Snapper

Published on

January 23, 2014

The name red snapper has been foisted off on just about any fish that is red. However, the FDA insists that only American red snapper, L. campechanus, can be legally shipped interstate bearing the authentic red snapper label. Beware of “snapper” sold on the West Coast; it could actually be rockfish, which has a completely different taste and texture. Red snappers grow to 35 pounds, although 4- to 6-pound fish are most common. Fish weighing 2 to 4 pounds have a metallic, pink skin. As they grow larger, their skin becomes redder. Many of the other snapper species are good eating, but they don’t have the trademark red skin and red eyes of the American red snapper. It also sports large, dog-like teeth, which are what give this fish its snapper name. The species is found from North Carolina to Florida’s “snapper banks,” off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana and down to the Campeche Bank off Mexico. Imports come from Mexico. Snapper is taken with longlines and sometimes by traps and trawls.

Introduction
Product Profile
Nutrition Facts
Cooking Tips
Cooking Methods
Global Supply

Scientific Name:

Lutjanus campechanus

Market Name:

Snapper

Common Name:

American red snapper, Red snapper, Caribbean red snapper, Mexican snapper

French Name:

Vivaneau

German Name:

Schnapper

Italian Name:

Lutiano rosso

Japanese Name:

Tarumi feudai

Spanish Name:

Pargo de golfoo

Introduction:

Product Profile:

Red snapper is lean and moist, with a sweetly mild but distinctive flavor. The texture is lean but moist. The superb taste of this fish is evidenced by the number of other types of fish that, with just the slightest hint of red, masquerade in the marketplace as “red” snapper.The semi-firm meat is pinkish, with yellow tones, in a raw state, turning somewhat lighter when cooked. The trademark skin is a deep red along the back, fading to a pinkish-red underside. To aid in identification, domestic American red snapper is almost always sold with the skin on.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories:	100
Fat Calories:	12
Total Fat:	1.3 g
Saturated Fat:	0.3 g
Cholesterol:	37 mg
Sodium:	64 mg
Protein:	20.5 g
Omega 3:	0.4 g

Cooking Tips:

Red snapper responds well to just about any cooking method. Try steaming it whole, Chinese style. Some cooks also like to bake whole snapper stuffed with fresh herbs and seasonings. Skin-on American red snapper fillets shouldn’t curl during cooking, though that of other snappers will. That’s a disappointing way to find out you’ve paid full price for an imposter.

Substitutions:

Grouper, Rockfish, Ocean perch

Cooking Methods: