What Kind of Fish Is the Grass Carp? Get to Know the Characteristics and Habits of the Grass Carp

The grass carp is a kind of fish we often eat, suitable for making soup, and it tastes delicious. But many people are not clear about what kind of fish this is, so today let us take a simple look.

1. What kind of fish is the grass carp

The grass carp is an edible freshwater fish, belonging to the Cypriniformes order, Cyprinidae family, Leuciscinae subfamily, Ctenopharyngodon genus. It has no barbels at the corners of its mouth, a broad and flat head, a body length of more than 1 m, and a bluish-yellow body in a cylindrical shape. It feeds mainly on aquatic plants and grows rapidly, and is one of the four major Chinese carps of freshwater aquaculture in our country. Its flesh is tender, smooth and delicious, with high nutritional value, but its gallbladder is poisonous and must be removed carefully.

2. How to choose a grass carp

When going to the market to buy fish, first look at the fish eyes and gills. Fresh fish have clear, bright eyes that are full and spirited, with protruding eyeballs and a distinct boundary between black and white; the gills are tightly closed, and when pried open, bright red, clearly defined gill filaments can be seen; then touch the fish body, and it should feel firm and elastic to the touch, with no mucus on the surface; finally, smell it, and if it has a fishy, foul odor or a putrid smell, then it is not normal.

3. The benefits of eating grass carp

The grass carp has a high selenium content, has anti-aging effects, and can also help prevent tumors; the unsaturated fatty acids rich in its flesh can promote blood circulation; the grass carp's flesh is delicious, tender but not greasy, and is very suitable for nourishing the body.

Grass carp made into soup tastes delicious, and when cooked as a dish its flesh is tender and smooth, making it very suitable for everyone to cook slowly at home.