Hoki
Macruronus novaezelandiae · Fish
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Hoki is a slender, soft-fleshed deep-water fish of the Southern Ocean, a member of the hake and cod order with a long, tapering, almost eel-like "rat-tail" body. Its lean, moist, snow-white flesh flakes finely and tastes mild and faintly sweet, which is why it became one of the world's great fish-finger, fish-and-chips and frozen-fillet fishes — the unassuming whitefish behind countless fast-food fillets.
Picking a good onedrag
Just landed: bright eyes, clean sea smellOff: opaque, flabby, sour or ammonia smell
Counter freshBuy itCook to 63 C / 145 F inside. Thawed, it may lack bright eyes but must smell fresh. Frozen: skip torn packs or frost inside.
Cut flesh of the filletShine going, a waxy look, edges still clean
Press the fleshA little less elastic, still springs back
Eyes and gills, whole fishEyes slightly sunken; gills paler, slime clear
Smell at the fleshNeutral and mild, nothing bad