Snag The Freshest Barra Catch Using Our Top Tips

In Australia, we are extremely fortunate to have access to beautiful, locally farmed, fresh barramundi all year round. Nothing beats firing up the BBQ and cooking up a storm with fresh, local barramundi.

We’ve pulled together the best tips and tricks to ensure you snag the freshest barra catch when buying your barra from supermarkets, fish markets, and also when dining on barra at your fave restaurants.

Always Buy Local

Australian produce is the freshest. Be sure to ask your fishmonger or server: ‘where is it from?’ While you might assume all barra is Australian barramundi, over 60% of barramundi consumed in Australia is actually imported from overseas, and over half of Australians don’t know where their seafood is from.

Let’s Get Physical

There’s no better way to check the freshness of barra than by using all your senses. As you observe the fish on offer, be prepared to get up close and personal.

Whole Barra

• Check the eyes. Eyes should be shiny, clear, bulging with dark pupils, and look as life-like as possible. Some barra eyes can have a slightly cloudy appearance even when they are fresh due to them being quickly chilled in ice after harvest. Plump, wet, and shiny eyes are all good signs.
• Check the fins and tail. Mishandling of a barra would cause tears to fins, they also shouldn’t be dry or brittle. Give the tail a touch to make sure it is still nimble.
• Check the gills: Get handsy, you want to look for bright pinky/red gills. Gills tend to darken over time, so avoid them if they've turned brown.
• Feel the scales. Run your hands on the scales, they should feel firm. If the scales slide off easily, it could be a sign that it’s not that fresh!
• Smell. Barra should have a pleasant, fresh sea smell. Avoid if there’s an unsavory smell.

Fillets

• Flesh. Flesh should have a firm texture, not water-logged or squishy. It should also have a vibrant translucent sheen and a sparkling colour, avoid pale or dry-looking fillets and those with discoloration, bruising, or gaping of the flesh.
• Smell. Barra should have a pleasant, fresh sea-like smell. Avoid if there’s an unsavory smell.

Always Ask For Aussie Barra

The really simple way to make sure that the barra you are buying is the freshest is to determine if it’s Aussie barra.

• When Shopping. Unsure if the barramundi is Australian? Always ask your fishmonger, they work, live and breathe fish and are always happy to share some of their wealth of knowledge!
• When Eating Out. Not clear where the fish is from on the menu? Always ask your server if the barra on their menu is Aussie barra.