Bigeye Tuna

Bigeye Tuna Flavor Scale

Flavor
Oil
Texture

Back to Finfish

Bigeye Tuna Flavor Profile

 Bigeye Tuna are prized for sashimi.  They have a moderately pronounced flavor, a high fat content with marbling near the skin and a richer flavor than Yellowfin.  Like other tuna, the texture is firm and "meaty" with large flakes.  Tuna Grading is as follows: No. 1 "Sashimi-grade" is the best, being the freshest and having the highest fat content.  No. 2 "Grill-grade" is next best.  No. 3 and No. 4 are lesser quality.

Alternate Names

 Ahi (Hawaiian).  Note: Yellowfin Tuna is also called Ahi.

Description

 Bigeye Tuna are similar to Yellowfin in appearance, but have a larger eye & head.  Commercial average weight is 20-100 Lbs, but they can grow to over 400 Lbs.

Range & Habitat

 Bigeye are found in all tropical and temperate oceans with the exception of the Mediterranean Sea.  Life span is about 10-12 years.  They spend a lot of time in waters as deep as 1500 ft.

Typical Wholesale Products

 Rounds, H&G, Loins

Fresh Bigeye Tuna Availability

Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability.  Frozen available all year long. 

 

Bigeye Tuna Yield Factors

Item	To Skn/On Fillets	To Skn/Off Fillets	Notes
Whole Head/On gutted
Whole Head/Off gutted
Skin/On Fillets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nutritional Information based upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving. * Calories/Calories from fat 182 * Protein grams 40.1 * Fat grams  1.7 * Saturated fat grams  0 * Sodium milligrams  63 * Cholesterol milligrams  77.1 * Omega-3 grams  na

 

Additional Resources:

National Marine Fisheries Service	Seafood Watch