Coho salmon is a fish from the salmon family.
Accordingly, it has valuable red meat, pleasant to the taste and beneficial for the body. The only problem is that it is not a common coho fish around the world. Which fish tastes better?
- Coho salmon 33%, 1554 votes
1554 votes 33%1554 votes - 33% of all votes
- Salmon 29%, 1387 votes
1387 votes 29%
1387 votes - 29% of all votes
- Trout 27%, 1260 votes
1260 votes 27%
1260 votes - 27% of all votes
- Chum salmon 8%, 394 votes
394 votes 8%
394 votes - 8% of all votes
- Pink salmon 3%, 123 votes
123 votes 3%
123 votes - 3% of all votes
Total votes: 4718
19.12.2019
- Coho salmon 33%, 1554 votes
1554 votes 33%1554 votes - 33% of all votes
- Salmon 29%, 1387 votes
1387 votes 29%
1387 votes - 29% of all votes
- Trout 27%, 1260 votes
1260 votes 27%
1260 votes - 27% of all votes
- Chum salmon 8%, 394 votes
394 votes 8%
394 votes - 8% of all votes
- Pink salmon 3%, 123 votes
123 votes 3%
123 votes - 3% of all votes
Total votes: 4718
19.12.2019
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Origin of the species and description
Photo: Coho salmon
Coho salmon is a typical representative of the large salmon family. Salmon-like fish are one of the earliest ancestors of all modern bony fish; they have been known since the Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era. Due to the particular similarity of forms between representatives of this family and herrings, they were sometimes combined into one order.
Video: Coho salmon
Researchers argue that during the formation of species they were even less distinguishable from each other than they are now. In the encyclopedias of Soviet times, there was no order of salmoniformes at all, but later the classification was adjusted - a separate order of salmoniformes was identified, which included the only salmon family.
This ray-finned fish, whose oldest ancestors date back to the end of the Silurian period - 400-410 million years ago, is a commercial anadrobic fish. Like many salmon, coho salmon enter rivers to spawn, and in sea waters they only fatten and overwinter.
Interesting fact: Coho salmon is a very valuable fishery, but its population is not as large as that of other representatives of the large salmon family. From 2005 to 2010, Russian coho salmon catches increased fivefold from 1 to 5 thousand tons, while global catches remained at the same level - 19-20 thousand tons annually.
Coho salmon fish: benefits and harms, contraindications
Due to its rich chemical composition, red fish has many beneficial properties.
These include:
- prevention of cardiovascular diseases;
- increased hemoglobin levels in the blood;
- strengthening tooth enamel and bone tissue;
- beneficial effect on the general state of the immune system;
- positive effect on the nervous system;
- prevention of osteochondrosis and radiculitis;
- strengthening the hematopoietic function in the body;
- increased phosphorus levels;
- Widely used in weight loss diets.
However, unfortunately, there are also a number of contraindications to eating this fish. These include:
- individual intolerance or manifestation of allergic reactions;
- the presence of diseases such as gastritis or ulcers;
- liver diseases.
It is also recommended to stop using the product or reduce it during pregnancy.
Appearance and features
Photo: What coho salmon looks like
Because of their color, in some countries coho salmon are called silver salmon. The backs of adults in the oceanic phase are dark blue or green, and the sides and belly are silvery. The upper lobe of her tail and back are decorated with black spots.
Young individuals have more of these spots than mature ones, and they are also distinguished by the presence of vertical stripes on the body, white gums and black tongues. Before migrating to sea waters, the young lose their protective river camouflage and become similar to their adult relatives.
The body of coho salmon has an oblong shape, flattened laterally. The tail is square, wide at the base, strewn with many dark spots. The head is conical and quite large.
When entering the river to spawn, the body of a male coho salmon undergoes significant changes:
- the silver color of the sides changes to bright red or dark burgundy;
- in males, the teeth increase significantly and a strongly curved, key-shaped jaw develops;
- a hump appears behind the conical head, and the body flattens even more;
- The appearance of the female practically does not change depending on the life cycle.
