The salmon family includes many different species of fish. But the most valuable are chum salmon and pink salmon. They are very similar to each other. However, their lifestyle is different from each other. Because of this, different chemical compositions of both fillets and caviar are observed. In order not to confuse these two types with each other, you should know their characteristics. This article will answer the question: chum salmon or pink salmon caviar - which is better? In addition, comparisons between a number of fish species will be presented. After reading this article, you can learn how to choose the right product and how you usually eat it.
What is the difference between chum salmon and pink salmon?
Today, one of the most common types of salmon is a fish that is characterized by a light blue color. In this case we are talking about pink salmon. During the spawning period, its color changes. It acquires gray and greenish shades.
She is much smaller in size. But despite this, it grows faster than chum salmon. Which caviar is better: chum salmon or pink salmon? This question will be answered a little later. But in order to purchase exactly the type of fish you came for at the market or supermarket, you need to know their distinctive features.
So, the diet of pink salmon is higher in calories. Therefore, its fillet has greater density.
The amount of chum salmon is much less. But it is larger in size than pink salmon. Its color is silvery, it is characteristic of fish during the spawning period. And after that it changes to a darker one, and on the sides of the chum salmon you can see stripes of crimson color. The fillet of this species is distinguished by its tenderness and elasticity. It is not as high in calories as pink salmon. Therefore, it is very suitable for the fair sex who watch their figure.
Chum salmon can be distinguished from pink salmon not only by size and color, but also by scales. In the first species it is larger.
Chum salmon or pink salmon caviar: which is better? The answer to this question can be found in the next section. It is only worth noting that the eggs of chum salmon are large and the color is much brighter than that of a related species. This, of course, is not a sign of the quality and excellent taste of the product. But for buyers it is a good characteristic to distinguish these two products from each other.
Chum salmon or pink salmon caviar: which is better?
This product is considered a delicacy that is valued all over the world. It contains many useful microelements and vitamins. Which caviar is better: chum salmon or pink salmon? In terms of their nutritional value and beneficial composition, they are the same.
But still, chum salmon or pink salmon caviar: which is better? The photo below reflects the appearance of the first.
As mentioned above, chum salmon caviar is much larger and brighter in color.
But the most prized product is pink salmon. It has smaller grains. And the taste is rich and tender. Thus, the answer to the question: “Chum salmon and pink salmon caviar: which is better and tastier?” - was received.
It is worth noting that in another species the product contains more fat. This characteristic is also reflected in the taste. Also, the eggs are denser and tougher. Thanks to this, this product is stored much longer.
Red caviar of chum salmon and pink salmon - what is the difference?
Chum salmon has the largest eggs among other representatives of the salmon family. They have a dense shell and an average diameter of 6-7 mm.
Pink salmon caviar reaches 3-5 mm on average. Its shell is more like a thin film that bursts at the slightest pressure. The difference between caviar and other salmon eggs is its delicate taste without the bitterness that is characteristic of sockeye salmon and coho salmon.
The color of the fish, or rather its eggs, is different. Chum salmon has a light orange color with an amber sheen, and pink salmon has a rich orange color with a red-brown tint. Chum salmon and pink salmon caviar becomes bitter if the production technology has been violated. This mainly occurs due to exceeding the norm of preservatives or the use of stale carcasses in which the fat has already oxidized.
Also, pink salmon caviar differs from chum salmon in price. The cost of the first is slightly lower than the second. Chum salmon is a fish recognized as the standard of caviar quality in its family, which is why it costs more than others. The noble color and large size gave chum salmon caviar the title of a royal delicacy. This is what connoisseurs of seafood call it.
The benefits of red caviar from chum salmon and pink salmon are proteins, vitamins and amino acids. Both fish are rich in iodine, lecithin, phosphorus and iron. It quickly replenishes the lack of energy, has a beneficial effect on the skin and strengthens the immune system. Its beneficial microelements prevent the progression of diseases of the heart and circulatory system.
It's up to you to decide which caviar is best from the salmon family. Lovers of salty foods will be addicted to caviar in glass or plastic jars, and lightly salted caviar will choose caviar in cans. After cutting the fish, it is treated with a solution of table salt or a solution with a minimal content of antiseptics. Due to the fact that fatty acids break down under sunlight, more salt is added to plastic and glass than to cans.
What kind of red caviar is there?
Currently, there are a huge number of types of this product on store shelves. So, having figured out which red caviar is better - chum salmon or pink salmon, let's move on to considering the other species. The rarer the variety of a product, the more expensive it is considered. There are about six types of caviar. The first two have already been discussed in previous sections of the article. Let's look at the rest.
Chinook salmon has one of the expensive varieties of red caviar. This fish is listed in the Red Book. Her eggs are very large. Their size is about 8 mm. They are distinguished by a slight bitterness. This product cannot be found on the shelves of any supermarket. As a rule, it can be purchased in Primorye.
