Freshwater catfish is one of the largest fish that lives in rivers and lakes of the European part of Russia and Europe. It can grow to gigantic sizes and gain weight up to 250-300 kg. True, no one has seen such giants for a long time. But smaller individuals are easily caught in fishermen’s nets. What are the benefits and harms of catfish for human health - more on that later.

What does catfish look like and where is it found?

The catfish has a large large head with a huge voracious mouth, on both sides of which there is one large mustache. Another 4 small antennae are located on the chin of the individual. They play the role of tentacles, with the help of which the individual easily finds food even in pitch darkness. The eyes of catfish are small, the teeth are small and sharp. The body is greatly elongated and covered with mucus, there are practically no scales. The tail is rounded and slightly resembles a fish. There are no adipose fins or spines on the fins.

The lifespan of catfish is up to 35 years. It is at this age that he has the greatest weight, but the meat is now coarse and tasteless. Fishermen prefer to eat younger fish, between 4 and 20 years old. Their weight at this moment ranges from 5 to 120 kg. As for color, it directly depends on where the individuals live. Color can vary from white to black. And one more thing: these fish prefer to live in fresh water bodies: in pools or deep holes. They can't stand turbidity.

Composition of catfish meat

The pulp of catfish is airy, soft, almost boneless. Contains many vitamins, including: A, group B, E, PP and C. Minerals include: calcium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, a lot of iodine, cobalt and many others. etc. (almost the entire periodic table!). This composition makes catfish very valuable. Its benefits to human health are difficult to overestimate. But there is practically no harm from eating the product.

Important! Catfish meat contains a huge amount of amino acids, especially lysine. Therefore, 200 grams of this product can replace a person’s daily intake of animal protein.

Calorie content and nutritional value of catfish

The product contains: proteins - 17.2 grams, fats - 5.1 g per 100 g of product. But there are no carbohydrates, which makes it very useful for consumption during various diets. The nutritional value of the fish is high. Since catfish contains only 2% connective tissue, it is easily absorbed by the body after cooking. This is very important for young children, teenagers and the elderly. As for calorie content, it depends on the type of heat treatment.

Based on the data provided, you can easily understand that the healthiest meat is dried, baked, stewed or steamed.

Useful properties of catfish

The beneficial properties of fish are due to its rich composition. Soma is good not only for healthy people who want to boost their immunity, but also for those who suffer, for example, from gastrointestinal and heart diseases, numerous viral diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and arterial hypertension. Or simply wants to improve the condition of his nervous system, nails or hair. In addition, it was observed that people who regularly consumed catfish were less susceptible to ischemia, strokes, cancer, night blindness and osteoarthritis. Therefore, doctors recommend using it to prevent these diseases.

Important! Fish meat also contains fatty acid, which helps prevent thrombosis and improve blood circulation.

Catfish fish for children

The benefits of catfish for a child’s health are also very noticeable. Eating this fish strengthens his bones, promotes better absorption of calcium, and normalizes the amount of nitrogen in the child’s body. But since the meat contains a little more fat than necessary, you can introduce catfish into the baby’s diet only after a year, not earlier. The permissible amount is up to 200 grams, no more than 1-2 times a week.

The benefits of catfish fish for weight loss

Beneficial properties include the presence of substances in the composition that help improve metabolism and, consequently, lose weight. Getting rid of extra pounds when eating this fish occurs due to the easy digestion and assimilation of its pulp. However, you need to remember that fried in fat or oil can do more harm than good. To use it during a diet, it is better to steam it or simply boil it.

Benefits and harms of catfish liver

It is worth mentioning separately about the beneficial properties of catfish liver. It contains fish oil, which is very valuable for the human body. This means that using the product allows you to:

• improve the condition of bone tissue;
• normalize the functioning of the digestive tract;
• improve memory and immunity;
• normalize concentration.

However, not everyone likes the taste of liver (or, perhaps, few people know how to cook it correctly?). There is no harm from consumption. The only contraindication is individual intolerance.

Is catfish caviar healthy?

Caviar is healthy because it contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (in particular Omega-3). Therefore, it is often used for frying and making pancakes. But caviar has found its greatest use in cosmetology. It is used to make special anti-aging face masks, as well as all kinds of creams and serums that ensure skin regeneration.

