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Whole Snapper for Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to whole snapper products
About whole snapper
Snapper is a reef fish most commonly harvested from the Gulf of Mexico, the South Atlantic, and the Caribbean. It has a bulgy look with a large mouth and big teeth. There are many different types of snapper, but what you find at the grocery store or restaurants is usually the red or yellowtail species. Snapper has a firm, lean texture with white flesh or a slightly tinted pink flesh if it's red snapper.
Red snapper is a popular fish with a mild and sweet taste that pairs well with many different flavors. It doesn't take much preparation, and it doesn't need to have many extra flavors added during cooking. The taste of the snapper can stand on its own, while some lemon, butter, and fresh chili peppers will enhance its already sweet flavor.
When shopping for whole snapper, it should have nice red skin and clear, bright eyes, which are a sign of fresh fish. Avoid the selection if you see cloudy eyes. Another way to determine if the fish is fresh is to look at the backbone. It should look bright and not have a dull color. If you can touch the fish, it should bounce back if you poke it.
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Whole snapper cooking tips
Whole snapper is delicious cooked in various ways, and the preparation depends on whether you plan to cook it whole or take the time to cut it into fillets.
Whole snapper is excellent on the grill, and cooking a whole fish is simple. Take a red snapper, fill the body with slices of lemon, some butter, your favorite herbs, and chili peppers, and score the skin, so it stays flat instead of curling as it cooks. You can then put it on a hot grill. Just make sure to put something between the fish and the grill grates, such as a cedar plank. Cooking whole snapper at a high heat will not only cook it in a short amount of time, but it will also lock in the moisture.
Some other ways to cook whole snapper include:
- Roasting. Choose your favorite flavor combination, whether it's Asian, Mediterranean, or even Caribbean. Score the whole snapper and season the fish with salt and pepper. Rub the fish with canola oil and fill the slashes with herbs and spices—Cook in a 425-degree oven on a baking sheet for about 30 minutes.
- Cook in foil wrap. Place whole snapper on a large piece of foil, season with garlic, lemon juice, and seafood seasoning. Dot with butter and add several thyme sprigs. Sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh black pepper. Fold edges of foil over the fish and seal. Cook in a 350-degree oven for about 45 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Lightly fried whole snapper. Snapper is deliciously fried, and you can easily fry the whole fish. Season the snapper with some kosher salt and pepper, and fry it in medium-high heat olive oil. Start with the skin-side down, and cook for three minutes. Flip and cook for another three minutes or until it's cooked all the way through.
- Poaching. Poaching whole snapper is another easy way to cook it. You use a small amount of water with some herbs and aromatics and cook the fish on a rack, so it sits about half-covered with the broth. Make sure to wash and dry the snapper first and poach for about 45 minutes.
Whole Snapper Near Me
Buy your favorite Whole Snapper online with Instacart. Order Whole Snapper from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about whole snapper
You can store your whole snapper in the refrigerator for one to two days. It can stay in the original packaging from the store, or you can transfer it to an airtight container. If don't plan to cook your snapper within a few days, you can wrap it in plastic wrap or some foil and store it in the freezer for up to eight months. Whole snapper should be cleaned and gutted before freezing. Once you've cooked your whole snapper, leftovers can go in the fridge in an airtight container for two to three days.
Snapper is a low-calorie, high protein fish. It contains up to nine essential amino acids, and it's full of vitamin D and vitamin E. Snapper is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. It's important to note that whole snapper can also contain moderate levels of mercury, but as long as it's consumed in moderation, it is a healthy fish and a good part of many diets.
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