Sockeye salmon is also a species of the salmon family. The taste of this fish caviar is very spicy. It has a pungent and bitter taste. Due to the small volume of transportation, this product is quite difficult to purchase in ordinary stores.
Coho salmon caviar is inexpensive in terms of price. The eggs are small and have a bitter taste.
Trout caviar also differs from all others in its small grains. It has a pleasant bitter taste. You can often find it on sale. The price of this product is considered quite affordable.
Red caviar: what kind is there, in which fish?
In our country, the most common types of caviar are products made from chum salmon and pink salmon. Trout caviar is becoming very popular due to its relatively low cost. It is used for everyday menus and making sandwiches. This is a great option for a quick snack.
Types of caviar:
- Pink salmon. The grain size is 5 mm. Color ranges from orange to red. The taste is quite pleasant without a pronounced bitterness. This product can be considered universal. Often used to decorate holiday salads and fill pancakes.
- Chum salmon. The eggs are quite large, approximately 6 mm in diameter. At the same time, the shell is very durable and difficult to break. The embryo is visible in the center of the grain. Most often, this product is used to decorate ready-made dishes. Due to the strong shell, the grains do not burst or deform.
- Red salmon. In Russia, it is quite difficult to find this species on the shelves. This fish mainly lives along American coasts. The grain size is 4-5 mm, the color is rich red. It has a slightly bitter taste. Popular in America, as there are a lot of sockeye salmon in those waters.
- Coho salmon The eggs are 3-4 mm in size, crimson or red in color. The product has a decent bitterness. Due to its specific taste, pink salmon is less valued. But the best in terms of nutritional content. Rarely sold in supermarkets.
- Chinook salmon. The size of the eggs reaches up to 7 mm. This is the most expensive product and is valued the most. The taste is mild, without pronounced bitterness. But it is a delicacy due to its decent price. Not everyone can afford it.
- Trout. The cheapest option with a small grain size. The taste of the fish is pleasant, without any pronounced bitterness. Gaining popularity due to low cost.
Red pink salmon caviar
What are the benefits of red caviar?
It contains unsaturated fatty acids. They help increase immunity and hemoglobin. They also improve the human body’s resistance to various types of infections.
Its caviar restores the normal oiliness of the skin. And this suggests that it improves her condition, which, of course, is necessary for the fair sex.
This product also contains vitamin D. It prevents bone fragility. In addition, this component promotes better absorption of calcium. Thus, it prevents the development of rickets.
Red caviar also contains vitamin A. It is known to be necessary for people who have poor eyesight.
The content of fatty acids in the product helps to easily cope with stressful situations.
How to choose a delicacy
How not to get lost among the numerous offers of red caviar producers? First of all, let's carefully study the text of the label. The blend is good in wine, but not in caviar. The jar should indicate which fish it was extracted from. We will answer the question of which is better, pink salmon or sockeye salmon caviar, later. Now let’s just indicate the criteria for a quality product. Glass jars are preferable to metal jars. After all, this is how we can consider the content. The eggs should be of equal size, not stuck together, mostly whole, and of uniform color. A bright ruby color may be evidence of counterfeit (exception: sockeye salmon and chinook salmon caviar). The usual color is orange fading to pale red. The production date of the product is of utmost importance. If the label indicates the autumn or winter months, the caviar is obtained from frozen fish.
Harm from red caviar
Do not consume this product in too large quantities. Then the benefit described above will be reversed.
Red caviar has a high salt content. For this reason, people with kidney and genitourinary diseases should not use it.
Some people have an individual intolerance to this product. In other words, we are talking about an allergic reaction here. These people should beware of red caviar. And if, nevertheless, they ate it by mistake, it is necessary to urgently take an antihistamine or consult a specialist.
It should not be consumed by those who are overweight. This category also includes people with gastrointestinal diseases.
Large or small caviar: which one to choose?
It all depends on the preference of the person himself. It is usually believed that the tastiest product is the one with larger diameter grains. Chum salmon or pink salmon caviar: which tastes better? Do you remember how this question was answered in one of the sections? Pink salmon caviar has better taste, but, unfortunately, the eggs burst. But in chum salmon, the grains reach a diameter of about 4.5 mm. They keep their shape. And the smallest caviar is trout caviar. But it has a bright bitter taste.
Therefore, when choosing between small and large caviar, buyers most often give preference to the second type of product. It should be noted that each person has his own requirements for a particular product.
Chum salmon, sockeye salmon, pink salmon caviar: which is better?
The cost of each product is different. Thus, sockeye salmon caviar has the highest price compared to others. But this is only due to the fact that it is transported to Russia in very small quantities. But among these three species, pink salmon is the best in terms of taste. She has no bitterness. Chum salmon sometimes has this taste.
Sockeye salmon caviar has other qualities. So, it has a spicy, bitter and islandy taste. The nutritional value and composition of these three species are almost the same. Sockeye salmon caviar is smaller. For this reason, it contains slightly more nutrients. This is explained by the fact that fish, due to the small size of the grains, saturates each of them with a large amount of microelements and vitamins.
Granular salmon caviar (pink salmon) “Fresh catch”
Cost 170 rub. Net weight 95 g. First grade. STO 16094718-002-2017.
Made from frozen raw materials.
Manufacturer: NORTH CRYSTAL LLC, Moscow region, Dmitrov. Ingredients: granular caviar, salt, preservatives: sorbic acid (E200), sodium benzoate (E211), thickeners, stabilizers: E412, E415, E425, dextrose.
We found a lot of liquid in the jar. Since there is no vegetable oil in the composition, it is most likely brine (this is what salt solution is called in the fishing industry). In addition, we found pieces of organic matter, which can be assumed to be a yastyk (a bag-shell in which the caviar was located). The smell of the caviar was fine.
The caviar was very salty. You could feel the remains of the skins from the caviar grains, which shouldn’t be there. It was difficult to find a whole egg, most likely the raw materials in this jar were frozen.
Some information about coho salmon caviar
In this section of the article you will also find information on the comparative nature of fish products. So, which caviar is better: chum salmon, pink salmon or coho salmon?
The taste and price range of these product categories are different. For residents of Russia, pink salmon or chum salmon caviar is considered more familiar.
But the most useful among these three species is the coho salmon fish product. Its grains are small, about 2.5 mm. They contain a greater amount of vitamins and minerals. In terms of taste, it is distinguished by its piquancy and bitterness. That is, according to this characteristic, pink salmon or chum salmon caviar is better.
Size matters?
If we are talking about black caviar, the larger the grains, the better the quality of the product. In red it's the other way around. Small grains are valued more by gourmets. And now the time has come to answer the question that worries many: “Which is better - pink salmon or sockeye salmon caviar?” The largest grains of Chinook salmon are as much as eight millimeters in diameter. Ketovaya is slightly smaller – seven, for which it is popularly nicknamed “royal”. The eggs of pink salmon and coho salmon are approximately the same size - four millimeters. And sockeye salmon caviar is very small - only 3 mm in diameter. In our country, these grains of dark red, even ruby color, are valued less. The fact is that sockeye salmon caviar, the photo of which looks very appetizing, has a pronounced bitter taste. But abroad, this quality is considered not a minus, but a piquant feature. But the neutral taste of dark orange grains obtained from pink salmon is considered too ordinary there.
How to choose the right product in a tin can?
Before purchasing red caviar, you should know a few rules. They will help you purchase a quality product.
So, when buying a bank it should not be swollen. This indicates that the product is damaged. On the lid of the product you should see data such as salting date and manufacturer number.
You should also check the period between salting and canning. It should not be more than 30 days.
As mentioned above, caviar contains salt. Its content should be from 3 to 5 percent. In addition, the product may contain antiseptics, methenamine and vegetable oil. There should be no other additives.
The jar should contain information about what type of fish the caviar is from.
Benefits and harms
The pink salmon product is not only tasty, but also has a beneficial effect on the body. Let's look at the benefits of pink salmon caviar for different groups of people:
- Women. The vitamins contained in seafood affect the condition of female skin. Anti-oxide components help even out skin tone and maintain its freshness. In addition, the product helps prevent female cancer;
- Men. Lecithin contained in eggs has a beneficial effect on the nervous system of the male body and has a calming effect. In addition, the delicacy promotes the active production of serotonin and testosterone, which increase the level of male potency;
- Children. The seafood product improves brain activity, which is important for the development of a growing organism. Eating red caviar in a child’s diet helps maintain and improve the child’s vision and immune system;
- Aged people. The beneficial microelements in the snack help strengthen joints, which is important for older people.
- Pregnant women. The presence of folic acid helps the development of fetal growth in the early stages of pregnancy. Regular consumption of seafood triggers the regeneration process in the female body.
The microelements included in the delicacy are in concentrated form. Therefore, you need to approach snack consumption wisely. It is recommended to eat no more than 3-5 spoons of seafood per day, since an excess of vitamins may cause digestive problems.
How to buy a loose product correctly?
Which red caviar to choose? Chum salmon or pink salmon? What's better? The choice is yours. But it’s worth doing it correctly so that you don’t end up in the hands of your treating doctors.
When purchasing loose caviar, please note that the grains should be round and almost all the same size. Also, color and taste qualities must correspond to the type of product that is declared. By the way, each characteristic of the salmon family was given above.
If you smell a strong fishy smell, and also, after trying it, feel the unpleasant taste of rancid fat, then do not buy such caviar. It should have a slight smell of freshness. Also pay attention to its surface. It should be dry.
How should you eat caviar?
As a rule, this product is consumed with sandwiches. But there are several other ways. Some people eat it separately. This process occurs with the help of a small dessert spoon.
There are also a number of opinions from nutritionists. They say this product goes great with a slice of cucumber. It’s also very good served with half an egg white.
How much caviar can you eat in total? About three teaspoons is considered the norm. This is how much you can consume this product per day. And then the benefits from it for your body are guaranteed.