By the way, you can also create various cosmetics from caviar at home. But it is worth remembering that only fresh caviar is useful. Canned food may be harmful.

How to cook delicious catfish

The properties of the fish are such that you can cook anything from it. It can be cooked over coals, baked, fried, boiled and stewed. Kebabs, cutlets, goulash, steaks, soups, fish balls and other dishes are very tasty. The tail can be used to create pies and pies, and the head produces a delicious, rich soup. You can serve catfish with a side dish of potatoes, pasta, and various cereals.

This fish is good with sour cream, mayonnaise or cream. But it will bring special benefits if it is seasoned only with natural herbs and spices.

Important! The best way to cook catfish is to steam it in a slow cooker or a regular saucepan.

How to clean catfish at home

After reading the information about the benefits of catfish for the human body, you can move on to cleaning scales and fins. Everything needs to be done in the following sequence:

1. Cut off the tail (you can immediately wash and remove).
2. Clean the skin of mucus, immediately roll the catfish in coarse salt and leave for 5 minutes.
3. Rinse the carcass, scrape off the remaining mucus using a dull knife.
4. When the skin becomes light in color, begin gutting.
5. To do this, make a puncture at the base of the head and carefully cut the skin, moving towards the tail.
6. If the gallbladder is accidentally ruptured, the catfish should be covered with salt and left for a while, then rinsed.
7. Remove the entrails from the abdominal cavity, cut and remove the gills.
8. Remove the caviar, if any, and free it from the film.
9. Clean the carcass until the skin turns a light shade.
10. Remove the fins and rinse thoroughly.
11. Remove the skin by making an incision along the spine and immediately separate the fillet from the bones, first on one side, then on the other.

It is worth noting that catfish tend to smell strongly of mud or silt. To get rid of the unpleasant smell, you should soak the fish for a couple of hours in white wine or milk. Then rinse with water and dry with paper towels.

You can clean catfish in nature using ash. To do this, you need to wipe it on all sides and leave for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse well with the water you brought from home.

Harm to catfish and contraindications

Despite all its beneficial properties, catfish also has some contraindications. So, this fish should not be consumed by people prone to allergies of various kinds or suffering from individual intolerance to the product. Overeating can be harmful for women and men who have kidney or bladder problems. And also for those who have highly elevated blood cholesterol.

How to choose and store catfish correctly

You should choose, paying attention to the appearance of the fish and its size (smaller is better). The fillet should be white, spring back under your finger, and smell pleasant. The catfish should have a pleasant smell. If the catfish is not cleaned, you should also look at the gills. It's good if they are pink and without spots. If the fish is frozen, then it is better to choose the one that is in a vacuum container. After purchasing catfish, you should immediately cook it or put it in the refrigerator, as it tends to spoil quickly. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of catfish for the human body are ambiguous, but there are still more beneficial properties. In conclusion, you can watch a video on how to properly grill this fish.

The common catfish, which lives in the waters of most European countries, as well as in Russia, is distinguished by interesting characteristics of its physical body. It has an oblong head shape and a very long tail. This fish is famous for its unusual taste, so fishermen often try to catch it. Fishing is done not only with a hook, but also with silicone baits and lures.

Despite the variety of other fish species in fresh water bodies, many fishermen prefer this fish because it has a special taste and a fairly long, fleshy body.

This individual is one of the largest fish in fresh water bodies in most of Russia and Europe. She happens to be predator. The aggression of this fish extends not only to small fish, but can also even grab a small child or dog and drag it along with it. However, such cases have practically never occurred recently, since the number of this individual has greatly decreased due to its uncontrolled catching and poaching.

The color of this predator can be completely different, from dark gray to greenish. It has a large round head and many small and very sharp teeth. The catfish has two long whiskers that distinguish it from other species. The eyes are quite small compared to the head.

The weight of this predator is very large, it can even reach 400 kg. The longest individual found in Russian water bodies was about 4 meters. But on average the catfish does not grow more than 20 - 25 kg.

They usually live at the bottom of a body of fresh water, finding the deepest place for their residence. Therefore, to catch such an individual, skill is required. Their activity decreases in winter, but increases again in spring. All winter they stay in the deepest hole and do not crawl out of it.

