Sablefish-Black Cod
Black Cod (Sablefish) Flavor Profile
Fresh Black Cod (Sablefish) is a richly flavored fish with a high oil content and satiny texture. They are highly valued for their buttery texture and are frequently sold to Japan before the US market.
Due to its high fat content Sablefish has a velvety texture (hence the name “Butterfish” is a common market name) with a mild but distinctive flavor profile. The flesh is white with large, delicate flakes.
Black Cod Flavor Scale
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Typical Cooking Methods
Alternate Names
Butterfish, Black Cod, Blackcod, Coalfish, Alaska Cod, Skilfish, Sable, Gindara (sushi)
Description(Anoplopoma fimbria)
Sablefish are a groundfish with dark gray or black skin on their upper body and lighter gray on the belly. They average about 8-10 Lbs but can be up to 40 Lbs. Although they are sometimes called Black Cod, they are not a member of the Cod species. Sablefish are a long-lived species which can reach a maximum age of up to 94 years.
Fresh Black Cod (Sablefish) 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.
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Black Cod Butchering Yield % and Recovery
| Item | To Skin/On Fillets | To Skin/Off Fillets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Head/On ungutted | 40% | 35% | |
| Whole Head/On gutted | 45% | 36% | |
| Whole Head/Off gutted | 59% | 48% | |
| Skin/On Fillets | — | 80% | If you have additional yield info on this fish please leave a comment below. |
| For detailed butchering yield % and recovery see Black Cod Yield Percentage | |||
| Yield % varies according to a number of factors including: size of fish, season, sex, and the skill of your fishmonger. | |||
Range & Habitat
Sablefish are found from southern California to the Bering Sea in the Eastern Pacific, and from Kamchatka, Russia to southern Japan in the Western Pacific. It dwells in muddy areas of the ocean floor at depths of 1000-9000 feet deep.
Typical Wholesale Products
H&G, Fillets, Steaks
Sablefish Sustainability Info
| Name | Alternate Names | Catch Method | Catch Region | Seafood Watch | Ocean Wise | Sea Choice | Mercury Concerns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sablefish | Black Cod, Butterfish, Gindara | Wild, pots, bottom longline | Canadian Pacific, Alaska |
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Moderate |
| Sablefish | Black Cod, Butterfish, Gindara | Wild, bottom trawl, bottom longline | Washington, Oregon, California |
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Moderate |
| 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. | |||||||
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= Best
Choice/Recommended
= Good
Alternative
= Avoid/Not Recommended
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Updated July 2013 |
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Black cod from WA, OR, and CA are rated Good Alternative either due to bottom trawling which hurts the habitat, or by catch from their bottom long-lines.
Nutritional Information
based upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving.
| * Calories/Calories from fat | 334 |
| * Protein grams | 23 |
| * Fat grams | 26.2 |
| * Saturated fat grams | 5.5 |
| * Sodium milligrams | 96 |
| * Cholesterol milligrams | 84 |
| * Omega-3 grams | 2.7 |
| more Black Cod nutrition info | |