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Fish Kitchen Library
Fish Kitchen Library
Culinary profiles, contaminant context, and kitchen preparation guidance for every major species. Contaminant profiles describe the species — the official advisory for your water sets consumption frequency.
Lower profile
Moderate profile
Higher profile
Common Questions
102 species shown
Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Moderate profilemarket
Moderate load Sear rare, Grill
Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Sashimi, Grill
American Eel
Anguilla rostrata
Higher profilefreshwater
Higher load Grill (unagi/kabayaki), Smoke
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Lower profilemarket
Low–moderate Boil, Steam
American Shad
Alosa sapidissima
Moderate profilefreshwater
Low–moderate Plank-bake, Long slow bake (bone-dissolving)
Anchovies
Engraulis encrasicolus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Dissolve in sauces, Pasta (puttanesca)
Arctic Char
Salvelinus alpinus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-sear, Slow roast
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Bake, Fry (fish and chips)
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pickle, Smoke (kippers)
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Grill whole, Broil
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Moderate profilecharter
Low–moderate Pan-sear, Roast
Barramundi
Lates calcarifer
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-sear, Grill
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Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate–higher Sashimi, Sear rare
Bigmouth Buffalo
Ictiobus cyprinellus
Moderate profilefreshwater
Moderate load Smoke, Score and fry
Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Lower profilefreshwater
Lower load Pan-fry, Bake
Black Drum
Pogonias cromis
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Blacken, Grill
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Roast whole, Steam
Blue Catfish
Ictalurus furcatus
Moderate profilefreshwater
Moderate–higher Deep fry, Grill
Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus thynnus
Higher profilecharter
Higher load Sashimi, Sear rare
Bluefish
Pomatomus saltatrix
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate–higher Grill, Broil
Bluegill
Lepomis macrochirus
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-fry, Grill whole
Bowfin
Amia calva
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate–higher Fry, Smoke
Branzino (European Sea Bass)
Dicentrarchus labrax
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Roast whole, Grill whole
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-fry whole, Grill
Brown Bullhead
Ameiurus nebulosus
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate load Deep fry, Pan-fry
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate–higher Pan-sear, Smoke
Burbot
Lota lota
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate load Bake, Broil
Channel Catfish
Ictalurus punctatus
Lower profilefreshwater
Low–moderate Deep fry, Pan-fry
Channel Catfish (Market)
Ictalurus punctatus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Fry (classic Southern), Blacken
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate–higher Grill, Roast
Clams
Mercenaria mercenaria / Various spp.
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Steam, Chowder
Cobia
Rachycentron canadum
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Grill, Pan-sear
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Grill, Bake
Common Carp
Cyprinus carpio
Moderate profilefreshwater
Moderate–higher Bake, Smoke
Common Snook
Centropomus undecimalis
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Grill, Pan-sear
Crab (Dungeness / Blue / Snow / King)
Cancer magister / Callinectes sapidus / Chionoecetes opilio / Paralithodes camtschaticus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Steam, Boil
Crappie
Pomoxis spp.
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-fry, Bake
Cutthroat Trout
Oncorhynchus clarkii
Lower profilefreshwater
Lower load Pan-fry whole, Grill
Farmed Salmon (Atlantic)
Salmo salar (farmed)
Moderate profilemarket
Low–moderate Pan-sear, Roast
Flathead Catfish
Pylodictis olivaris
Moderate profilefreshwater
Moderate–higher Fry, Grill
Florida Pompano
Trachinotus carolinus
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Grill whole, En papillote (pompano en papillote)
Flounder
Various flatfish species
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-sear, Bake
Freshwater Drum (Sheepshead)
Aplodinotus grunniens
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate load Fry, Bake
Grass Carp
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Moderate profilefreshwater
Low–moderate Bake, Fry
Grouper
Epinephelus / Mycteroperca spp.