Mature individuals from the Asian part of their habitat can gain weight from 2 to 7 kilograms. North American individuals are larger in size: weight can reach 13-15 kilograms with a body length of about one meter.
Fun Fact: Small spawning males ranging from 20 to 35 centimeters in length are often called “jacks.”
Where do coho salmon live?
Photo: Coho salmon fish
This fish is found in the waters near Northern and Central California, and is found in the North Pacific Ocean and coastal rivers near Alaska. Its population is numerous in Kamchatka, off the coast of Canada, and is found in small numbers off the Commander Islands.
On the territory of our country this fish is found:
- in the waters of the Sea of Okhotsk;
- in the Magadan region, Sakhalin, Kamchatka;
- in Saranoe and Kotelnoe lakes.
Coho salmon are the most heat-loving of all Pacific salmon species, with a comfortable temperature range from 5 to 16 degrees. Coho salmon spend about a year and a half in sea waters, and then rush to coastal rivers. On the American coast there are special residential forms that are found only in lakes.
For coho salmon, it is important that the current in these reservoirs is not too intense, and that the bottom is strewn with pebbles. In recent years, the habitat of the population of this salmon representative has narrowed significantly. Its spawning routes have decreased or even been eliminated in some tributaries, but it is still common in large river systems.
Interesting fact: There is a special type of coho salmon that is successfully grown in Chilean artificial farms. The fish is smaller in size compared to wild species and has a low fat content in the meat, but has a higher growth rate.
What do coho salmon eat?
Photo: Red coho salmon
When in fresh water, the young feed first on mosquito larvae, caddis flies and various algae. When the body size of the juvenile approaches 10 centimeters, the fry of other fish, water striders, river beetles, and adults of some insects become available to them.
The usual diet of older individuals is:
- young fish of other fish, including salmon;
- crab larvae, crustaceans, krill;
- squid, herring, cod, navaga and so on.
Thanks to its fairly large mouth and strong teeth, coho salmon can feed on fairly large fish. The type of fish in the diet depends on the habitat of coho salmon and the time of year.
Interesting fact: Coho salmon ranks third in the list in terms of meat fat content, ahead of sockeye salmon and chinook salmon. This fish is frozen, canned and salted. All waste after its processing is used in the production of feed flour.
During spawning, the fish does not feed at all, its instincts associated with food production completely disappear, and the intestines cease to function. All efforts are aimed at procreation, and exhausted adults die immediately after spawning is completed. But their death is not meaningless, since they themselves become a breeding ground for the entire ecosystem of the reservoir stream, including their offspring.
Now you know where coho salmon are found. Let's see what this fish eats.
How to choose the right coho fish
When choosing coho salmon, you should remember that low-quality fish will spoil the taste of the finished dish.
Here are the main criteria for choosing a quality product:
- The scales should be shiny, dense and bright. It should adhere well to the meat and should not show any marks or bruises. If unevenness or bruising is noticeable, the fish is of poor quality.
- When buying a fresh carcass, a sure way to check freshness is to simply press on its surface. If the fish is fresh, the resulting hole will quickly smooth out. If this does not happen, then you should refuse to purchase such fish.
- When purchasing a whole carcass that has a head, you should pay attention to the eyes. Like all other fish of other species, they should not be cloudy.
- If possible, you should touch the surface of the carcass. The fish should be slightly moist, but in no case sticky.
Based on these basic rules for choosing a good carcass, you can choose a quality product and prepare delicious dishes from it.
Features of character and lifestyle
Photo: Coho salmon
This species of salmon begins its life journey in freshwater, where it spends about a year, and then migrates to the seas and oceans for growth and further development. Some species do not go far into sea waters, preferring to stay near rivers, while others are able to migrate over vast distances, exceeding a thousand kilometers.
