Cod and haddock are cod fish species. Despite some similarities, the two species differ in appearance, composition, and nutritional value.
Nutritional value and value of haddock and cod
Cod and haddock are popular commercial fish species. They belong to the cod family and are presented on the shelves of modern fish shops and supermarkets in chilled, frozen, salted and pickled form.
Compared to cod, haddock has a more delicate texture and richer chemical composition. That is why haddock is valued much higher and has a higher price tag. To find out how much both of these types cost, you need to study the prices in the market or in the store. In different regions and at different trading floors, fish prices can vary significantly.
Often unscrupulous sellers try to sell cod under the guise of haddock. This allows them to sell the product at a higher cost.
In order not to fall for the tricks of dishonest sellers or manufacturers who incorrectly label their goods, you should give preference to uncut fresh or frozen fish. If the fish is cut into pieces or fillets without skin, it can be very difficult to establish whether the product belongs to any species.
Manufacturers often cover frozen products with a thick layer of glaze. This becomes an additional obstacle on the way to establishing the type of fish.
It is advisable not to buy fish in the store in the form of minced meat, since in this case producers very often replace haddock meat with meat from even cheaper representatives of the cod family. As a rule, for these purposes they use such fish as blue whiting, which in some countries is considered a fodder species, since it has a low nutritional value.
How to tell cod from haddock
On the surface of the cod, you can see small and very weak scales, which can be easily removed. Haddock scales are larger and more dense. Often, producers clean the fish on purpose so that the buyer cannot distinguish between cod and haddock by the size and type of scales.
If the haddock is peeled off the scales, this should alert the buyer, as producers usually do not clean these types of fish.
A light stripe runs along the lateral line of the cod. Haddock is characterized by the presence of dark streaks along the entire body. Most often, these stripes are almost black.
There are black spots above each of the haddock pectoral fins. Cod lacks such marks.
Knowing about all the features of both types and purchasing goods in the store uncut or in the form of a carcass, you can easily distinguish haddock from cod.