The prey of this predator are small fish, frogs, river mollusks and all sorts of small animals that can get into the water. At the same time, the catfish does not hunt spontaneously; it waits for its prey and suddenly rushes at it, grabbing it with its small and sharp teeth.

Catfish can also eat drowned animals or birds that fall into the water. He is often called a water orderly, since in this way he cleans water bodies of decay and decay products.

Benefit

This predator contains not only essential amino acids, but also the following substances:

• B vitamins.
• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin RR.
• Vitamin C.
• Vitamin E.
• Magnesium.
• Phosphorus.
• Fluorine.
• Potassium.
• Calcium.
• Chromium.
• Zinc.
• Iron.
• Copper.

The presence of a large number of useful components helps improve appetite, elevate mood and improve a person’s well-being.

Nutritionists greatly value the meat of these individuals, as it is extremely beneficial for the entire human body. It has a positive effect on:

1. Liver.
2. Heart.
3. Kidneys.
4. Gastrointestinal tract.
5. Nervous system.

It is useful to consume dishes from this predator for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children over three years of age. It is also extremely beneficial for older people to eat this meat. The desired amount to eat is a portion of approximately 250 - 300 grams three - four times a week.

The meat of this fish is low in calories. It contains about 115 kcal per 100 g. Therefore, nutritionists recommend consuming it for people who are obese or those who want to lose weight.

Soma does not contain carbohydrates, so it is completely digested without being stored as fat. Its nutritional value is very high. A person will feel full after eating a small piece of this nutritious meat.

Catfish is useful for improving digestion, strengthening bone tissue, improving the appearance of nails, skin and hair, as it contains a significant amount of valuable components.

Harm

Like any fish, catfish has some restrictions on its intake. It is contraindicated for those who suffer from the following problems:

• Allergy.
• People who suffer from urolithiasis when eating smoked or salted meat.

In general, catfish is completely safe to eat if cooked properly and thoroughly. It is often given to young children over 2-3 years of age, since it contains a large amount of amino acids and other valuable components.

Dishes from this specimen varied. You can steam it, fry it, boil it, stew it, or bake it in the oven. The most common recipe is catfish soup. It is prepared extremely simply. For cooking you will need a small fish, pre-cleaned and cut. Bones must be removed as much as possible. The meat is boiled until half cooked, then finely chopped potatoes, fried carrots and onions are added to the broth, as well as salt and pepper to taste.

Some people say that river fish have taste and smell of mud. To eliminate it, you need to soak the meat in a citric acid solution for about half an hour before you start cooking. During this time, citric acid will completely dissolve all foreign odors and tastes. Also, a good recipe for getting rid of the taste and smell of mud is to soak it in milk. In this case, you need to soak it about 40 minutes.

In order to choose the right catfish for yourself, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the color and shape of the body. It must be of the correct, even shape and have no foreign odor. If the purchase is to be frozen, then you should pay attention to the product in a vacuum. Such packaging preserves the quality of the meat and allows it to be stored for a longer period.

• Where does grenadier live? ↓
• Benefits and harms ↓
• Nutritional value ↓
• Use in cooking ↓

Macrurus unites a whole genus of deep-sea marine fish, the fishing of which plays an important role in the food industry. To date, more than three hundred of its species are known.

Where does grenadier live?

This fish is classified as a cod-like fish and has the following features:

The habitats of grenadier are:

• waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans;
• Arctic;
• Antarctica.

In addition, the fish’s habitat is the cold waters washing the shores of Russia. It can be found on the coasts of Kamchatka, the Commander or Kuril Islands in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

Macrurus lives at great depths. At first, young fish are found near the surface of the water, and with age they descend to the bottom layers.

Benefits and harms

The specific appearance of the fish is justified by its beneficial properties. Meat is rich in vitamins:

• C, B and A;
• iron;
• manganese;
• phosphorus;
• calcium;
• potassium;
• iodine

Grenadier meat is easily digestible and digestible. Therefore, it can be eaten before training or other activities that require physical strength.

Macrurus is very useful for young children and the elderly. The only negative qualities of grenadier include its high cost and contraindications for use by pregnant women, during the lactation period, and by allergy sufferers.

How to catch more fish?

