.
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the pangasius fillet, which was grown under normal conditions and frozen in compliance with all norms, can be considered an affordable and useful product. The fish has a delicate taste and structure, it is used in the preparation of many dishes.
