Correct me if I'm wrong, aren't the whole fish at Whole Foods already descaled with the bones cut out? It's not hard to prepare and cook when that is already done. Just stuff it with herbs and butter or olive oil and bake it.

Only had mush fish once. My bad. I got previously frozen (so labeled) swordfish and froze it. Apparently that mushes it.

Anonymous wrote:Guys! You haven’t read The Secret Life of Groceries? You should. It’s a fascinating dive into grocery stores and it begins with the author working at the Whole Foods fish counter!

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/11/07/931348023/secret-life-of-supermarkets-shines-a-light-on-bountys-dark-side

thanks, eager to read his book. the interview doesn’t speak to the issue raised by OP on this thread, though- hopefully the book does!

Anonymous wrote:granted i go shopping at “rush hour” and quite often end up standing at the seafood counter in line at 6pm. I buy seafood there because it’s a very easy protein to cook fast on a weeknight. i also buy oysters there on fridays because they are $1 each. we LOVE raw and char grilled oysters.

ooh, tell me more! i love oysters but have only had in a restaurant

when you buy them at WF, how do you store them until ready to eat? I assume I can look up how to clean them, and then once shucked how do you serve them (meaning plate them - over ice? I know how I like to eat them, haha- mignonette and drop of hot sauce).

Guys! You haven’t read The Secret Life of Groceries? You should. It’s a fascinating dive into grocery stores and it begins with the author working at the Whole Foods fish counter!

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/11/07/931348023/secret-life-of-supermarkets-shines-a-light-on-bountys-dark-side

Whole Foods is not in the business of losing money. I actually don't find their fish counter extensive but it's reliable. People are buying what they sell and if you look closely the volume of seafood on offer is a fraction of the meats and poultry. I am sure they have it down to a science.

granted i go shopping at “rush hour” and quite often end up standing at the seafood counter in line at 6pm. I buy seafood there because it’s a very easy protein to cook fast on a weeknight. i also buy oysters there on fridays because they are $1 each. we LOVE raw and char grilled oysters.

When wf has fish & shellfish on sale it is very reasonable.

My parents eat fish at least 2ce a week and they go to WF. And not just salmon. I buy from a fish store as it's close and better than whole food and cheaper.

I agree, OP. I buy a decent amount of seafood there other than salmon, and am there several days/week, but never see others buying anything other than salmon, shrimp and maybe tilapia. I have never seen anyone buy a whole fish there.

I do. I grew up on blue fish and they’re one of the only places that carry it regularly

Anonymous wrote:I'm impressed if that many people are buying whole fish super regularly. Whole fish is so intimidating to me.

Same

Whoever buys it, I feel sorry for. With great hesitancy, I got salmon once. It was like pudding cooked. Just total sh-- mush.

Buy frozen. Or from a seafood distributor like ProFish.

*6 year-old

My 6 years old always ogles the octopus and sometimes gets us to buy it for her.