Haddock

Haddock Flavor Profile

Haddock Flavor Scale

Flavor
Oil
Texture

Haddock are a northern Atlantic fish which are related to Cod yet are distinctly different. They have a mildly sweet taste with lean white flesh and medium flakes with a texture which is firm yet tender after cooking.

When compared to Cod, Haddock have a finer flake and a more tender texture with a slightly sweeter flavor than Cod. I find the flavor to be closer to Halibut than to Cod. They also have thin layer of connective tissue covering the flesh which Cod do not have. This connective tissue doesn’t affect the taste or texture, but is a good way to differentiate Cod fillets from Haddock fillets.

In northern Europe Haddock is revered for fish & chips, as well as for a famous cold-smoked preparation called Finnan Haddie which was first served in Scotland around 1800 and become popular in London around 1830-1840.

Typical Cooking Methods

It does not salt well, but drying and smoking preparations work well.

Alternate Names

Scrod (which is also a name for small Cod), Finnan Haddie, Snapper Haddock

Typical Wholesale Products

Fresh: Head/On Dressed, H & G, Fillets (Skin/On), Loins
Frozen: H & G, Fillets (Skin/On), Blocks
Processed: Breaded portions, Smoked, Dried

Haddock Description (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Haddock are a groundfish and are a member of the Cod family; however, they are generally smaller than Atlantic Cod. They are easy to distinguish from other fish by the three dorsal fins along its back, a horizontal black line along the length of its white side, and a very distinctive “thumbprint” like black blotch above the pectoral fins (shoulder area). This black spot is sometimes referred to as “St. Peter’s mark” or the “devil’s thumbprint” (strange dichotomy of terms!) Haddock are a dark purple-gray color from the back fading down to the black lateral line, and silvery-gray below the lateral line accented with pinkish reflections. They usually are very uniform in color, but occasionally may have some mottled markings, but nothing like those of a Cod. They grow relatively fast, with the largest Haddock on record weighing 37 pounds, 44 inches long. But the average commercial size is much smaller, about 2 to 5 pounds and 20 to 24 inches long. The average life span is about 3 to 7 years but they can live to about 20 years old. Haddock is sometimes called various names based upon size: fish weighing under 1 ½ pounds are referred to as “Snapper Haddock” 1 1/2 to 2 pounds are often called “Scrod” 2 1/2 pounds and up are simply called “large”
image by Steven G. Johnson	image from Wikipedia	image source

Fresh Availability

Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh. Frozen available all year long.

Haddock Butchering Yield Percentage

Range & Habitat

Haddock are a groundfish which inhabits both the American & European Atlantic Coasts. They prefer bottoms of pebbles, gravel, clay, or smooth hard sand and are most abundant at depths of 130 to 500 feet deep, preferring temperatures below 45° F.

In the western Atlantic they range from Newfoundland to Cape Cod in the summer months, and as far south as Cape Hatteras in North Carolina in the winter. They are most abundant on the Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine.

Haddock Sustainability Info

Name	Alternate Names	Catch Method	Catch Region	Seafood Watch	Ocean Wise	Sea Choice	Mercury Concerns
Haddock	Scrod	Wild: Hook & Line	US Atlantic		n/a		Moderate
		Wild: Bottom Longline, Handline, Hook & Line	Canadian Atlantic	n/a		n/a
		Wild: Trawl	US Atlantic
		Wild: Bottom Trawl	Canadian Atlantic
		Wild: Bottom Longline, Bottom Trawl, Gillnet	Iceland Atlantic
Note: small Cod are also referred to as “Scrod” Disclaimer: The sustainability info above is accurate to the best of our knowledge. However, each program randomly updates their information without our knowledge. We therefore recommend that you verify the current accuracy of this information.
= Best Choice/Recommended     = Good Alternative     = Avoid/Not Recommended							Updated Oct. 2013

Haddock receive a “Good Alternative” rating primarily because of serious issues with by-catch due to the fishing gear used. I’m a little surprised that Blue Ocean does not have a separate rating for Hook & Line caught Haddock, but instead lumps them all together. The n/a ratings simply mean that I could not find that specific catch method and region listed in the rankings for each program. I would assume that a green “Best Choice” applies for all Haddock caught off the US & Canadian Atlantic using Bottom Longline, Handline, Hook & Line gear. But, that is only my logical assumption, not a fact.

Subscribe

Connect with

I allow to create an account

When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.

DisagreeAgree

Notify of

new follow-up comments new replies to my comments

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Website

Δ

Connect with

I allow to create an account

When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.

DisagreeAgree

Label

{} [+]

Name*

Email*

Website

Δ

2 Comments

oldest

newest most voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Alex Clark

1 year ago

Thanks for post!

1

Reply

ChefsResources

Author

Reply to  Alex Clark

1 year ago

Thanks!

0

Reply