I have been active fishing for quite some time and have found many ways to improve the bite. And here are the most effective:

1. Bite activator. Attracts fish in cold and warm water with the help of pheromones included in the composition and stimulates its appetite. It’s a pity that Rosprirodnadzor wants to impose a ban on its sale.
2. More sensitive gear. Reviews and instructions for other types of gear can be found on the pages of my website.
3. Lures using pheromones.

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading our other articles on the site.

The nutritional value

The main positive quality of fish is its low calorie content. It is perfect for dietary nutrition. Meat is useful for post-operative recovery and for problems with the musculoskeletal system.

One hundred grams of raw fish accounts for 67.6 kcal. The meat contains 13.3 grams of protein and 1.6 grams of fat. Grenadier meat does not contain carbohydrates.

Use in cooking

Macrurus has tender, lean meat, which is why it is very widely used in cooking. In fish, its caviar and liver are valued, so they are salted in large quantities. There are spines on the body, for this reason it is most often sold as fillets, frozen.

This fish produces very tasty fish soup, which has a delicate taste and aroma. You can fish:

• bake in the oven;
• salt;
• dry;
• marinate;
• make minced meat or puree from it.

The fish meat is a little watery, so you need to fry it carefully. The fish begins to burn and spread throughout the pan. For this reason, fish needs to be cooked for a certain period of time. Otherwise, the meat will be dry or burnt.

To cook grenadier at home, you need to know a few tricks:

1. Most often, for any dish they take a whole carcass without a tail and head or a ready-made fillet.
2. When choosing a grenadier in a store, you need to pay attention to its appearance. If you suspect that the fish has been defrosted several times, it is better not to take it. In this case, you won’t be able to prepare the desired dish: the fish will turn into mush or burn.
3. You need to defrost the fillet in the refrigerator. If you do this using a microwave or hot water, the meat will spoil.
4. You need to fry grenadier in a deep frying pan with thick sides and bottom. Before doing this, the vegetable oil needs to be heated well. Pieces of fish for two minutes on each side over high heat.
5. The fish turns out to be very tasty if you bake it in the oven;
6. During stewing, the fish turns into a watery mess.

The grenadier fishery began relatively recently. This is due to the fact that fish live almost at the bottom of the seas. But lovers of gourmet dishes have already appreciated its beneficial properties, and the tender pink meat will not leave everyone indifferent. Longtail liver and caviar make up one tenth of its weight, so in most countries of the world they are considered a delicacy.

The fish meat tastes a little sweet, white or pink in color. It resembles shrimp, but does not have the specific smell of fish. The skeleton of the longtail consists of a small number of bones that are easily separated from the meat, and the caviar resembles salmon in taste and appearance.

The longtail fishery is growing every year. And world-famous culinary experts come up with unusual recipes that delight gourmets and lovers of delicious food.

Now only mine bites!

