Cod is Description, photo, classification, benefits for humans, breeding features, spawning, breeding and cooking features

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Cod - a species of fish that belongs to the Cod family, in ancient times this variety was called "labardan". Cod got its current name because of the unusual property of the meat to crack when it is dried. There is another version of the name change: the cod began to be called that way, because it makes a crackling sound that appears with the contraction of the muscles of the swim bladder. In the photo, the cod looks very impressive.

What does cod look like?

Cod sea or river fish? A distinctive feature is that it grows throughout its life and lives in the seas. By the age of three, the length of an individual reaches half a meter, the largest individuals can grow up to 2 meters in length, and such a fish weighs about 96 kilograms. The body of the cod is characterized by an elongated spindle-shaped shape, the scales are small, serrated. The upper part of the cod can be colored olive, yellowish or brown with brown patches. The sides of the cod are light, the belly is white. Longest of all fish livescod, which is found in Atlantic waters, its age can reach 25 years, in the Pacific - 18 years, in Greenland - 12.

Atlantic cod

Cod - what kind of fish? Atlantic, for example, is the largest fish and can reach a length of 1-2 meters. This type of cod lives in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and has several subspecies. They depend on the specific location. To date, there is the following classification of subspecies:

• Classic Atlantic cod lives from 5 to 10 years, the average length is 80 centimeters. The color is greenish, the belly is white.
• Kildinskaya cod is found in the waters of Mogilnoye Lake, which is located on the island of Kildin in the Murmansk region. This is a real monument of nature, the exclusivity of which lies in the fact that the water in the reservoir has varying degrees of salinity. Cod started in this lake as early as the 10th century, even then it was not a lake, but a sea lagoon. The size of the cod that lives in the Mogilny Lake is small, about 50 centimeters in length, and the weight reaches only 2-3 kilograms. The color of individuals is brighter than that of the previous subspecies. Today, the Kilda cod is one step away from extinction and is protected. Too frequent fishing and pollution of the lake led to this. They tried to relocate this subspecies to other water bodies, but representatives of this species are simply not able to live in other places.
• B altic cod lives, respectively, in the B altic Sea. It is similar in size and appearance to the Atlantic, can reach 100 centimeters in length, andthe weight of such a fish is 10-12 kilograms.

These subspecies are considered the largest in terms of the number of individuals.

Pacific cod

Its main difference from the Atlantic one is in the size of the front part, namely the head. It is more massive and wide, while the dimensions of the body themselves are small. In length, individuals can reach from 45 to 90 centimeters in length. The maximum weight is 22 kilograms. Cod lives in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, these are the Berengovo, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan. The fish feeds mainly on pollock, shrimps, crabs and worms, as well as other small fish. The Pacific cod has one subspecies - the Greenland cod. Differs in small sizes, approximately 70 centimeters in length. It also feeds on small fish and invertebrates.

Arctic cod

This species is divided into two subspecies: ice and East Siberian cod. The first species inhabited the waters of the Arctic Ocean; individuals are distinguished by their gray color and small size. Only 30 centimeters long. East Siberian cod lives off the coast of Greenland, North America and Siberia. The size of individuals is larger than that of the ice. In length, they reach 50-55 centimeters, and the average weight is a little more than a kilogram.

Cod spawning

Cod is a marine fish, its sexual maturity and ability to reproduce also depend on the habitat of individuals. For example, the Atlantic cod goes to thespawning grounds at the age of eight to nine years. Pacific cod start breeding a little earlier, at the age of five or six years, arctic species are the youngest, they are ready to go to spawning grounds at the age of 3-4 years.

The breeding season usually starts in the first weeks of March. Cod is on the list of the most prolific fish, and this is not surprising, because one adult can spawn up to 6 million eggs. This process does not happen immediately, but gradually, in portions, over several weeks. Spawning takes place at a depth of up to 100 meters, all this time the males are next to the female in order to immediately fertilize the spawned eggs.

Further, the eggs sink to the bottom, as if sticking to the vegetation. This is how Pacific cod reproduce. As for the Atlantic species, the eggs do not fall to the bottom, they are carried away by the current to the north, where the larvae later appear. Already around the end of summer - beginning of autumn, young individuals enter the Barents Sea and live at the bottom for the first few years.

