Salmon roe

Japanese name

 * ikura

About salmon roe
Salmon roe is produced in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest as well as in Russia. Salmon caviar is large orange berries that are alive with fresh flavor. Fish eggs can be easily processed into caviar or fish bait. For high-quality products, the egg sacs should be carefully removed from the fish at the place of catch, put into plastic bags, and packed in ice. Caviar can be made from the eggs of a number of fish including salmon, mullet, herring, sturgeon, steelhead, striped bass, and shad. Depending on the stage of maturity, salmon eggs may be in "loose" or "tight" skeins when taken from the fish. Eggs in loose skeins have reached the stage where they can be readily separated from the membrane without special treatment. These are excellent for preserving as single salmon eggs. Eggs in tight skeins can be used in preparing cluster egg baits. Salmon caviar is produced from chum and pink salmon. The color of the roe varies from orange to dark red.

Used as a garnish and as hors d'oeuvres, roe is sold in well-stocked grocery stores and delicatessens.