Hiramasa Kingfish Flavor Profile

Hiramasa Flavor Scale
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Hiramasa Kingfish is a high-quality sashimi grade Yellowtail Kingfish which is farmed under strict standards.  Hiramasa is the Japanese name for this fish and it is highly regarded in Japan, where the fish is hand packed to avoid bruising.  Hiramasa Kingfish is the Australian name for this fish, and it is also a high quality sashimi grade fish.

Yellowtail Kingfish is also called Amberjack, but this is typically a reference to the wild Yellowtail Kingfish caught in California.  The wild fish can have parasitic problems, but this is never the case with sashimi grade Hiramasa or Hiramasa Kingfish.  The name Hiramasa is used to differentiate sashimi grade Amberjack from regular, wild Amberjack.

Hiramasa has pale pink flesh with firm, large flakes and a sweet, rich flavor.  Hiramasa has a higher fat content, firmer texture and cleaner flavor than wild Yellowtail Kingfish (Amberjack).

Typical Cooking Methods

  • Bake
  • Broil
  • Deep-Fry
  • Grill
  • Poach
  • Saute
  • Smoke
  • Steam
  • Sushi

Alternate Names

Hiramasa, Japanese Amberjack, Yellowtail Kingfish (wild, not sashimi), Amberjack (wild, not sashimi), Yellowtail Amberjack (wild, not sashimi), Great Amberjack (wild, not sashimi).

Description

Hiramasa Kingfish

Yellowtail Kingfish have elongated, moderately compressed bodies.  They have a slender head longer than their body depth and they have 31-34 dorsal fin rays.  They are generally blue, blueish-green or purplish green above and silver-white below.   Yellowtail Kingfish can be distinguished by their yellow caudal fins.

Hiramasa 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.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

 

Butchering Yield Percentage and Recovery

Item To Skin/On Fillets To Skin/Off Fillets Notes
Whole Head/On gutted to Western Fillets 63% 54%
Whole Head/On gutted to Japanese Fillets (w/ collar & ribs) 74%
Whole Head/Off gutted to Western Fillets 74% 62%
Whole Head/Off gutted to Japanese Fillets (w/ collar & ribs) 87%
Skin/On Fillets 84% If you have additional yield info on this fish please leave a comment below.
Yield % varies according to a number of factors including: size of fish, season, sex, and the skill of your fishmonger.

Range & Habitat

Japan and Australia for sashimi grade Hiramasa.

Typical Wholesale Products

H&G, Fillets, Loins

Hiramasa Sustainability Info

Name Alternate Names Catch Method Catch
Region
Seafood
Watch
Ocean
Wise
Sea
Choice
Mercury
Concerns
Hiramasa Yellowtail Jack, California Yellowtail, Amberjack, California Hiramasa, Seriola quinqueradiata Wild, Gillnet, Hook & Line California, US Baja, Mexico Yellow-icon_20.png Red-Dot_20.png n/a n/a
Hiramasa Yellowtail Kingfish, Hamachi, Gold-striped Amberjack,
Seriola lalandi
Farmed, open-net pen Australia Red-Dot_20.png Red-Dot_20.png Red-Dot_20.png low
Hiramasa Yellowtail, Japanese Amberjack, Buri, Hamachi
Seriola lalandi
Farmed, open-net pen Japan Red-Dot_20.png Red-Dot_20.png Red-Dot_20.png low
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.

Green-icon_20.png = Best Choice/Recommended     Yellow-icon_20.png = Good Alternative     Red-Dot_20.png = Avoid/Not Recommended
 
       
Updated
August 2013

Although the Hamachi from Japan and Australia are in good shape as regards sustainability of the species, they are rated “avoid” due to the amount of wild fish used for feed. Additionally, farmed Japanese Hamachi have issues with pollution and disease while Australian Hamachi have issues with parasites.

 

Nutritional Information

based upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving.

* Calories/Calories from fat 250
* Protein grams 40
* Fat grams 8.9
* Saturated fat grams 2.2
* Sodium milligrams 67
* Cholesterol milligrams 94
* Omega-3 grams na

 

Comments from before Site Migration

DAVID BUCHANAN [ Jun 25, 2010 ]
Appreciate the comment Magic! I’m planning a trip to a sushi restaurant soon so I can try Hiramasa.

MAGIC OF SPICE [76.95.207.61] [ Jun 24, 2010 ]
I do not believe I haver ever tried this. Sounds like it is right up my alley:)

 

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