Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Fish

Putting yourself in the customer's shoes, you can likely identify a time you avoided fish at a restaurant or store based on its appearance. You're not alone — fish is one of the major food groups where quality is associated with color, often influencing a consumer's buying decision.

Master Color Consistency in Fish

A fish's color can show if it is getting adequate amounts of nutrients as it grows. The accepted color standard you aim to match depends on the type of fish product you are selling.

In general, here are some of the most common fish colors and their types:

• Red, pink or orange: This color category is among the higher end of fish products. Tuna can range from pink to dark red, while salmon and rainbow trout are mostly on the pink side.
• White and flaky: Cod, sea bass, and flounder are some of the most highly consumed fish with a white color, flaky flesh, and mild fishy flavor.
• White and firm: Black sea bass, pearlfish, and swordfish are white, firm, and lean.
• Dark and oily: Some fish can also be dark and oily, including some types of mackerel, sardines, salmon, and tuna.

Measure Color Accuracy With Quantitative Values

A way to ensure color safety and product quality is by measuring fish color with quantitative values. Quantitative solutions provide exact and accurate data that matches what the human eye can see — without the risk of human error.

With HunterLab's MiniScan EZ 4500 spectrophotometer, fish producers can increase their color measurement efficiency. This portable handheld spectrophotometer is lightweight and easy to use, creating quantifiable color data within seconds at the push of a button.

Especially for fish products, the MiniScan EZ 4500 can process two-toned samples, displaying the following data with all commonly used color scales and indices:

• Color data
• Color difference data
• Color plot
• Spectral data
• Spectral data difference
• Spectral plot
• Spectral difference plot

Find the Right Color Measurement Solutions With HunterLab

HunterLab offers high-quality spectrophotometers to measure the color of your fish products and meet industry quality controls. Using a HunterLab spectrophotometer offers speed and efficiency with easy-to-use displays — all while providing consistent product quality.

HunterLab has over 70 years of experience in the color measurement industry, creating affordable lab solutions to streamline work efficiency. Reach out to our team with questions or to receive your personal quote today.