The preparation of smaller herring for canning is meticulous. Initially, these fish are held in a purse seine for over 24 hours to ensure their stomachs are free from feed. This crucial step prevents enzyme reactions that could degrade the fish's quality. Once the herring are ready, they are loaded onto boats using a large vacuum pump and salted to begin the preservation process.
At the processing plant, the fish undergo further salting after being beheaded and eviscerated. Following this, they are reheated and placed in small rectangular cans. The herring are then steamed for 18-20 minutes to ensure proper cooking. After steaming, the liquid in the cans is drained and replaced with vegetable oil, tomato sauce, or mustard sauce, depending on the desired final product. The cans are sealed, heat-processed, and cooled, resulting in a shelf-stable product.
Larger herring are also canned, often whole, in larger oval cans with tomato sauce. Alternatively, they can be cut into bite-sized pieces and packed similarly. These products are designed to be shelf-stable, offering a convenient and long-lasting food source.
Beyond canning, herring are also pickled. This process involves using salt, vinegar, sugar, and spices, with additional ingredients like sour cream and onions sometimes added before sealing in glass jars. Pickled herring variants include rollmops (pickled herring strips wrapped around pickles or onions) and kippered herring (salted and lightly smoked). These products, however, require refrigeration to maintain their quality.
Another preservation method involves heavily salting and smoking herring, producing a shelf-stable product. Additionally, the scales from herring skins are collected in large quantities to manufacture pearl essence, a valuable by-product used in various industries.
In summary, sea herring's journey from ocean to table encompasses a range of processing techniques, each ensuring the fish's quality and longevity. Whether canned, pickled, or smoked, herring provides a versatile and essential food source, demonstrating its global significance and multifaceted utility.
The Journey of Sea Herring: From Ocean to Table