Cod differs from other fish in that it is of great economic importance. This is because tasty tender fish and especially cod liver have very useful properties. Cod liver is considered a fatty product, but fish meat is very useful for losing weight. Unlike other varieties of fish, dried cod retains all its nutritional and beneficial properties for a long time. It was cod that helped the great travelers who discovered new countries to stay alive.

Benefits of cod

Cod liver- a very useful product that is not only rich in vitamins A and D, but also contains a sufficient amount of Omega-3 fatty acids. All of us at least once in our lives heard and used fish oil as a dietary supplement. It comes from cod liver. But cod meat, especially steamed, is a real find for losing weight. Its advantage is that with a minimum number of calories, the body receives a sufficient amount of protein, vitamins and useful trace elements. The highest quality cod is recognized as the one that is caught off the coast of Alaska and Iceland. As for nutritional value, there are only 82 calories per 100 grams of fish, 0.7 grams of fat and 19 grams of protein, carbohydrates are completely absent. Isn't this happiness for those who want to say goodbye to being overweight? In addition to protein and essential amino acids, cod boasts a large amount of vitamin B12. Its task is a he althy nervous system and full development. That is why fish must be in the diet of children. It should also be mentioned that cod is a source of selenium and phosphorus. These nutrients help maintain he althy hair, skin, bones, and teeth.

Dietary properties of cod

The benefits of cod fish in its low calorie content. Do you follow the principles of proper nutrition? Then cod is what you need. It can replace heavy meats such as pork or beef, and not feel any weakness, loss of strength or energy. All because of the high protein content in fish meat. As we know, with age, metabolic processes in the body slow down and peopleslowly but surely gaining extra pounds. To prevent this from happening, in order to always remain he althy and vigorous, you need to make a choice in favor of low-calorie foods rich in vitamins and trace elements. These include cod. Various research teams have studied the effects of cod on the human body and concluded that regular consumption of cod slows down the cognitive decline that inevitably occurs with age.

How to cook cod tasty?

You can often hear from novice cooks that cod meat is dry and insipid, and while cooking, there is nowhere to go from the pungent smell of fish. And if the meat is dryish, then you can often hear that the liver is too fatty. So where is the truth?

Of course, all this is the case, and these are not shortcomings, but specific features of cod. It is only important to learn how to cook it correctly. The most popular dishes with the addition of cod are liver salad, fish soup, fillet cutlets, oven-baked cod with vegetables and steamed. You can also just fry the fish, but it would be best to choose a different heat treatment method.

What does cod taste like?

Cod is a sea fish, the meat of a fresh specimen is of a pleasant white color, a little exfoliating, nevertheless it tastes soft and non-greasy. The peculiarity of cod is that it has a pronounced taste and smell of fish, so many housewives have learned to weaken these aromas and tastes. To do this, you just need to boil the fish in a large amount of ordinary water, adding topot as many different spices as possible. And another important element is celery roots, parsley and onions. It is important for novice cooks to remember that cod cannot be re-frozen, as it will completely lose its taste and become watery.

Use in cooking

It so happened that cod is the product that is used in almost any national cuisine. This type of fish is widely known around the world and is present on the tables in every country. You can cook anything from cod and its liver, from soups to snacks. Cod carcass can become an independent dish, which is easily and quickly cooked in the oven. But the most popular way is drying, drying, s alting and smoking fish. This is because cod is one of the few varieties of fish that, when dried and s alted, retains all its beneficial properties.

Interesting cod facts

Since the fish was popular with people in ancient times, a considerable amount of interesting information about this fish has been collected in history. Here are the most entertaining ones:

• In 1992, a cod crisis hit Canada and many other countries. Difficult times for fish factories began when there was a sharp decline in the cod population, which forced the Canadian government to impose a moratorium on fishing. Only in Canada, more than 400 factories that were engaged in fish products were closed.
• Some nations consider cod a gift from God, because nothing is lost from the catch,there is a use for everything.
• The Portuguese have one interesting national dish called cod bacalhau. It is interesting because it got into the Guinness Book of Records, since only 3134 people managed to taste this delicacy.

Cod is a real storehouse of vitamins, which is available to us all year round. Inclusion of fish in the diet will help improve well-being, raise the overall tone of the body and get rid of a couple of extra pounds.