Sablefish-Black Cod

Black Cod Flavor Scale

Flavor
Oil
Texture

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Fresh Black Cod (Sablefish) is a richly flavored fish with a high oil content and satiny texture.  Chefs-Resources' Black Cod page shows when fresh Black Cod is available, what it’s flavor profile and taste is like, the butchering yield % so you can determine your yield percentage for plate costing purposes.  You’ll also find a Black Cod nutrition table, the Flavor Scale, and links for further Sablefish research.

Black Cod (Sablefish) Flavor Profile

Due to its high fat content Sablefish has a velvety texture (hence the name "Butterfish") with a mild but distinctive flavor profile.  The flesh is white with large, delicate flakes. 

Sablefish (Black Cod) Alternate Names

Butterfish, Black Cod, Blackcod, Coalfish, Alaska Cod, Skilfish, Sable

 

Fresh Black Cod (Sablefish) Availability

Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh.  Frozen available all year long. 

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Black Cod Yield Percentage and Recovery

Item	To Skn/On Fillets	To Skn/Off Fillets	Notes
Whole Head/On gutted
Whole Head/Off gutted	59%	48%
Skin/On Fillets	--	80%
For detailed butchering yield % and recovery see Black Cod Yield Percentage

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range & Habitat

 Sablefish are found from southern California to the Bering Sea.  It dwells in muddy areas of the ocean floor at depths of 1000-9000 feet deep.

Typical Wholesale Products

 H&G, Fillets, Steaks

 

Black Cod Nutritional Information based upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving. * Calories/Calories from fat 334 * Protein grams  23 * Fat grams  26.2 * Saturated fat grams  5.5 * Sodium milligrams  96 * Cholesterol milligrams  84 * Omega-3 grams  2.7 more Black Cod nutrition info

 

Additional Resources:

National Marine Fisheries Service	Seafood Watch