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By Drow male (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Hake
Alternative Names: Atlantic Whiting
Monterey Bay Recommendation: Look for other "Best Choice" seafood options first. If none are available, hake from the U.S. Mid-Atlantic and New England is a "Good Alternative," but know that these sources have environmental issues. Say "No, thanks" to white hake from Canada.
Uses in Cooking: This utility fish can be baked, broiled, deep fried, smoked, or sauteed. It is most often sold as fish and chips or fish sticks.
Similar Fish: Cod, haddock, pollock
Description: Extremely mild flavor, similar to cod, but with softer texture. This fish is easy to damage and deteriorates quickly, so inspect quality carefully.
Fun Facts: The popularization of refrigerators and freezers in the home was probably the worst thing that could have happened to the hake. Due to its quick spoilage, this fish was rarely kept before the 1920s. Since then insatiable demand, particularly in Europe has put intense pressure on the hake population.