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Medical reference / Food / C Som Catfish is a fish of the catfish family. Differs in large sizes. On average, this fish is about 3 meters long and can weigh even 150 kg. It lives in fresh water bodies, for example, in the Azov, Caspian, Black and other seas. A distinctive feature of the catfish is not only that it has a mustache, but also that it does not have an adipose fin or spines on its fins. It feeds on small marine life, including crustaceans, fish and shellfish. Sometimes it can feed on waterfowl, as well as domestic animals and even carrion. Properties of catfish The catfish is brown in color, but has different shades. They are also influenced by the habitat of the fish. So, it can be from yellow to black. Occasionally you can find albino fish. A catfish can live for several decades, but not more than 35 years, although there are exceptions to this rule. The calorie content of catfish is 115 kcal per 100 g, which is not much for fish. Benefits of catfish This fish contains a rich chemical composition, which determines the benefits of fillet. It is rich in vitamins A, C, E and a group of vitamins B. In addition to vitamins, it also contains a large number of minerals. Due to its low calorie content, fish can be classified as a dietary product that can be included in a weight loss menu. Most often, catfish fillet is chosen by pregnant women, women who have recently given birth and those who have weakened immune systems. Due to the fact that fish contains a small amount of calories, but is highly nutritious and has a range of useful chemicals, catfish fillet not only gives energy, but also improves the condition of the skin, hair, nails, and strengthens the immune system and nervous system. Application of catfish Cooking catfish is very easy, and this is also appreciated in cooking. It is very easy to get rid of the scales of this fish, and the meat itself has an extremely low bone content. Thanks to these properties, fish can be cooked very quickly without wasting time on pre-processing. Before cooking, it is enough to get rid of the head, fins and gut the insides. Then you can cut the fish into pieces and start cooking. However, catfish have one peculiarity - the smell of mud. Sometimes it is precisely because of this that this fish is abandoned in favor of others. Getting rid of this smell is simple: you need to soak the fillet in lemon juice for 30 minutes or in milk, although this will take longer - several hours. It is noteworthy that the fat in this fish is not evenly distributed, and because of this feature, the fillet can be used to prepare different dishes. The tail part contains the most calories, juiciness and fat, so it can be used to make pie or balyk. But the head section is recommended to be used for preparing fish soup. The middle part is suitable for preparing cutlets, kebabs and other dishes. You can “play” with the calorie content of catfish - it can change depending on the cooking method. If it is important to consume as little fat and calories as possible, then it is best to steam, boil or bake the fish, but do not use oil. If the amount of calories and fat is unimportant, then you can cook the fish in any way, for example, fry it in vegetable oil, adding sour cream or sauce to the finished dish. Harm to catfish This fish has no special contraindications, however, it is worth considering that catfish, like other fish, can be an allergen, so individual intolerance to fish is possible, in which the use of this product is strictly prohibited.

The benefits and harms of catfish for human health

by darum

Catfish is the largest predator among all freshwater fish.. Any aquatic predator could envy its gluttony: the catfish’s diet includes not only fish and large shellfish, but even frogs and small birds. Sometimes the prey of a catfish may be in no way inferior to it in weight or volume, but this happens extremely rarely, due to the lack of lighter and smaller prey. The catfish does not hesitate to eat various food waste that gets into its reservoir.

Description of catfish

Catfish fish are easily recognizable. Catfish can be distinguished from other large freshwater predatory fish by their large, blunt (in terms of shape) head. On this head there is a huge voracious mouth, from which one large mustache extends to the left and right. The catfish has four small antennae on its chin. The catfish's whiskers act as tentacles that help the catfish find food even in conditions of complete darkness and turbidity of the muddy bottom. The fact is that the catfish, despite its huge head, has very small eyes.

The catfish has brushes of small and sharp teeth in its mouth.. The body of the fish has an elongated shape with very small, tightly fitting scales (almost naked). The tail of the catfish is elongated and not too fish-like. As for color, the catfish is almost black on top, and its belly is dirty white.

The lifespan of a catfish is approximately 25 to 35 years. A four-year-old catfish weighs about 5 kg; by the age of eight, the catfish has already gained up to 16 kg of weight. Further, more: a 15-year-old catfish weighs 30-40 kg, and at 20 years old a catfish can weigh from 60 to 120 kg. Among fishermen there are legends about 5-meter catfish weighing as much as 300 kg!

They say that in the 30s of the 20th century such giants were still caught in the nets of fishing cooperatives. According to the scientific community, the age of such a heavyweight can even reach 100 years. But today such catches are no longer heard of, and in most cases specimens that weigh 10-20 kilos are caught.

Where does the catfish swim?

Catfish is a heat-loving fish. Its favorite habitat is whirlpools and cluttered river holes.. The largest representation of catfish is observed in the basins of the Black, Azov, Caspian and Aral seas, as well as in the pre-estuary and deltas of the Volga and Don. Catfish can also be found in the West. Dvina, Dnieper and Pripyat, but due to the fact that the river beds are being cleaned and the flows of small rivers are straightening, the catfish is gradually disappearing.

The catfish is “encrypted” at depth in large holes, which are located closer to the riverbed, where the catfish hunts. Catfish pit- this is necessarily a blockage of fallen trees, dead wood and driftwood, which serves as an excellent camouflage for a catfish sitting in ambush, and also protects it from strong currents.

In fact, catfish do not like fast currents and enter the riverbed exclusively for the purpose of obtaining food. Therefore, a catfish hole always has two exits: one for forays to hunt in the riverbed, and the other for stranding.

Interested in catching bleak in winter? The article will tell you about the basic techniques for catching this fish in winter.

In this article you will learn how to catch carp using feeder tackle in the spring.

How and with what do catfish eat

Catfish meat is quite tasty. It has few bones (only the backbone) and is fatty. Catfish can be prepared in various ways: boiled, fried, stewed, baked, stuffed, etc. For example, the head and fins of catfish can be used to make broth or fish soup. Catfish baked in the oven is a soft and delicate-tasting meat, saturated with the aromas of onions, herbs and various spices added to it.

Catfish tastes good in a spicy sauce and fruit. True, the meat of a larger individual may become somewhat harsh after heat treatment..

Due to the fact that catfish is a rather oily fish, its meat cannot be stored for a long time, because The catfish fat becomes rancid.

Nutritional and chemical value of catfish

The calorie content of catfish meat is estimated at 115 kcal. It contains 17.2 g of proteins, 5.1 g of fat, as well as a lot of proteins, which is very important for increasing the energy balance in the human body. In addition, catfish is practically the entire periodic chemical table in one fish.

There is calcium and potassium, sodium, phosphorus, manganese, chlorine, sulfur, iron, iodine (a lot along with cobalt), chromium, manganese and much more. Catfish meat contains vitamins A, B1,2,6,9, C, E, PP.

How catfish is useful and dangerous

Catfish meat is rich in amino acids(especially lysine), which allows 200 g of fish meat to replace the daily intake of animal protein. By the way, if a person’s diet contains products containing grains, then eating catfish meat can be an excellent addition to the general diet, because Cereals have very low amino acid content.

Catfish contains only 2% connective tissue- skin, bones and ligaments. That is why catfish meat is easily digested, which is important for people who are sedentary, sick, as well as children and adolescents whose growing bodies require protein. For example, in beef or pork, connective tissue accounts for 8% or more.

Catfish meat is an antioxidant. It has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, mucous membranes, digestive and nervous systems. Eating catfish meat helps regulate blood sugar levels.

However, there have been cases where eating catfish meat causes allergic reactions..

This article will tell you about reins silicone baits.

In this article you will get acquainted with catching catfish using kwok.

In this section http://lovisam.net/vidy-lovli/zimnya you will find information about winter fishing.

In contact with

Phosphorus and calcium help maintain the strength of bone tissue, and the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids helps fight cholesterol deposits in blood vessels, and therefore prevent strokes and heart attacks.

A special feature of the protein that makes up catfish meat is the presence of essential amino acids, that is, those that cannot be synthesized in the body and come only with food, such as lysine.

Vitamin A ensures the normal functioning of the organ of vision. If it is insufficiently supplied from food, hemeralopia can develop, more popularly known as “night blindness,” manifested by loss of vision in the dark.

This vitamin belongs to the group of fat-soluble vitamins. Therefore, its absorption from food is possible only if the required amount of fat is present in the diet. This factor is taken into account by nature in the composition of catfish.

Using catfish in cosmetology

Catfish meat is often recommended by cosmetologists for the nutrition of women suffering from protein deficiency in their diet due to long-term adherence to an incorrectly formulated diet. This helps to quickly fill the deficiency and thus fight dullness and hair loss, and brittle nails.

Fresh caviar of this fish is used as a base or one of the ingredients for face masks. It is also used by various companies to produce cosmetics that provide a rejuvenating and regenerating effect on the skin.

At home, you can add other components to catfish caviar, which are selected depending on your skin type. But it should be remembered that only a fresh product can be effective, and canned caviar, as well as those exposed to salt, cannot be used for cosmetic purposes.

Catfish meat for weight loss

It should be noted here that a decrease in excess body weight is possible when the amount of energy expended by the body exceeds that received as a result of the breakdown of food.

The average (not very high and not very low) content of kilocalories in the edible part of catfish allows it to be included in the diet of people trying to lose weight. An important factor in this situation is the amount of this fish consumed per day, as well as the nature of the culinary processing and the products used together.

Thus, the use of various types of fats during cooking leads to an increase in the calorie content of the dish, which means it can negate all efforts to follow a diet for weight loss. Like any other fish, it is better to boil catfish in a small amount of water, bake with vegetables in foil or grill.

