You can taste a difference too, because Red Salmon tend to have a richer, fuller flavour and a firmer texture, whilst Pink Salmon have a milder flavour and a softer texture. The differences in taste also mean that both fish are used in different ways, when it comes to preparing recipes.
Red Salmon vs Pink Salmon: Nutrition
Red salmon have greater amounts of calories, more of the fatty acids and oils that people value, and a higher amount of protein than pink salmon.
Red salmon usually refers to sockeye, which has a rich taste and a denser texture than other salmon species. Pink salmon (sometimes called humpback salmon due to its transformation during spawning) is the most plentiful and smallest of the Pacific salmon species, and is most often used in commercial canning.
Grab wild Alaskan canned salmon if you're substituting for the fresh stuff. Plus, the more omega-3's in your salmon, the better for both your overall brain and heart health—two of the most important organs in the body.
Canned salmon is a nutritious choice
Canned salmon is rich in protein, vitamin D, calcium (from the bones) and omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats are heart healthy fats and also promote healthy brain development in babies.
Still, small amounts of mercury can pose a risk to young children, unborn babies and the babies of nursing mothers, so the recommended servings of even low-mercury canned light tuna and salmon are no more than 2 to 3 servings per week of 3 to 4 ounces for folks who fall into those categories.
Fish Low in Mercury
Canned salmon has an average mercury load of 0.014 ppm and can reach measurements up to 0.086 ppm. For fresh/frozen salmon, the average mercury load is 0.022 ppm with max concentrations of 0.19 ppm. Oysters have an average amount of just 0.012 ppm, with the highest measurement of 0.25 ppm.
Best Low Mercury: Safe Catch Wild Pink Salmon
With the lowest mercury of any brand of canned fish, the Safe Catch Wild Pink Salmon is a handy solution for your pantry.
Rinse sodium-containing canned foods, such as beans, tuna, and vegetables before eating. This removes some of the sodium. Canned fish is often packed in oil or water. Canned fish packed in oil is higher in beneficial fats and provides more energy, or calories per serving.
When one drains the liquid from the canned fish (either oil- or water-packed), nutrients are discarded. Rinsing the liquid from the fish flushes away more but is unlikely to remove more [omega-3s from the fish itself]."
According to Berkeley Wellness, almost all canned salmon is wild caught, but not all of it is, so a little label reading is in order. If a can indicates that the fish inside is Atlantic salmon, you'll want to pick a different brand.
Canned salmon contains a variety of key nutrients, including protein, calcium, vitamins B & D, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats promote healthy brain development in babies and may lower your risk of heart disease. By now, the health benefits of salmon are well-known.
The best in terms of lowering cholesterol are tuna, salmon, and swordfish. Sardines and halibut are good options, too.
“Canned salmon is lower in mercury than tuna because they eat lower on the food chain, which means they are lower in toxins,” Michalczyk says. And albacore tuna is higher in mercury then light tuna is, if you are choosing which type of tuna to go for more frequently.
In conclusion, canned salmon is a convenient and affordable option for those who love salmon. It's a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein, but it's important to be aware of the potential drawbacks such as high sodium content, lower quality, and environmental concerns.
The USDA cautions: “do not rinse raw fish, seafood, meat, and poultry. Bacteria in these raw juices can splash and spread to other foods and surfaces. Cooking foods thoroughly will kill harmful bacteria.”
Drain a little of the naturally occurring juices (the oily liquid in the can comes solely from the fish itself, there is nothing added but a little salt), then add a little olive oil plus some chopped onion. That really evens the flavor out in a very delicious way.
Canned fish such as tuna and salmon contain a range of essential vitamins and minerals and are an excellent source of nutrition. Oily fish such as tuna and salmon are high in omega-3 fatty acids and are also a great source of: High quality protein. Selenium.
If you're concerned about limiting the amount of mercury you consume, and if you've eaten no other fish during the week, Consumer Reports says up to 12 ounces a week of Bumble Bee Chunk Light, Chicken of the Sea Chunk Light, Safe Catch Wild Elite, and StarKist Chunk Light tunas are the safer choices among the products ...
Canned salmons contained the lowest amounts of mercury and arsenic, while canned sardines were low in mercury but very high in arsenic (2.13 to 2.17 ppm).
Fish and shellfish in this category, such as salmon, catfish, tilapia, lobster and scallops, are safe to eat two to three times a week, or 8 to 12 ounces per week, according to the FDA.
The traditional treatment for mercury poisoning is to stop all exposures. In many cases, chelation therapy is also used. This involves giving a medication (the chelator) which goes into the body and grabs the metal (chelos is the Greek word for claw) then carries the metal out of the body, usually into the urine.