If you giggle at the title of this article because you did not know the word fishmonger, then you should consider that you need to beef up your knowledge of purchasing seafood. Well, if that is where you are, then I am here to help! There are some surefire ways to know that you are visiting a reputable fishmonger, which by the way only means someone who sells fish.

A good fish market will have raw and cooked foods displayed separately. I am not prone to give in to hype about dangers, seafood is not something to play around with. Indeed, fish and shellfish can cause serious health problems if you do not take care of it well. Putting raw food in the vicinity of cooked seafood means that you should head out the door. You could be talking about blood and other uncooked fluids seeping into the cooked foods.

A good market also will indicate if foods are fresh or previously frozen. Most of the markets will indicate this distinction only if the food is previously frozen. On the little descriptor tag, there will be a line that lets you know. If there are none of these signs, beware unless you are right on the ocean. Many types of seafood have to be frozen if they are not being sold immediately. Ask if you are unsure, and the person working the counter should be able to let you know.

There should be a temperature marking on the case. You will want to know that the foods are being kept at the right temperature, which is ideally between 29 and 32 degrees Farenheit. If you do not see a temperature, ask the person working about the temperature. Also check the cases. If there is any condensation or if any of the ice looks as if it may be melting, the seafood is not being kept at the right temperature. Beware of defrosting fish. You do not know how long it may have been sitting that way, and it is unhealthy.

Here is a stickler for the real seafood connoisseur. The flesh of fresh meat should not touch the ice - ever. There are a couple of ways to get around this when the fishmonger is displaying the foods. One way is to put the fish fillets on their skin, but some fish people will tell you that even that is not acceptable. Instead you should look for liners, such as a plastic wrap, above a layer of ice or the fish being put on a tray. That way, they are being kept cold, but they are not touching the ice so that their flavor is not affected.

A good fish market also should answer your questions. While that really goes without saying for any business, customer service often seems to be a lost art in the retail world. When you are buying any kind of meat or other sensitive food, then you need to be sure that the person selling it is able to answer your questions. Seafood is very sensitive. That means that if you cannot find someone who knows or is willing to find out, you should walk away. Get another seafood market.

These tips will not guarantee that you will find the best market. That depends on location, time of year, and some dumb luck. There are some fishmongers who are better than others, however, and you should be sure that you increase your chances of finding one of the good ones by asking the right questions and looking for the right signs. As with other high-end items, price typically should not be the decision-making factor for you. Looking for good quality is better than paying high price in a market where the workers know little about quality seafood.

Being sure that you are comfortable with the person selling the seafood is most important. If there is any reason that you have to suspect any health-related issues or any reason that you feel uncomfortable asking questions, that is a sign that this store may not be the place for you to shop. Look around. Ask for suggestions from other seafood lovers. You are sure to find something that suits your needs.

By Julia Mercer