Good to know

The maximum length of a catfish can reach 5 meters, and its weight can be 300 kg. However, such individuals are quite rare. Most often, the weight of this fish is 20-60 kg. This range of indicators is due to the age of the individual and its habitat.

A common problem is the smell of mud from this fish. To combat it, a solution of citric acid is used, in which catfish meat is soaked for 30-40 minutes, as well as milk, soaking in which lasts several hours.

Especially for netkilo.ru – Tatyana P.

Catfish is the largest freshwater predator. It lives in whirlpools and littered river holes, and can weigh up to 300 kg! Such giants, scientists believe, are usually 80-100 years old! True, I haven’t heard of any fishermen being so lucky. More often you come across catfish weighing 10-20 kg.

In terms of its external characteristics, catfish are easily distinguished from all other fish. It has a huge, blunt head, a large mouth, from which extend two large whiskers, and four chin antennae. Whiskers are a kind of tentacles with the help of which the catfish finds food even in the dark. And what is surprising - with such large dimensions - are very small eyes. The tail is long and not much like a fish.

The body color of the catfish is variable - almost black on top, but the belly is usually dirty white. His body is naked, without scales.

Useful properties of catfish

Catfish meat is almost boneless (backbone), fatty, soft and tender with a sweetish taste. It is usually fried or poached before consumption.

Catfish contains macro and microelements such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, iron, zinc, iodine, copper, manganese, chromium, fluorine, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel. Catfish meat contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B9, C, E, PP. It also contains large quantities of fats and proteins, which are sources of energy for the human body.

Catfish meat contains all the amino acids and is valued higher than vegetable protein. By consuming approximately 200 g of fish meat, you can meet your daily requirement for animal protein, because the proportion of essential amino acids in fish is very high. Its content of the amino acid lysine is especially high, but it is low in grain crops, so fish is especially well suited as a supplement to foods containing grains.

The body of fish contains only 2% connective tissue (bones, ligaments and skin), while beef and pork contain 8 to 10%, and sometimes more. Due to the low content of connective tissue, fish is easier and faster to digest than the meat of mammals, which is important for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Fish is useful for both children and young people who have a great need for protein during growth, as well as for the sick.

Catfish meat is good for the health of the skin, mucous membranes, nervous and digestive systems, it perfectly regulates blood sugar, and also contains an antioxidant.

Catfish also accumulate their fat in their innards - the fat-rich liver of cod and burbot is most famous. Fatty fish cannot be stored for long periods of time because the fat goes rancid quickly.

Holds the record for the presence of iodine and cobalt

Dangerous properties of catfish

There may be cases of individual intolerance to the meat of this fish.

Video showing catfish swimming near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Beautiful, large creatures in their natural environment.

Catfish (Silurus) Description Catfish is the most voracious and largest predator of fresh waters; it eats not only fish, but also does not disdain frogs, small birds, and also devours food waste that falls into the river, large mollusks, etc. It has an elongated body, densely covered with small fish. sitting scales, a huge head, and the mouth is equipped with brushes of small but sharp teeth. The catfish is capable of swallowing prey, sometimes not much inferior to it in volume and weight (however, it succeeds extremely rarely; most often its food is small bottom fish, mollusks and crayfish). Under favorable conditions, the weight of a catfish at the age of 4 years is approximately 5 kg, at 8 years old - 16 kg, at 15 years old it ranges from 30 to 40 kg, at 20 years old - from 60 to 120 kg. The maximum age of catfish is 25-35 years. The catfish has a wide mouth with two long barbels on the upper jaw and four short barbels on the lower jaw. With the help of these sensors, he manages to find mollusks in the mud. Spreading This heat-loving fish reaches its greatest numbers in the basins of the Caspian, Aral, Azov and Black Seas, mainly in the pre-estuary spaces and deltas of the Volga and Don rivers. This fish is not found in the Arctic Ocean basin. At the end of the 30s, fishing crews caught catfish weighing over 300 kg and more than 5 m long. Now such specimens are not found. Catfish live in most cases in deep holes located near the riverbed. Catfish pits are often filled with fallen trees, driftwood and dead wood. All this serves as a shelter for him from strong currents and at the same time as an ambush site. Catfish do not like fast currents and enter the main channel only during hunting. The hole where the catfish lives usually has one exit to the main channel, the other always opens onto a shoal or a long ridge of riffles. Due to the clearing of rivers from tree debris and the straightening of small rivers, in many places the catfish disappears completely or becomes rare. It is still found in the Dnieper, Pripyat, Western Dvina, but is no longer numerous in the Berezina. Application The meat of this small fish is quite tasty, but in larger catfish the meat becomes tough after cooking. Fish can be baked, stewed, stuffed, boiled, fried and made into cutlet mass, and an excellent broth for fish soup can be made from the head and fins. Catfish baked in the oven turns out incredibly tasty, because in this case the meat becomes very tender and soft, saturated with the aroma of spices, herbs and onions. This fish is very tasty when cooked with fruits and a spicy sauce. Contraindications May sometimes cause allergic reactions. Calorie content and nutritional value of catfish Calorie content of catfish - 115 kcal. Nutritional value of catfish: proteins - 17.2 g, fats - 5.1 g, carbohydrates - 0 g Lady Mail.Ru