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Grill, Pan-sear
Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Bake, Smoke (finnan haddie)
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavalla
Higher profilecharter
Higher load Grill, Smoke
Lake Herring (Cisco)
Coregonus artedi
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Smoke, Pan-fry
Lake Sturgeon
Acipenser fulvescens
Higher profilegreat lakes
Higher load Smoke, Grill
Lake Trout
Salvelinus namaycush
Higher profilegreat lakes
Higher load Grill, Roast
Largemouth Bass
Micropterus salmoides
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate–higher Grill, Pan-fry
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Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Pan-sear, Fry (fish and chips)
Longnose Gar
Lepisosteus osseus
Moderate profilefreshwater
Moderate–higher Fry, Gar balls
Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Grill, Pan-sear
Monkfish
Lophius americanus
Lower profilemarket
Low–moderate Roast whole tail, Butter-poach
Muskellunge (Musky)
Esox masquinongy
Higher profilegreat lakes
Higher load Bake, Poach
Mussels
Mytilus edulis / Mytilus galloprovincialis
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Steam (moules marinière), Grill
Northern Pike
Esox lucius
Higher profilegreat lakes
Higher load Bake, Fry
Oysters
Crassostrea virginica / Ostrea lurida / Crassostrea gigas
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Raw on the half shell, Roast (Rockefeller)
Pacific Cod
Gadus macrocephalus
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Bake, Fry
Pacific Halibut
Hippoglossus stenolepis
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Pan-sear, Grill
Pacific Rockfish
Sebastes spp.
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Fry, Steam whole
Pollock
Theragra chalcogramma
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Bake, Fry
Pumpkinseed Sunfish
Lepomis gibbosus
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-fry, Grill whole
Rainbow Smelt
Osmerus mordax
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Deep fry whole, Pan-fry
Rainbow Trout (Farmed)
Oncorhynchus mykiss (farmed)
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-sear, Bake
Red Drum (Redfish)
Sciaenops ocellatus
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Blacken, Grill on the half shell
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Grill, Roast whole
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Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)
Lepomis microlophus
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-fry, Grill whole
Rock Bass
Ambloplites rupestris
Lower profilegreat lakes
Low–moderate Pan-fry, Bake
Round Whitefish (Menominee)
Prosopium cylindraceum
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-sear, Smoke
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Sablefish (Black Cod)
Anoplopoma fimbria
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Broil (miso-marinated), Smoke
Sardines
Sardina pilchardus / Sardinops sagax
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Grill whole, Pan-fry
Sauger
Sander canadensis
Moderate profilefreshwater
Moderate load Pan-sear, Light fry
Scup (Porgy)
Stenotomus chrysops
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Roast whole, Grill whole
Sea Scallops
Placopecten magellanicus / Argopecten irradians
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-sear (hard sear), Grill
Sheepshead (Saltwater)
Archosargus probatocephalus
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Pan-sear, Fry
Shrimp
Penaeus / Litopenaeus spp.
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Sauté, Grill
Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Canned preparations, Sear
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate–higher Grill, Pan-sear
Sole
Solea solea / Psetta maxima
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-sear, Meunière
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Grill, Pan-sear
Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout)
Cynoscion nebulosus
Lower profilecharter
Low–moderate Pan-sear, Light fry
Squid (Calamari)
Doryteuthis / Loligo spp.
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Fry, Grill
Steelhead (Lake-Run Rainbow Trout)
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Grill, Bake
Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Roast, Grill
Summer Flounder (Fluke)
Paralichthys dentatus
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Pan-sear, Crudo/sashimi
Swai / Pangasius
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
Moderate profilemarket
Low–moderate Pan-fry, Bake
Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Higher profilecharter
Higher load Grill, Broil
Tautog (Blackfish)
Tautoga onitis
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Chowder, Pan-sear
Tilapia
Oreochromis spp.
Lower profilemarket
Lower load Pan-fry, Bake
Triggerfish
Balistes / Canthidermis spp.
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Pan-sear, Grill
Wahoo
Acanthocybium solandri
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Grill, Sear rare
Walleye
Sander vitreus
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Moderate load Pan-sear, Light fry
White Bass
Morone chrysops
Moderate profilegreat lakes
Low–moderate Pan-fry, Blacken
White Crappie
Pomoxis annularis
Lower profilefreshwater
Lower load Pan-fry, Bake
White Perch
Morone americana
Lower profilegreat lakes
Low–moderate Pan-fry, Deep fry
Whitefish
Coregonus clupeaformis
Lower profilegreat lakes
Low–moderate Pan-sear, Smoke
Wild Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss (wild)
Lower profilefreshwater
Lower load Pan-fry, Grill
Yellow Perch
Perca flavescens
Lower profilegreat lakes
Lower load Pan-fry, Sauté
Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Moderate profilecharter
Moderate load Sear (rare), Grill
Yellowtail Snapper
Ocyurus chrysurus
Lower profilecharter
Lower load Fry whole, Pan-sear
Species profiles describe general contaminant and culinary context. Contaminant levels vary by waterbody, season, and fish size. Recommended consumption frequency comes only from the official advisory that applies to your water.