The Ultimate Guide and Tips for Buying Fish and seafood Online

In today’s fast-paced world, with so many options, buying fresh fish or seafood has become very convenient. However, ensuring you are getting the freshest, high-quality fish can be a little tricky.
In this guide, we will provide you with essential tips for buying fish and seafood online, helping you assess freshness while ensuring you get the best, freshest products delivered right to your door.

Choose a Reputable Retailer for Your Seafood Online

When purchasing seafood online, the first step is choosing a reliable retailer. Nowadays, with so many fish shops online, it is vital to choose the right one with a good reputation, experience, and a strong track record of delivering high-quality products.

A very good indicator will be how they source their seafood. Ethical sourcing ensures that the fish are caught and farmed sustainably, which is good for both the environment and health.
Also, customer reviews and ratings are crucial when buying seafood or fish online. Ratings and reviews can provide great insights into product quality, delivery, and help you understand customer experiences, enabling you to make an informed decision when buying fish online.

Prioritise Freshness When Buying Fish

Freshness should always be your top priority when buying fish online or in-store. Just like fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood have a shorter shelf life. In New Zealand, most online seafood vendors prioritise freshness to ensure their products arrive at your door in top condition.
Many seafood delivery services offer express or overnight shipping, which helps maintain freshness. Make sure to check for freshness and quality indicators such as bright eyes and firm flesh for fish.
Additionally, look for sellers who freeze their fish right after it is caught, as this can preserve the quality and taste of the seafood.

Look for Proper Packaging and Storage

Packaging is important whether you are buying fish online or in-store. When buying online, most fish shops use insulated packaging and gel packs to ensure your fish remains fresh and prevents it from deteriorating during delivery.

If you order items like Bluff oysters, fresh mussels, or an assortment of fish fillets, ensure the packaging is designed to keep each item separated. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination.

Also, check if the vendor provides instructions on how to store the fish after it arrives.

Delivery Options and Timing

If you are ordering fish online, make sure to check out the delivery times so that the fish remains fresh. Some of the best vendors offer next-day delivery, or want your order delivered on a certain date? Leave a note when placing your order for when you would like your order to be delivered or simply contact the store and let them know what you’re wanting to do.

At Wildfish, we deliver the finest fresh fish straight to your door from the boat.
If you are ordering fresh seafood for an event or special meal, be sure to place your order ahead of time. This ensures your fish is delivered on time and allows you to handle any unexpected delays in shipping.

Understand the Types of Fish and Seafood You Are Buying

When ordering fish online, it is best to familiarise yourself with the types of fish available and what to look for in terms of freshness.

For instance, when purchasing fish fillets, check if they are boneless. Additionally, some species, like salmon or tuna, are often available in fresh. So, you can choose the best option depending on your preferences.

If you are looking to buy specific seafood, such as fresh mussels or other shellfish, ensure they are thoroughly cleaned and stored.

Consider Buying from Local Seafood Vendors

Buying fish from local vendors has several advantages. When you order fish from a local seafood shop, you know that it does not have to travel far, which means it is fresher and tastes better.