Hungry for Seafood? Here's How to Enjoy it on a Budget - Shockingly Simple Tips From the Experts!
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Australians are known for their love of the ocean and everything that comes with it, including a deep appreciation for seafood.
With the vast coastline and abundant marine life, seafood has long been a staple of the Australian culinary landscape.
Whether it's a classic fish and chips, a platter of freshly shucked oysters, or a succulent prawn, Aussies know how to make the most of their seafood.
But with good quality seafood often comes a hefty price tag - and in the current economic climate, the skyrocketing inflation crisis has left many of us swapping our 'luxury' grocery picks for cheaper alternatives.
Don't fret, members - the SDC has got you covered with expert advice from Sally Webb, Manager of the renowned Sydney Seafood School located at Sydney's famous Fish Markets.
As one of Sydney's leading seafood experts, Sally will share some valuable tips to help you navigate the world of seafood and make more informed choices.
One of the best tips for finding affordable seafood is to be flexible with your selections.
According to Sally, the availability and price of seafood can vary from day to day, depending on what is available at the fish market or your local fishmonger.
She recommended: 'The approach to take on affordability is - don’t go with a preconception of what you’re going to buy. See what the best value is and ask them what they think is the best because it’s going to vary from one day to another.'
For example, if you love flathead fish (which can retail for around $40 per kilo) but find it too expensive, the lesser-known ‘gurnard’ bears many similarities to flathead but is much cheaper.
Sally explained: ‘It has many of the same properties as flathead, the fillets are the same size and you can cook it the same way – and those were on sale for $20.99, so significantly cheaper.’
‘You can go into any retailer and find a fish in another species group, it's about changing your mindset. You'll be able to find something that suits your budget.’
Another great tip is to consider frozen seafood, especially during peak times like Christmas, Lunar New Year, and Easter when fresh seafood prices can soar.
‘One of my secret tricks, and I've done this for Christmas before, is to buy frozen prawns a couple of months ahead of Christmas and keep them in the freezer,’ the expert said.
Sally said frozen options, like prawns, can be just as tasty and of excellent quality.
She continued: ‘Most of the prawns you see at the fish market will have been snap frozen before. I wouldn't recommend buying prawns at the fish market and then freezing them, but if you buy frozen in advance they will still be of excellent quality.’
‘If you're not close to a fish market or don't have a local fishmonger, you can get it into your family's diet by using other varieties. It's not the end of the world to buy frozen, it can still be really good value and quality.’
During off-peak times, look for great value in Australian prawn varieties like school prawns instead of sticking to more expensive alternatives like tiger or banana prawns.
Sally pointed out: ‘It's one of those foods that isn't generally cheap, but there are clever ways to buy it.’
However, Webb does caution that ‘there is no point’ in saving a few dollars if the quality is compromised, so it's worth spending a little extra on Australian-caught prawns for a better taste.
‘I would also focus on buying Australian prawns. Because if you look at some supermarkets, they will have cheaper prawns, but they won't be Australian and they won't be as fresh,’ she advised.
There you have it, folks! Remember, you don’t always have to break the bank to treat yourself and your family to seafood.
So, don’t be scared to put these tips into practice and enjoy some delicious seafood dishes without putting too much strain on your wallet.
Also, why not share them with your friends and loved ones too? We all deserve to enjoy delicious seafood without breaking the bank!
Do you know other tips for scoring quality seafood on a budget? Share them with us in the comments below!
With the vast coastline and abundant marine life, seafood has long been a staple of the Australian culinary landscape.
Whether it's a classic fish and chips, a platter of freshly shucked oysters, or a succulent prawn, Aussies know how to make the most of their seafood.
But with good quality seafood often comes a hefty price tag - and in the current economic climate, the skyrocketing inflation crisis has left many of us swapping our 'luxury' grocery picks for cheaper alternatives.
Don't fret, members - the SDC has got you covered with expert advice from Sally Webb, Manager of the renowned Sydney Seafood School located at Sydney's famous Fish Markets.
As one of Sydney's leading seafood experts, Sally will share some valuable tips to help you navigate the world of seafood and make more informed choices.
There’s no denying that while Aussies love seafood, the skyrocketing living costs made it difficult for many to indulge in them. Credit: Shutterstock.
One of the best tips for finding affordable seafood is to be flexible with your selections.
According to Sally, the availability and price of seafood can vary from day to day, depending on what is available at the fish market or your local fishmonger.
She recommended: 'The approach to take on affordability is - don’t go with a preconception of what you’re going to buy. See what the best value is and ask them what they think is the best because it’s going to vary from one day to another.'
For example, if you love flathead fish (which can retail for around $40 per kilo) but find it too expensive, the lesser-known ‘gurnard’ bears many similarities to flathead but is much cheaper.
Sally explained: ‘It has many of the same properties as flathead, the fillets are the same size and you can cook it the same way – and those were on sale for $20.99, so significantly cheaper.’
‘You can go into any retailer and find a fish in another species group, it's about changing your mindset. You'll be able to find something that suits your budget.’
Another great tip is to consider frozen seafood, especially during peak times like Christmas, Lunar New Year, and Easter when fresh seafood prices can soar.
‘One of my secret tricks, and I've done this for Christmas before, is to buy frozen prawns a couple of months ahead of Christmas and keep them in the freezer,’ the expert said.
Sally said frozen options, like prawns, can be just as tasty and of excellent quality.
She continued: ‘Most of the prawns you see at the fish market will have been snap frozen before. I wouldn't recommend buying prawns at the fish market and then freezing them, but if you buy frozen in advance they will still be of excellent quality.’
‘If you're not close to a fish market or don't have a local fishmonger, you can get it into your family's diet by using other varieties. It's not the end of the world to buy frozen, it can still be really good value and quality.’
During off-peak times, look for great value in Australian prawn varieties like school prawns instead of sticking to more expensive alternatives like tiger or banana prawns.
Sally pointed out: ‘It's one of those foods that isn't generally cheap, but there are clever ways to buy it.’
However, Webb does caution that ‘there is no point’ in saving a few dollars if the quality is compromised, so it's worth spending a little extra on Australian-caught prawns for a better taste.
‘I would also focus on buying Australian prawns. Because if you look at some supermarkets, they will have cheaper prawns, but they won't be Australian and they won't be as fresh,’ she advised.
A summary of Sally Webb’s tips for scoring seafood on a budget. Credit: Seniors Discount Club.
There you have it, folks! Remember, you don’t always have to break the bank to treat yourself and your family to seafood.
So, don’t be scared to put these tips into practice and enjoy some delicious seafood dishes without putting too much strain on your wallet.
Also, why not share them with your friends and loved ones too? We all deserve to enjoy delicious seafood without breaking the bank!
Do you know other tips for scoring quality seafood on a budget? Share them with us in the comments below!
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