With autumn, the season to consume seafood begins, and the local markets are supplied with good quality products. Seafood is one of the most exquisite and healthy foods that we can find in Spanish cuisine.
Today I am going to show you the most common shellfish varieties in Spain, and when is the best time of year to consume them.
Crustaceans
The shell is the most remarkable characteristic of crustacean shellfish. Considering this aspect, it is easy to deduce who belongs to this subspecies:lobster, crab, shrimp, red shrimp, spider crab, prawn and barnacle.
Molluscs
They are one of the most curious families in the marine world. They live on the seabed or attached to rocks, and the most popular are bivalves, which have two pieces or valves. In many cases, they do not have more than the shell to help move in the water. The moving is based on the impulse generated by opening and closing the valves. However, others use a muscular foot, such as the co*ckle. The most common are mussels, clams, co*ckles, razor clams, "coquinas", "Concha fina", oyster and scallops. The cephalopods are a subfamily of mollusc, so octopus and squid are considered as seafood as well.
Concha Fina
Echinoderms
There are other living things, even stranger, that are part of the classification of seafood. They are probably the most unknown. Not all echinoderms are edible or used in gastronomy. In this sense, the sea urchin is the most popular of its kind.
Sea Urchin
Fishermen say that the best time to consume seafood is during the months when the "R" appears, so from September to April, it is the most optimal time to savour these delicacies. However, each species has an optimal time for its capture, and therefore for its consumption, such as:
- In autumn: squid, spider crab, razor clams, barnacle, lobster, co*ckles, clams.
- In winter: sea urchin, oysters, spider crab, spider crab, razor clams, octopus, barnacle, crabs.
- In spring: spider crab, spider crab, octopus.
- In summer:squid, razor clams," Concha fina", "coquinas", octopus, lobster, mussels and oysters.
Shellfish have numerous advantages, such as the highprotein contentand the manyvitamins and mineralsthey contain. It is also a product rich inomega-3fatty acids. Itprevents cardiovascular diseases, and for those most concerned with maintaining their line, these products containvery few calories.
Here you have some of my recipes where I used seafood as the main ingredient. I think you will love them:
Fried Squids
Clams and White beans Stew
Red Shrimp "Carabinero"
Octopus Salad
So you know, you no longer have an excuse to try this delicacy. It's time to cook a good seafood platter.
Have a tasty day!
FAQs
Fishermen say that the best time to consume seafood is during the months when the "R" appears, so from September to April, it is the most optimal time to savour these delicacies.
What is the best month to eat seafood? ›
There's a long-accepted old wives' tale that we should only eat shellfish when there's an 'R' in the month. According to the rule, we should only indulge indulge in delicious oysters, clams, and mussels from September through to April and stop eating them completely between May and June!
What months are best to eat shrimp? ›
Shrimp is the most consumed seafood in the United States, and 90 percent of it is imported, which means it's always frozen, so seasonality isn't a factor. The season runs from late March through early December, depending on the type and location.
When can you eat seafood? ›
Many take this advice to heart, and never buy or eat seafood in the months between May and August. There are some who say a meal including more than one type of seafood ought to be reserved for the fall and Christmas, or that it should at least be restricted to months with an R (from September to April).
What seafood is in season in October? ›
Clams – October through May. Croaker – March through December. Dolphin – May through October. Fluke (flounder) – October through May.
Can you only eat seafood in months with an R? ›
There is an inaccurate myth that has been spread around over the years stating oysters are only safe to eat during months containing an "R". September- April is the range; these months encompass the colder times of the year; therefore, oysters will be safe to eat raw during the winter season.
What is the best seafood period? ›
Fishermen say that the best time to consume seafood is during the months when the "R" appears, so from September to April, it is the most optimal time to savour these delicacies.
What is the best season to eat fish? ›
Fall is one of the best times to enjoy fresh fish and shellfish.
Which months are good for eating fish? ›
Fish and seafood are delicious any time of the year, but February might just be the best month to eat seafood dishes for a variety of reasons.
Does seafood have a season? ›
Seafood seasons may be natural or influenced, fixed or flexible. Migration and environmental factors play a role in the season of many seafood options, while some are human-made decisions. Some states even designate legal restrictions for individual species, dictating their seafood season for catch and consumption.
Take a good look at your lobster. If the meat is discolored, turning gray, brown, or green in places, it's definitely gone bad. If you performed the above tests and got inconclusive results, it's best to dispose of the lobster rather than risk potential food poisoning.
What season is shrimp season? ›
Shrimp thrive in the warm waters of the Gulf and can grow about an inch every seven to 10 days. Shrimp are a migratory species and move based on tide, wind, currents and water temperature. Shrimp season usually opens sometime between May and June and runs through December.
What seafood is best in November? ›
A few of my favourite species that are now prolific and in season are: cold-water prawns (fry them up with some Spanish paprika, garlic and olive oil), scallops (roasted for five minutes with butter) and cuttlefish (seared on a hot griddle with olive oil for a minute or contrarily slow-braised for one hour).
What seafood is best in winter? ›
Perhaps Oysters are the best example of seafood that's better purchased during winter. Oysters often spawn during the warm summer months, causing them to become soft and less flavourful. When shucked in the colder months of winter, Oysters tend to have a firmer texture and a bright briny flavour.
What months are good for seafood? ›
The “r” months are all cool; September through April. This tradition originates from colonial periods when shellfish were prone to spoiling if exposed to warm temperatures. Another reason for the r month rule relates to quality. Oysters and clams spawn in the warm summer months, usually May through August.
What seafood is safe to eat daily? ›
Text Versions of the Best Choices, Good Choices, and Choices to Avoid Lists of Fish
| Fish | Best Choice, Good Choice, or Choice to Avoid? |
|---|
| Tilapia | Best Choice |
| Trout, freshwater | Best Choice |
| Tuna, canned light (includes skipjack) | Best Choice |
| Whitefish | Best Choice |
58 more rowsMar 5, 2024
Rule of thumb is at least 4,000 years old. Foodie tradition dictates only eating wild oysters in months with the letter “r” – from September to April – to avoid watery shellfish, or worse, a nasty bout of food poisoning. Now, a new study suggests people have been following this practice for at least 4,000 years.
What months should you eat crab? ›
Early fall is the best time of year to catch and eat hard shell crabs, particularly Maryland Blue Crabs. In September and October, crabs tend to be larger, so each crab contains more weight. Crab available in supermarkets or restaurants earlier in the season might be crab that did not migrate over the winter.
Are there seasons for seafood? ›
Seafood seasons may be natural or influenced, fixed or flexible. Migration and environmental factors play a role in the season of many seafood options, while some are human-made decisions. Some states even designate legal restrictions for individual species, dictating their seafood season for catch and consumption.