They spend about a year and a half in salt waters and return again to the rivers or lakes where they were born for the last stage of their life. The duration of the entire life cycle of coho salmon is 3-4 years. Some males die in the second year of life.
Coho salmon stay in schools. In the sea, it inhabits water layers no lower than 250 meters from the surface; most fish are found at a depth of 7-9 meters. The time of entry into rivers depends on the habitat. There are summer, autumn and winter coho salmon. Individuals become sexually mature only in the third year of life.
It has been noticed that in freshwater bodies, males mature faster. Coho salmon go to spawn much later than all other representatives of the salmon family. Migratory species overwinter in the sea or ocean.
Interesting fact: This type of salmon is valued not only for its tender red meat, but also for its slightly bitter, but very nutritious caviar. It is not as high in calories as other representatives of this family and is considered more healthy.
Social structure and reproduction
Photo: Coho salmon in Russia
Sexually mature individuals go to spawn from the beginning of September to January. The spawning schedule may vary in some regions. The fish moves up the river only at night, very slowly and often stops to rest in deep holes.
Females use their tails to dig out nests at the bottom, where eggs are then laid. Laying is carried out in several approaches and each portion of eggs is fertilized by different males. During the entire spawning period, one female is capable of producing up to 3000-4500 eggs.
The female digs holes for laying one after another upstream of the river, so each previous one is covered with gravel from the one just dug. After completing the last, but most important stage of their lives, adults die.
The incubation period depends on the water temperature and can range from 38 to 48 days. The survival rate is very high, but, nevertheless, this is the most vulnerable stage of life, during which young coho salmon can become prey to predators, be frozen, buried under a layer of silt, and so on. The larvae remain in the gravel for two to ten weeks until they completely consume the yolk sacs.
45 days after birth, the fry grow up to 3 cm. The young are kept near tree trunks, large stones, and in creases. The migration of juveniles down the river begins after about a year, when their body length exceeds 13-20 cm.
Using sea coho salmon meat in cooking - simple cooking recipes
The time has come for the most “delicious” part of the story. How good is this fish? It is baked, salted, made into kebabs, cooked in batter, and prepared into the most tender cutlets. Coho salmon soup or soup is fragrant. Cold fish appetizers look impressive - tartlets, sandwiches, thin slices surrounded by a piece of butter, leaves of greenery.
Note. Red salmon fillet contains few bones, so it is convenient to prepare main courses from coho salmon, fry the fish in one piece, or twist it into minced meat. Cooking recipes can be simple or intricate, but for them to be successful, it is important to purchase a quality product.
Cooking aromatic steak from freshly frozen meat
A large, meaty carcass made for steaks. This simple recipe is a working housewife’s dream: the cooking time is only 20-25 minutes. Coho salmon is initially aromatic, so it does not require a lot of additives.
What ingredients to buy for cooking steak:
- frozen fish meat – 500 g;
- half a medium lemon;
- salt, pepper - a pinch;
- olive oil – 5 tbsp. spoons
Coho salmon steak - step-by-step cooking recipe:
- Defrost the fish carcass, remove scales, gut, rinse, and dry with a paper towel. Cut into portions 2 cm thick.
- Combine half the olive oil with lemon juice, add salt and ground pepper. Rub the sauce over the steaks on both sides.
- Heat the remaining vegetable fat in a frying pan. Arrange the steaks evenly and fry over medium heat. Do not overcook fish pieces: the meat should remain juicy inside.
The finished coho salmon is served on a fish dish with a slice of lemon, herbs, a side dish of rice, and boiled vegetables. Gourmets prefer to cook fish steak on the grill. In this case, the frying fat does not “clog” the tart taste of the sea creature. To reduce cooking time, you can buy frozen steaks for frying at home.
Let's cook coho salmon in the oven with creamy filling
Meaty frozen fillet under heavy cream turns out tender, melting in your mouth. Even inexperienced housewives can master the basic recipe. If desired, add spices and herbs to the recipe, change the ratio of components. Cooking time for coho salmon: 60-90 minutes
What ingredients to buy:
- prepared frozen or chilled coho salmon meat – 1 kg;
- 20 percent cream – 200-300 ml;
- 1-2 medium sized onions;
- hard cheese – 150 g;
- ground black pepper – 0.5 tsp.
- salt – 1 tsp.
How to deliciously cook creamy coho salmon:
- Clean the fish carcass, rinse and dry with a napkin. Cut into medium pieces 1.5-2 cm in size. Add salt, ground pepper and seasonings. Coat the coho salmon steaks with the mixture.
- Cut the peeled onion into thin rings and place evenly on the bottom of the baking dish. Place fish on top and pour cream over it.
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. To obtain fried pieces, cook the coho salmon without foil for 20 minutes. If you want fish sauce, cover the dish with foil.
- Coarsely grate the cheese and sprinkle the cheese mixture over the steaks. Place the pan back in the oven for 5-7 minutes without foil.
The fish is served on a common platter or in portions. The side dish is selected according to the preferences of household members in accordance with the celebration of the moment.
Fluffy fish cutlets - an unusual recipe
The dish will be appreciated by children, pregnant women, and weakened people. Cutlets are appropriate on the daily table of a working person. Cooking time – 40 minutes.
What ingredients to buy:
- frozen coho salmon meat – 1-1.5 kg;
- 2 onions;
- 3 chicken eggs;
- hard cheese – 80-100 g;
- starch and mayonnaise - 4 tbsp each. l.;
- salt – 2 tsp;
- fish spices – 1 tsp;
- vegetable oil – 150 ml.
Let's start preparing coho salmon cutlets:
- Defrost the carcass, finely chop the fish fillet with a sharp knife. Peel the onion, grate with a coarse grater, combine with chopped coho salmon. Add mayonnaise, knead the minced meat, and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- Take out the chilled preparation, add eggs and spices. Finely grate the cheese, add to the minced meat, mix. It's starch's turn. After kneading, a thick cutlet mass is obtained, ready for frying.
- Forming the cutlets is done with a tablespoon. Place portions of minced meat into a heated frying pan and fry on both sides until crispy.
The cutlets are equally good hot or cold. Served with vegetables. Chilled or frozen coho salmon is suitable for preparing this dish; you can buy it in advance. The minced meat is prepared immediately before frying the cutlets.
Natural enemies of coho salmon
Photo: What coho salmon looks like
In their natural habitat, adults have few enemies. Only fairly large and fast species of predatory fish are able to cope with coho salmon; moreover, it has good protective camouflage and is difficult to notice in the water column. Seabirds cannot reach them, since sexually mature individuals stay at a considerable depth.
Young animals can become prey for many predatory fish, including adult relatives. Greater damage to the population of this species is caused by changes in climatic conditions, loss of spawning sites due to the construction of dams, and urban sprawl. Logging operations and agriculture negatively affect the water quality in reservoirs traditional for coho salmon breeding.
If in other fish species the survival rate of eggs often does not exceed 50 percent, then the loss of coho salmon is no more than 6-7 percent. The main reason is the special arrangement of nests for laying eggs, which promotes good aeration of eggs and embryos and washing of waste.
Interesting fact: This type of fish in Russia can be caught by amateurs, but for this you need to obtain a special license. A large number of coho salmon live near Kamchatka - it has long been considered practically a Kamchatka fish. In other regions of the country it is found much less frequently.
Calorie content of coho salmon. Chemical composition and nutritional value.
Nutritional value and chemical composition of coho salmon.
The table shows the nutritional content (calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals) per 100 grams of edible portion.
| Nutrient | Quantity | Norm** | % of the norm in 100 g | % of the norm in 100 kcal | 100% normal |
| Calorie content | 140 kcal | 1684 kcal | 8.3% | 5.9% | 1203 g |
| Squirrels | 20 g | 76 g | 26.3% | 18.8% | 380 g |
| Fats | 8.1 g | 56 g | 14.5% | 10.4% | 691 g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.4 g | 219 g | 0.6% | 0.4% | 15643 g |
| Organic acids | 1 g | ~ | |||
| Alimentary fiber | 0.7 g | 20 g | 3.5% | 2.5% | 2857 g |
| Water | 70.6 g | 2273 g | 3.1% | 2.2% | 3220 g |
| Ash | 1.3 g | ~ | |||
| Vitamins | |||||
| Vitamin A, RE | 40 mcg | 900 mcg | 4.4% | 3.1% | 2250 g |
| Retinol | 0.04 mg | ~ | |||
| Vitamin B1, thiamine | 0.23 mg | 1.5 mg | 15.3% | 10.9% | 652 g |
| Vitamin B2, riboflavin | 0.25 mg | 1.8 mg | 13.9% | 9.9% | 720 g |
| Vitamin B5, pantothenic | 0.05 mg | 5 mg | 1% | 0.7% | 10000 g |
| Vitamin B6, pyridoxine | 0.04 mg | 2 mg | 2% | 1.4% | 5000 g |
| Vitamin B9, folates | 15.8 mcg | 400 mcg | 4% | 2.9% | 2532 g |
| Vitamin B12, cobalamin | 7.82 mcg | 3 mcg | 260.7% | 186.2% | 38 g |
| Vitamin C, ascorbic acid | 1 mg | 90 mg | 1.1% | 0.8% | 9000 g |
| Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol, TE | 1.8 mg | 15 mg | 12% | 8.6% | 833 g |
| beta tocopherol | 0.01 mg | ~ | |||
| gamma tocopherol | 0.04 mg | ~ | |||
| Vitamin H, biotin | 0.1 mcg | 50 mcg | 0.2% | 0.1% | 50000 g |
| Vitamin K, phylloquinone | 0.3 mcg | 120 mcg | 0.3% | 0.2% | 40000 g |
| Vitamin RR, NE | 9.4 mg | 20 mg | 47% | 33.6% | 213 g |
| Niacin | 6 mg | ~ | |||
| Macronutrients | |||||
| Potassium, K | 420 mg | 2500 mg | 16.8% | 12% | 595 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 15 mg | 1000 mg | 1.5% | 1.1% | 6667 g |
| Magnesium, Mg | 25 mg | 400 mg | 6.3% | 4.5% | 1600 g |
| Sodium, Na | 45 mg | 1300 mg | 3.5% | 2.5% | 2889 g |
| Sera, S | 200 mg | 1000 mg | 20% | 14.3% | 500 g |
| Phosphorus, P | 210 mg | 800 mg | 26.3% | 18.8% | 381 g |
| Chlorine, Cl | 252.4 mg | 2300 mg | 11% | 7.9% | 911 g |
| Microelements | |||||
| Aluminium, Al | 51.2 mcg | ~ | |||
| Bor, B | 39.1 mcg | ~ | |||
| Vanadium, V | 15.3 mcg | ~ | |||
| Iron, Fe | 0.8 mg | 18 mg | 4.4% | 3.1% | 2250 g |
| Yod, I | 0.7 mcg | 150 mcg | 0.5% | 0.4% | 21429 g |
| Cobalt, Co | 0.4 mcg | 10 mcg | 4% | 2.9% | 2500 g |
| Lithium, Li | 3.6 mcg | ~ | |||
| Manganese, Mn | 0.0341 mg | 2 mg | 1.7% | 1.2% | 5865 g |
| Copper, Cu | 53.9 mcg | 1000 mcg | 5.4% | 3.9% | 1855 |
| Molybdenum, Mo | 7 mcg | 70 mcg | 10% | 7.1% | 1000 g |
| Nickel, Ni | 9.4 mcg | ~ | |||
| Rubidium, Rb | 13.7 mcg | ~ | |||
| Selenium, Se | 29.9 mcg | 55 mcg | 54.4% | 38.9% | 184 g |
| Fluorine, F | 648 mcg | 4000 mcg | 16.2% | 11.6% | 617 g |
| Chromium, Cr | 82.6 mcg | 50 mcg | 165.2% | 118% | 61 g |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.0946 mg | 12 mg | 9.1% | 6.5% | 1096 g |
| Digestible carbohydrates | |||||
| Starch and dextrins | 0.1 g | ~ | |||
| Mono- and disaccharides (sugars) | 1.3 g | max 100 g | |||
| Essential amino acids | |||||
| Arginine* | 1.12 g | ~ | |||
| Valin | 1.12 g | ~ | |||
| Histidine* | 0.5 g | ~ | |||
| Isoleucine | 0.97 g | ~ | |||
| Leucine | 1.52 g | ~ | |||
| Lysine | 1.76 g | ~ | |||
| Methionine | 0.78 g | ~ | |||
| Threonine | 0.99 g | ~ | |||
| Tryptophan | 0.31 g | ~ | |||
| Phenylalanine | 0.82 g | ~ | |||
| Nonessential amino acids | |||||
| Alanin | 1.35 g | ~ | |||
| Aspartic acid | 2.79 g | ~ | |||
| Glycine | 0.94 g | ~ | |||
| Glutamic acid | 3.03 g | ~ | |||
| Proline | 0.65 g | ~ | |||
| Serin | 0.84 g | ~ | |||
| Tyrosine | 0.66 g | ~ | |||
| Cysteine | 0.31 g | ~ | |||
| Sterols (sterols) | |||||
| Cholesterol | 70 mg | max 300 mg | |||
| Saturated fatty acids | |||||
| Saturated fatty acids | 1.5 g | max 18.7 g | |||
| 14:0 Miristinovaya | 0.17 g | ~ | |||
| 15:0 Pentadecane | 0.02 g | ~ | |||
| 16:0 Palmitinaya | 0.67 g | ~ | |||
| 17:0 Margarine | 0.01 g | ~ | |||
| 18:0 Stearic | 0.13 g | ~ | |||
| 20:0 Arakhinovaya | 0.007 g | ~ | |||
| Monounsaturated fatty acids | 2.2 g | min 16.8 g | 13.1% | 9.4% | |
| 14:1 Myristoleic | 0.01 g | ~ | |||
| 16:1 Palmitoleic | 0.2 g | ~ | |||
| 17:1 Heptadecene | 0.01 g | ~ | |||
| 18:1 Oleic (omega-9) | 0.88 g | ~ | |||
| 20:1 Gadoleic (omega-9) | 0.61 g | ~ | |||
| 22:1 Erucic (omega-9) | 0.45 g | ~ | |||
| 24:1 Nervonic, cis (omega-9) | 0.04 g | ~ | |||
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids | 1.37 g | from 11.2 to 20.6 g | 12.2% | 8.7% | |
| 18:2 Linolevaya | 0.07 g | ~ | |||
| 18:3 Linolenic | 0.07 g | ~ | |||
| 18:4 Steoride Omega-3 | 0.07 g | ~ | |||
| 20:2 Eicosadiene, Omega-6, cis, cis | 0.01 g | ~ | |||
| 20:4 Arachidonic | 0.08 g | ~ | |||
| 20:5 Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Omega-3 | 0.33 g | ~ | |||
| 21:5 Geneicosapentaenoic acid, Omega-3 | 0.01 g | ~ | |||
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 1.13 g | from 0.9 to 3.7 g | 100% | 71.4% | |
| 22:5 Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), Omega-3 | 0.1 g | ~ | |||
| 22:6 Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Omega-3 | 0.63 g | ~ | |||
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 0.16 g | from 4.7 to 16.8 g | 3.4% | 2.4% |
The energy value of coho salmon is 140 kcal.
Primary Source: Created in the application by the user. Read more.
** This table shows the average levels of vitamins and minerals for an adult. If you want to know the norms taking into account your gender, age and other factors, then use the “My Healthy Diet” application.
