Picking produce

[CptJacksCarro]

Hey everyone I’ve been struggling with finding good quality ingredients when I cook. I don’t think it’s a hugely touched upon subject. Does anyone have any good resources to learn how to pick out produce also trying to find fish for sushi so would love any suggestions. Thanks!

 

[sanmateo]

I've been unhappy with the produce at Safeway, but I can usually find something I like at the fancy italian grocery stores or the ethnic grocers. I think unfortunately Safeway/Albertsons/Von's supply chain values consistency over quality.

Fish for sashimi or sushi I go to the Japanese grocer near my house, which has a good selection air-freighted from Japan. It's $30-$60 per pound, but that still ends up way cheaper than going to a restaurant.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

farmers markets? I think they are expensive for the most part, but I have learned a lot. coming up in cooking, I would hit up farmers markets and I asked a lot of questions. "how do I pick a good watermelon?". I learned how to sex an eggplant from a farmer at a farmers market. ask questions. the guy emptying a cardboard box of broccoli at a supermarket might know stuff, but maybe not. the guy that grew it, does. me and the farmer's market garlic dude, and the mushroom guy..we might be friends at this point. I asked a lot of questions.

fish? hit up seafood specially stores. ask questions, ask to smell things.

same goes for my butcher.

 

[M1k3]

In my area, I'd go to H Mart, S Mart, Tokyo Central Market, Vallarta/North Gate for higher quality (than the supermarket at the very least) foods. Whole Foods and Sprouts are other options.

For vegetables/fruits, farmers markets are hard to be beat for quality.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

I had a Mexican farmers market guy talk my darn ears off about TUNAS. the cactus fruit. now I'm hooked on them.

 

[Jovidah]

Get to know your suppliers. If they can't tell you anything useful, find a different one.

 

[Just a DK]

Squeeze veg and pick the firm one.

*does not apply to fruit.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

drives me nuts seeing people squeeze all the avocados. leaves them bruised.

an artichoke seller showed me how to pick a fresh one. it did involve taking one and snapping a tip off one of the thistle points. not sure a produce store would appreciate that move.

 

[Just a DK]

drives me nuts seeing people squeeze all the avocados. leaves them bruised.

I clearly have never done that. Nope. That avocado came bruised.

 

[sumis]

sometimes you get what you pay for. a farmers market can be just that.

some stuff is great frozen! like green peas, pearl onions.

every year i buy a share in a farm's crop. means that i get a bag of produce delivered every week from may throughout november. great stuff, organic, nice varieties, and its cheaper than the not so great stuff from the supermarket.

.

 

[MarcelNL]

read up a lot, ask questions, prefereably at farms, in small shops or markets with folks on the premises who buy the produce and tell them what you want to use it for...I often end up in Turkish and Asian shops for good veg....

Where I live we grow like 10% of the worlds vegg but supermarkets somehow forgot how to pick quality and go for price in recent years (aside from the fact that the supply lines are often ridiculous)

 

[dchang21]

sometimes restaurants are able to source better food than individuals buying retail. i dunno if you can buy through a distributor..

previously mentioned..farmers markets, food co ops, china towns, japan towns, korea towns, thai towns, little beiruts, little indias, french, jewish, latin quarters, really depends where you live..

fish and seafood, buy live if possible..

edit: chilis and mangoes. def at the indian grocery..

 

[Jovidah]

fish and seafood, buy live if possible..

So... pet store?

 

[dchang21]

So... pet store?

well, peruvians eat guinea pigs and some people eat rabbit, but i wouldn't ask the pet shop to gut and clean it for you.

 

[sanmateo]

So... pet store?

when I traveled in Asia my biggest surprise was the fish markets looked like aquariums. Even Wal*Mart had tanks of live fish, and nets you could use to fish out your selection.

 

[Michi]

when I traveled in Asia my biggest surprise was the fish markets looked like aquariums. Even Wal*Mart had tanks of live fish, and nets you could use to fish out your selection.

I so wish we had more of that here!

 

[sanmateo]

I found some photos I took. I don’t seem to have any from Walmart though

 

[Naftoor]

when I traveled in Asia my biggest surprise was the fish markets looked like aquariums. Even Wal*Mart had tanks of live fish, and nets you could use to fish out your selection.

If you’re lucky enough to live near an Hmart, they normally have a similar set up for live fish! Pretty big selection too, haven’t seen an equivalent in the states outside of actual fishmongers

 

[boomchakabowwow]

life would suck to be born a delicious fish.

hahah.. most of the tanks I see at our restaurants have fish in various stages of health. our Ranch99 has it.

I still go to a fish monger and poke and sniff test the fish myself. I don't need to see a grouper bludgeoned for me.