What's the difference between bighead carp and silver carp? A quick guide to telling them apart

We sometimes buy a few carp at the farmers' market to cook at home. When shopping, we often see bighead carp and silver carp. What's the difference between them?

1. Differences between bighead carp and silver carp

1. Looking at the belly: the silver carp has a ridge on the ventral side like a crease; the bighead carp's belly is smooth, with no crease.

2. Looking at body color: the silver carp is covered all over with white scales, appearing silvery; the bighead carp has black or yellow mottled markings on its body.

3. Looking at head proportions: the bighead carp has a large head, which can make up as much as 1/2 of its body length; the silver carp's head makes up about 1/4 of its body length.

4. Looking at eating quality: bighead carp flesh is fine and tender, and the head has plenty of meat; silver carp has many small bones, making it less convenient to eat.

5. Looking at fishing methods: both are caught with float fishing. The difference lies in the distance of the hook from the water surface. For silver carp, fish at a depth of 40 cm; for bighead carp, fish at a depth of 60 cm. Also, silver carp prefers a mixed smell of sour, sweet and stinky, while bighead carp prefers a mixed smell of fishy, fragrant and stinky. Use sour bait for silver carp, and stinky bait for bighead carp.

2. Eating bighead carp and silver carp

Bighead carp flesh is fine and tender, and the fish head is rich in collagen protein. The large head contains plenty of gelatinous matter and lots of meat. It is suitable for dishes such as chopped chili fish head, braised fish head, steamed fish head, garlic-flavored fish head, hot and sour fish head, curry fish lips, and fish head tofu soup.

No matter what kind of fish it is, when you buy it to eat, pay attention to safety, do not gulp it down, and watch out for fish bones.