Still have questions?
Talk to one of Vitacost's friendly customer service representatives using Chat Live:
Also indexed as: Blacktip Shark, Bonito Shark, Common Thresher Shark, Mako Shark, Sandbar Shark, Smooth Dogfish, Soupfin Shark, Spiny Dogfish
Sharks must be bled immediately after they are caught, or the meat takes on an ammonia taste. Most shark is properly treated. A slight ammonia smell can be eliminated by soaking the meat in buttermilk or lemon juice for 30 minutes.
Cut out any dark meat before cooking shark. Leave any skin attached, as it helps retain moisture during cooking.
The secret to successful shark cookery is do not overcook. Whichever of the following cooking methods you choose, your shark will be cooked when its flesh becomes opaque, yet is still moist on the inside.
Baking
Place shark in a greased baking dish, or wrap in oiled foil and place on a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter or oil and season with salt and pepper, or cover with a piquant sauce. Bake in a preheated 450°F (230°C) oven until done, about 10 minutes per inch (2.5cm) of thickness.
Grilling
Place fillets or steak chunks on skewers directly on a greased grill, 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15cm) above prepared coals or fire. Baste with butter, oil, or marinade. Cook until opaque and moist on the inside, 6 to 8 minutes.
Broiling
Place fillets skin-side-down on a well-greased baking pan. Pour in enough stock to cover the bottom of the pan. Brush top of fish with butter or oil. Broil under preheated broiler 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12cm) from heat. Do not turn, but baste several times. Cook until opaque and moist on the inside, 6 to 10 minutes.
Pan frying
Fry shark in a small amount of hot butter or oil, turning once halfway through cooking time. Cook until opaque and moist on the inside, 4 to 8 minutes.
Stir-frying
Cut shark steaks or fillets into bite-sized pieces. Coat with cornstarch and stir-fry gently and briefly in hot oil before adding to your favorite stir-fried vegetables.
Poaching
Bring poaching liquid, consisting of water, broth, and herbs and spices, to a simmer. Slip shark in, then cover pan and keep liquid at a simmer for about 8 minutes per inch (about 2.5cm) of thickness.
Steaming
Place shark on a greased perforated rack over 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5cm) of rapidly boiling water. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and keep water at a constant boil through cooking time, 8 to 10 minutes per inch (2.5cm) of thickness of the fish.
Perhaps because of its reputation as the killer of the sea, shark is usually sold under a less recognizable variety name. Common thresher is a huge shark, growing to over 1,000 pounds (about 450 kg) in tropical waters, and has pinkish flesh. Soupfin, a smaller shark, provides the fin used as a gelatin base in Chinese soup. Blacktip, which are found in South Atlantic waters, are often sold in the form of pinkish-white steaks that have ruby-red edges. Mako, an Atlantic shark, is also called bonito shark, because it feeds on bonito tuna and has moist, pink, fine-grained meat. Bonito, a Pacific shark much like mako, has meat that looks and tastes like swordfish. Sandbar, another Atlantic Ocean shark, looks and tastes like blacktip. Spiny and smooth dogfish, also in this family, have richer more fatty flesh than other shark species.
Most shark is sold as steaks or fillets.
Shark, 3.5 oz. (99g) (raw)
Calories: 130
Protein: 21g
Carbohydrate: 0.0g
Total Fat: 4.5g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Excellent source of: Selenium (36.5mcg)
*Good source of: Magnesium (49mg), Vitamin B12 (1.5mcg), and Niacin (2.9mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.
When cooked (fried, batter-dipped), shark (mixed species) provides 0.879 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, derived from EPA (0.258g), DHA (0.431g), and ALA (0.19g), per 100 grams of shark (mixed species).
Copyright © 2007 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. www.healthnotes.com
Learn more about Healthnotes, the company.
Learn more about the authors of Healthnotes.
The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.
