SNP offering tips to Americans cooking seafood at home

As frozen, fresh, and canned/pouched seafood sales continue to break records in the United States, consumers need help preparing the seafood they have purchased. To that end, the Seafood Nutrition Partnership (SNP) is offering a new Instagram Live and video series – which started on 1 April – as well as a new resource on budget-friendly seafood options, and other materials.

“A bright side of this unfortunate public health situation is that more people are at home experimenting with new recipes, learning to cook different foods, and having fun improvising with the items in their pantry," SNP President Linda Cornish told SeafoodSource. "We hope people come out of this experience feeling more confident cooking with seafood and we are here to help them along the journey.” 

The "#CookTogether with @Seafood4Health Instagram LIVE" series starts on 1 April at 5:00 EST, with Linda Cornish cooking shrimp pesto pasta from her home kitchen. “In a Half Shell” blogger and oyster expert Julie Qiu is also slated to do a live episode for the series on 3 April focused on “fun and easy ways to enjoy oysters at home,” Cornish said.

SNP has assembled a list of tips for consumers to take into consideration when preparing seafood at home. Suggestions from the organization include:

1. Create a healthy routine: While staying at home, keep a consistent schedule for work and personal activities, move throughout the day, and eat healthy meals. “Adding seafood and omega-3s to a balanced diet can help keep your immune system functioning at its best,” Cornish said in an email to consumers.
2. Stocking your pantry with frozen and canned seafood: Frozen seafood can be defrosted in 15 minutes or less, and canned seafood offers no-cook meal options. “See our recipes online, which can be easily adapted to the ingredients you have on hand,” Cornish said.
3. Supporting SNP’s retail and foodservice partners: "Give thanksto those that are on the front lines at this time and encourage patience and flexibility. Our food supply chain is strong,” Cornish said.

Consumers are encouraged to order takeout or buy a gift card from their favorite restaurants for the #GreatAmericanTakeout, and to sign the National Restaurant Association petition to help with #RestaurantRecovery, SNP said.

Photo courtesy of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership