• Smell - Fresh and mild;
• Eyes - Should bulge a little and be clear (keeping in mind that some fish have cloudier eyes, such as walleye pike);
• Flesh - Should be firm and shiny;
• Gills - Should be bright red and without slime;
• Texture - When you press the fish, it should spring back; and
• Color and consistency - The edges of the fish should not have any darkening or drying, yellow or greenish discoloration, and should not be mushy or dry.

Here are some things to look for in frozen fresh fish:

• Check that the packaging hasn't been torn, crushed or opened;
• Look for signs of ice crystals or frost, which could indicate the fish has been refrozen or frozen for a long period of time; and
• If the fish packaging is found at the top of the freezer or above the frost line, avoid it.

Choosing the Best Fresh Fruit

The freshest fruit is really the best fruit. Inspect all of your fruit to make sure it's free from:

• Mildew
• Bruising
• Cuts
• Mold
• Other blemishes

Keep in mind that some fruits may need additional time to ripen - which is fine. You can ripen many types of fruit at home by placing in a brown paper bag. Close the bag loosely and keep it stored at room temperature.

You can also speed up the ripening process by placing a ripe banana or apple in the same bag as the under-ripe fruit.