Rehydrating and Desalting
Before consumption, salted fish products must be desalted. The length of the desalting process depends on the thickness of the fish and on how long it has been cured. It may take as long as 3 days for the thickest pieces. For the boneless skinless pieces or product typically only 1 day of desalting is necessary.
To achieve the best result we have provided these simple guidelines for the desalting process.
1. Take the precut portion of codfish and rinse excessive salt under the tap.
2. Place the fish in a large bowl of water covering the fish. The bowl of fish should be kept in cool conditions, during the whole process.
3. Change the water once a day.
4. Some of the thinner cuts of the fish are ready to be cooked
after 2 days. For the thickest cuts we recommend 3 days. After this process either cook or you may freeze for future use / ready to cook.
Before ending the desalting process you may break off a small piece and chew to get a sense of the salt level and decide to continue the process until the fish is to your salt preference.
EMERGENCY DESALT- If you find the fish is still too salty right before you are about to cook or serve it, you can do another par boil in milk which may accelerate the removal of the salt at the last minute and also tenderize it a bit (if you desire that).
Common Question about the appearance of the fish before this process –
Is dark or yellowish color bacalhau mean good, bad, old?
Most people do prefer the appearance of salted cod with a
lighter / whiter coloration. But for that to occur it means that
the codfish gets a lesser cure. Proper curing involves a heavy
salting process, plus good drying process. These two steps
give the fish a light yellow coloration and a unique flavor.
The images below show a loin that is not as light in color or attractive as some may want. However, you can see the progression as we soaked it – the color was restored to its natural state, the blemish disappeared and an elegant meal was made.
Jamon (from Spain)
Jamon Iberico by Finca Helechal (Iberico and Also Available Iberico De Bellota-Acorn Fed (The Best))
100% IBERICO GRAIN-FED Free Range
Our Grain-fed free range Ibérico is 100% Ibérico, fed on grains, grasses and all that nature provides. Also known as the “Kobe beef of pork” because of its intense marbling, flavors and uniqueness, the FERMIN Ibérico ham is the first authentic Ibérico to enter the US market. Cured for a minimum of 36 months, this Ibérico ham…melts in your mouth
Size: 2oz/57g
Origin: Salamanca, Spain
Cortes Presunto Portugues
Cured Portuguese Ham -
Size: 4oz/114g/11+ Slices
Origin: Portugal
For Best Results:
Vacuum-packed allows the consumer to enjoy our products in the most convenient way, making it easier to keep them in excellent condition without having to worry about climate conditions. However, it is important to open the container an hour before consumption, in order for the product to reach room temperature and to bring out all its flavor.