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The common catfish, or European catfish as it is also called, is a fairly large fish that belongs to the catfish family. For the most part, this fish lives in the bottom part of any fresh water bodies. The largest population of catfish lives in the basins of the Caspian, Aral, Azov and Black Seas.

Catfish is the largest freshwater fish

A medium-sized catfish reaches a length of about 3 meters and can weigh up to one and a half centners. This is the largest freshwater fish. Catfish are distinguished by the absence of an adipose fin and the absence of spines on their unpaired fins. The characteristic whiskers located above the upper jaw are a distinctive feature of catfish.

The color of the catfish is brown with a variation of shades from dark brown to greenish brown. In addition, the habitat also affects the color of the fish. Depending on its habitat, catfish can be either black or light yellow. A very rare species of fish is the albino catfish, which, although rare, is found in nature.

The main food of catfish are fry, aquatic insects and crustaceans. More mature individuals feed on mollusks, other freshwater and small fish. And the largest catfish can even feed on pets and waterfowl. The fish also does not disdain carrion.

The lifespan of catfish does not exceed 35 years, although science also knows long-lived catfish, whose age is measured in tens of years.

Useful properties, calorie content and composition of catfish meat

Catfish fillet contains the entire list of B vitamins and is rich in vitamins A, C, E. Among the microelements contained in catfish meat are zinc, magnesium, fluorine, cobalt, manganese, chromium, copper, potassium and iron.

It is thanks to the high content of essential acids and proteins in this fish that catfish meat is considered very tasty and nutritious. However, with all this, the calorie content of catfish is by no means high - per 100 grams. fish accounts for only 115 kilocalories. This amount of calories makes it possible to classify catfish fillet as a dietary product.

Catfish is most popular among pregnant women, among parents of small children and among people with weak immune systems. The low calorie content, high nutritional value of catfish and a variety of microelements help strengthen a weakened body, restore strength and energy balance. Nutritionists have proven that eating catfish helps improve the condition of hair, nails and skin, and also has a positive effect on the functioning of the general nervous system.

Methods for preparing catfish

A fresh fish carcass, in addition to excellent taste and energy abundance, also has excellent properties that any cook will undoubtedly appreciate: fish scales are easily separated from the skin, and there are practically no bones in the meat. Such fish, without a doubt, can be prepared very easily. To do this, you just need to cut off the head and fins from the carcass and gut the abdomen. After these simple procedures, you just need to cut the fish into portions.

Often a catfish carcass is accompanied by the smell of mud. It is this that often becomes the reason for refusing to eat catfish fillet. You can get rid of the smell in a simple way: soak the carcass in lemon juice for an hour or in milk for a couple of hours.

Another excellent feature of fish is the ability to vary the calorie content of a dish prepared from it. Fat is unevenly distributed throughout the carcass. There are much more calories in the tail than in the area near the head; the tail is more nutritious, fatty and juicy. That is why balyk and pies with catfish are mostly prepared from it. The head part is most suitable for preparing fish soup.

The rest makes excellent cutlets, kebabs, goulash and other dishes. Calorie content may also differ depending on the method of preparation: people who monitor their health and weight are advised to steam the catfish, bake without adding oil, or simply boil it. The rest can simply enjoy fried or smoked catfish with sour cream and various sauces.