Snapper: Nutritional Information, How to Find, and More

What is snapper?

Snapper are saltwater fish in the family Lutjanidae, which contains around 113 different species. These carnivorous fish primarily feed on smaller fish and crustaceans. They are deep ocean fish, living between 350 and 1,600ft below the surface. Their primary habitat is between the Carolinas and upper South America, including the Gulf of Mexico. Snapper get their name from their large canine teeth and their protruding lower jaw. 

Red snapper is the most commonly known and eaten type of snapper in the world, although red snapper can refer to many different species depending on what country you are in. The red snapper gets its name from its rosy red color, which gets deeper with age. The snapper you find in the store average around 2lbs, but they can grow as large as 50lbs and 40in in length. Snapper can live for over 50 years. 

Snapper is commonly stuffed with lemons and herbs and grilled whole. If you don’t like the appearance of a whole red snapper on your plate, you can pan-fry, bake, or steam the filets. Snapper also holds up well to cajun blackening due to its firm texture. It can even be used raw in sushi if you obtain a piece of sashimi-grade snapper.

How is snapper caught?

Almost all snapper at your local grocery store has been line-caught by commercial fishermen. The commercial farming of snapper is still in its infancy but is slowly starting to grow. Snapper are caught from a commercial fishing boat using traditional hook and line rods and reels. This helps prevent bycatch and damage to other fish populations. Circular hooks are also required in certain fisheries, making bycatch easier to release without injury. 

The fishing practice of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico is very sustainable and is rebuilding under the current management plan of the fishery. They have placed catch limits and shortened seasons to help the population rebuild.

When is snapper in season?

The snapper season is different every year depending on the determined health of each fishery. Typically, it ranges anywhere from early summer until winter. The snapper season closes once the set weight limit is reached by the commercial fishermen. Every season is determined by when the catch limits were reached in the previous season. They then know if the following season can be extended or shortened based on these numbers. 

What is the nutritional value of snapper?

Snapper is a lean fish with a high level of protein and less fat than other popular fish. One 3oz serving of red snapper contains:

• 109 calories
• 22g of protein
• 1g of fat
• 0g of carbohydrates
• 59% of the recommended daily value (RDV) of selenium
• 50% of the RDV of vitamin B12
• 20% of the RDV of vitamin B6
• 17% of the RDV of phosphorus
• 13% of the RDV of potassium

Snapper contains minimal amounts of omega-3 fatty acids compared to other fish and has moderate levels of mercury.

What should I look for when buying snapper?

There are a few things to look out for when buying snapper at the grocery store. One of the easiest ways to tell if a whole fish isn’t fresh is to look at its eyes. If they are cloudy or sunken, give them a pass. If they are dark and shiny, it is fresh. If you are buying filets, the flesh should be firm and bright in color. The skin should have a metallic shine to it as well. If it has a fishy aroma or looks slimy, do not buy it.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for snapper via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for snapper.

How to store snapper

When you purchase snapper from your local fishmonger, the first thing to do when you bring it home is to rinse it off with cold water. Next, take a paper towel and completely dry the whole fish or filet. Once the fish is dried off, wrap it in plastic wrap or put it in a zip-top bag and store it on ice in the refrigerator. Just like any other fresh fish, try to cook it the day you bought it or the quality will quickly degrade.

The best way to freeze deep-sea fish filets is the ice glazing method. Lay out your snapper fillets on a baking sheet and put them in the freezer until they are frozen. Dip each filet in ice water and put them back in the freezer until this water freezes. Repeat a couple more times until each piece is encased in a layer of ice. Place the frozen fillets in a zip-top bag, remove any excess air, and put them back in the freezer. This prevents any air from degrading the quality of the fish over a long-term freeze.

How to tell if snapper is bad

If you forgot to eat your snapper, there are a few things to check for to make sure it is still good before you cook it. If the fish has a strong fishy odor to it, feels slimy, or is off in color it is time to pitch it. Raw fish can last 2-3 days on average after you buy it before it goes bad. 

What can I substitute for snapper?

Snapper has a slightly sweet, but mostly mild flavor, making it easy to find substitutes for. The best and easiest to find substitutes for snapper are:

• Grouper
• Sea bass
• Tilapia
• Cod
• Catfish
• Haddock

Where to find fresh fish

Snapper is one of the most popular fish for those looking for a protein-packed meal. When you want to satiate your snapper needs, head to Instacart. Set up same-day grocery delivery, or schedule your groceries to be delivered at a future date.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Standard Market Whole American Red Snapper (1 each)

Frozen Sashimi Snapper Fillet (10 lb)

Red Snapper Fillet (1 lb)

Whole Snapper (each)

Red Snapper Fillet (1 lb)

Fresh Snapper Fillet (per lb)

Fresh Snapper Fillet (per lb)

Instacart

Author

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.