Cant remember what makes fish stink so bad.....

[pippo]

Fish have to be placed on ice asap after caught. I remember if not, an enzyme/whatever starts converting stuff into stinks like the famous amines. Anyone know the details/correct explanation?

 

Thanks!

[StringJunky]

Compiling the assorted bits I found: Trimethylamine oxide (odorless) is decomposed to trimethylamine by bacterial action followed by decomposition to dimethylamine and formaldahyde through enzymatic action.

 

Got most of it from here:

 

http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/tan/x5990e/X5990e01.htm

Edited May 2, 2010 by StringJunky

[pippo]

good source, string. Thanks. The article noted that much still is unknown, but they go on with the nose WILL know. Reminds me once as a kid, I caught 5 or so eels, put them in the garage intending to clean them within an hour, forgot them in there the whole weekend. Whoooooooooah!!

[StringJunky]

You think that's bad... I had the bright idea of liberally sprinkling dried blood AND fishmeal in the soil of one of my houseplants. I didn't figure it out the source straight away because it was a trailing plant in a hanging basket above my head....memorable...conjure up visions of the air filled with the stench of dead fish, maggots and corpses!

[Phototoxin]

If I might add.. as far as I'm aware lemons neutralise this hence why you often see salmon displayed on ice with lemons as it cancels the pong!