Trout Or Salmon: Which Is Better, Tastier, Fatter, More Expensive Than They Differ

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Trout or salmon: which fish is better, tastier and more valuable

If red fish is not a frequent guest on your table, then the choice between trout and salmon can be difficult. Most of us don't even know what the difference is between them, and unscrupulous sellers can use this for their own purposes. How do they differ, which fish is more appreciated in taste, fat content and useful properties?

Salmon and trout - what kind of fish are they?

Sometimes salmon, salmon and trout are called the same fish, or they simply find it difficult to distinguish between, which is not surprising due to the variability, wide distribution of species and the lack of a single scientific classification. The names "salmon" and "trout" are, in fact, collective, denoting a group of species. Often local and national names do not correspond to the classification, which causes difficulties and leads to confusion. So, the rainbow trout, widespread in Russia, is sometimes called Kamchatka salmon or salmon. Brook and lake species of trout are called brown trout. And salmon is nothing more than salmon itself, as well as noble, northern or Atlantic salmon, in contrast to the Pacific species.

It can be said unambiguously that both salmon and trout belong to the salmon family (and the subfamily of the same name) and have similarities in a number of criteria:

• are incoming freshwater, that is, in most cases they live in salt waters, but go into fresh waters for spawning. Due to the high demand for red fish varieties, artificial breeding of salmon and trout has recently become popular;
• the body of both fish is covered with dark spots on the back and sides. In young individuals, they are more pronounced;
• near the tail there is an adipose fin containing from 10 to 16 rays and distinguishing individuals of this family from others, in particular, herring, with which there is an external resemblance;

• the meat of salmon and trout is red with white veins. The hue can be more saturated and brighter or paler depending on the diet. Too bright a color is often a sign of the use of food coloring in artificial breeding.

  

  Trout and salmon meat can be pink or orange

What is the difference between salmon and trout

The difference between fish, called salmon and trout in the Russian expanses, is not always obvious, but it is.

External differences, or how to recognize fish in a store

Salmon is much larger than trout, in natural conditions it reaches one and a half meters in length and 40 kg in weight. The length of a trout usually does not exceed 30 cm, and its weight is no more than 4 kg. Therefore, a carcass weighing 5–7 kg cannot be exactly trout.

Salmon - large fish

But you should not focus only on weight and size. Fishing starts at smaller values. And on the shop window there may well be salmon weighing up to 4 kg.

A distinctive feature of the trout is the bright pink stripes on the sides

Fish should be purchased from reliable producers

Table: the main differences between trout and salmon

Criterion	Trout	Salmon
Body shape	Wider than salmon	Streamlined and relatively narrow
Head shape	Short; truncated; rounded.	More elongated; large; sharp.
Tail shape	Square	Triangular
Fat areas	Only in the abdominal area	Evenly distributed throughout the body
Color	Bright skin; with mother-of-pearl tint; red-pink stripes on the sides; * Trout color is determined by habitat.	Silver gray sides; light belly.

Which is fatter and tastier

Both fish taste very similar. But the trout is a little dry, due to the lower fat content: the amount of fat in salmon is 3.5–4 times higher.

Salmon and trout meat is hypoallergenic, that is, it rarely causes allergic reactions. And the last product, due to its low fat content, is also considered to be dietary.

Table: nutritional and energy value of salmon and trout in 100 g of product

Components	Trout	Salmon
Proteins, g	20.5	20.0
Fat, g	4,3	15.0
Carbohydrates, g	0	0
Energy value, kcal	88	153

Why salmon and trout are useful

Salmon fish are rich in nutrients that have a positive effect on human health and well-being in general.

Salmon and trout contain:

• vitamin PP, or nicotinic acid - affects the walls of blood vessels and strengthens them;
• chromium - regulates water metabolism, reduces cravings for sweets and reduces insulin levels;
• sulfur - affects the functions of the nervous system and the brain, improves the absorption of vitamins;
• fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6 - improve blood flow in capillaries, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Any red fish benefits the body, the main thing is to cook it correctly in order to preserve all its valuable properties.

Table: useful substances in salmon and trout (percentage of the daily value in 100 g)

The elements	Trout	Salmon
Vitamin PP	14.5%	47%
Chromium	110%	110%
Sulfur	17.5%	20%
Omega-3	0.5-1.6%	1.3-2.2%

Which fish is more expensive

The more expensive fish is salmon. The price is due to a number of factors:

• useful properties and value of the fish itself;
• habitat;
• conditions of fishing and transportation.

So, earlier salmon was supplied from Norway and cost about 600 rubles per kg (2015). The changes that have taken place in the political arena have made their own adjustments to the price policy: today salmon is delivered to Russia from Chile and the Faroe Islands, and the cost reaches 1,500 rubles per kg. For comparison: catching of trout is carried out mostly in Karelia, the price for 1 kilogram is about 450 rubles.

Which is better to choose

The choice between the two types of fish depends mainly on personal preferences and material capabilities, because both salmon and trout have a great taste and are beneficial for the body. Sometimes, due to the lower fat content, nutritionists prefer trout. On the other hand, the beneficial properties of salmon are so good that it is better to choose this particular product and save calories on something else.

You can decide on the choice depending on what you are going to cook:

• it is better to use salmon for salting, so it will retain its useful composition, and the taste will turn out to be delicate and aromatic;

  

  Lightly salted salmon retains its beneficial properties

• trout (as a dietary product) can be steamed - it will turn out tasty and healthy;

• it is better to bake salmon in the oven or on the grill - due to the large amount of fat, it will not be overdried;

  

  Salmon is great for grilling

• fish for fish soup can be chosen based on the desired fat content of the dish.

  

  Diet fish soup can be made from trout

Video: how to choose the right salmon

Knowing how salmon and trout differ, you can choose exactly what you need. In any case, by properly preparing the fish, you will saturate the body with valuable substances. And the taste of both salmon and trout will delight any gourmet.