Can You Eat Cod Raw?

Fans of sushi will know that this popular food incorporates many different types of raw fish. If you’re used to eating your fish cooked, this can sound like a strange concept!

But can you eat raw cod? If you’re wondering if you can eat raw cod, the answer is no! This is because cod can contain a parasite that is killed during the cooking process, making it safe to eat. Raw cod has a dense, watery texture that many people do not find palatable, and this fish is greatly improved by cooking.

Let’s find out everything you need to know about cod and how to make it safe to eat!

What Is Cod Fish?

Cod is a large type of fish that lives in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a popular fish in culinary terms, as it has firm, white flesh that holds together well when cooked.

The large size of the fish means that it yields substantial-sized fillets which are easy to cook—great for people who hate finding bones in their fish!

In terms of flavor, cod is at the milder end of the fishy spectrum and has a subtle taste with milky undertones. Cod is quite lean and not at all oily, making it a healthy choice.

Can You Eat Raw Cod?

Although we’re all accustomed to eating fish cooked, some types of fish can be eaten raw!

This is a whole different sensation in terms of taste and texture and is the basis of popular cuisines such as sashimi and sushi. But can codfish be eaten raw?

In theory, cod can be eaten raw, but it is very hazardous for humans to eat cod that has not been cooked. Unless it has been prepared for you by a reputable chef or supplier, it is not advisable to eat cod raw.

And no, this does not mean that you can eat the cod from your fishmongers without cooking it. Certain precautions must be taken before eating raw cod. 

So, generally speaking, stay away from the raw cod, unless it has been prepared in a restaurant for you!

Why Is It Not Safe To Eat Raw Cod?

The reason that raw cod is not safe to eat is that it can contain a parasite that is detrimental to human health.

Not all cod carry this parasite, a type of roundworm, but it is enough of a risk for the food safety authorities to advise that codfish is cooked before consumption.

If consumed, these parasites will cause digestive problems such as nausea and stomach pain. The symptoms are very similar to food poisoning, and equally as unpleasant!

OK, so you’re probably feeling a bit queasy right now. Worms in fish? Yuck!

It is important to remember that the suppliers of cod will do everything they can to ensure that our cod is worm-free.

This includes fishing in areas where the cod are less likely to have worms and using processes to ensure that cod with a large worm burden do not enter the food chain.

However, despite their best efforts, it is virtually impossible to make sure that all cod sold for human consumption is free from worms. So, if we want to eat cod, we need to carry on cooking it!

What Does Raw Cod Taste Like?

The other reason that raw cod is not commonly included in sushi dishes is that it is not particularly tasty. The flesh of raw cod is dense and watery, with a mild fishy flavor.

Cod, along with other types of fish such as pollock and haddock, develops a much more appealing flavor and texture when it is cooked.

So, not only will raw cod most likely give you a nasty stomach upset, but it also doesn’t taste particularly pleasant either!

When it comes to cod, unless you’ve got an expert chef preparing it for you, don’t take the risk and make sure it is cooked thoroughly.

How To Make Raw Cod Safe To Eat

You may come across raw cod in specialist restaurants, but how do they ensure that it is safe to eat?

Specialist sushi chefs undergo many years of training to learn the techniques involved in preparing raw fish. They will understand how to store and handle fish correctly to avoid bacterial contamination.

They will also know how to identify parasite contamination in a fish, helping them to almost fully eliminate the risks involved in eating raw fish.

If you are preparing cod at home, it is unlikely that you would have the level of expertise necessary to make it safe to eat without cooking it.

This is a skill that takes time and patience to learn, under expert tuition. So, how can we make raw cod safe to eat?

Cooking Raw Cod

The most obvious way to ensure that raw cod is safe to eat is by cooking it. This will make sure that any parasites lurking inside are killed before the fish is consumed.

Many different methods can be used to cook cod fillets, including shallow frying, deep-frying, baking, and grilling.

The firm texture of cod makes it great for including in stews and casseroles, and it also holds batter and breadcrumbs well when deep-fried.

Freezing Raw Cod

Remember those horrible little parasites we were worried about? Well, freezing the cod will kill any parasites lurking inside, making it safe to eat.

This doesn’t mean that you can just pop it into your freezer at home for a few hours though. Home freezers do not reach low enough temperatures to be sure that any parasites have been killed.

To be on the safe side, buy commercially frozen fish that has been frozen for at least 7 days.

However, when defrosted, the flesh of raw cod is even more watery and unpleasant, so you will be unlikely to find this form of cod on your local sushi bar menu anytime soon!

Smoked Cod

For fans of smoked fish, you will probably be more familiar with smoked mackerel and haddock than smoked cod. But can you smoke cod, and does this make it safe to eat?

It all depends on the type of smoking process used, as the temperature needs to be hot enough to kill any parasites lurking in the fish. Two types of smoking can be used: hot smoking and cold smoking.

When foods are cold smoked, the temperatures reached are normally around 80°F. This is not sufficient to kill any parasites present in codfish, and cold-smoked fish is not a suitable way to prepare raw cod.

However, if the raw cod is hot smoked, it will reach temperatures of around 185 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that it is safe to eat, as well as give the fish a delicate smoky flavor.

Related Questions

Now that we’ve gone into the dangers of eating raw cod, let’s take a look at a few related questions on the subject!

What fish can you eat raw?

If you want to give eating raw fish a try, the best place to start is with salmon and tuna. These are the two types of fish that are safest to eat raw, with very little or no risk of parasite infestation.

However, there are certain other precautions you should take when eating raw fish. Bacterial contamination is a big risk in uncooked fish, and steps must be taken to keep bacterial contamination to a minimum.

Ensure that the fish is as fresh as possible, ideally within 1-2 days of being caught. It should be kept chilled at all times until you are ready to consume it.

Can you cook frozen cod?

One of the great things about cod is that it can be cooked from frozen, and in fact, this is often regarded as the best way to cook cod! It is easy to overcook cod, and cooking it from frozen makes it less likely that this will happen.

Cod can be baked in the oven from frozen, either alone or with a marinade or sauce. It can also be cooked from frozen in the air fryer, deep fryer, or even on the grill.

For best results, only cook cod from frozen if it is cut into thin, evenly sliced fillets. Uneven or thicker fillets will not cook at the same rate, and the thinner areas may be overcooked or the thicker section still raw.

How do I know if my cod is cooked?

A quick visual inspection is the best way to tell if codfish is cooked.

Press the flesh of the cod fillet with a fork; firm flakes of flesh should lift away easily if the cod is cooked. It should also have changed color, from translucent to a milky white shade.

If you have a cooking thermometer, check the internal temperature of your fish. Temperatures of 145°F or above mean that the cod is fully cooked.

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