Brook trout Nutrition facts

Brook trout is one of the delicious, freshwater fish native to the Eastern regions of North America. No wonder this beautiful fish has been named as the 'state fish' of nine Eastern states of the U.S, including New York. They generally live in the cold waters of creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes, although some of them migrate to live in the sea ("salters"); in which case, they return to freshwater for spawning like salmon.

In the Taxonomy, brook trout belongs to the Salmonidae family and genus: Salvelinus, and is closely related to char.

Scientific name: Salvelinus fontinalis.

it is also known by many local names as eastern brook trout, speckled trout, brook charr, squaretail, or mud trout.

Brook trout. Courtesy: NPS Photo

Brook trout flesh is semi-fatty, very fine, and aromatic. Their meat also varies in color, being white, ivory, pink and reddish depending upon varying feeding characteristics.

Description:

Brook trout are cool, freshwater, small to medium size, semi-fatty flesh.

Brook trout exhibit a long, streamlined, oval body, small head, and a lower opening mouth that opens back below its eye. The color variations include olive, blue-gray, or brown above with a silvery-white belly. The body features pale yellow worm-like markings along the dorsal surface and dorsal fin and iridescent spots that are lighter than the body color. On their sides, they have small red spots often surrounded by bluish halos among larger yellow spots.

Brook has a light (white) edging on its fins, which distinguishes them from brown trout. The tail fin is square. During spawning time in the fall, male brook trout can turn their color bright orange-red along the sides.

Adult freshwater brook trout measures 10-25 inches and weighs up to 5-20 pounds.

Life cycle:

Brook trout normally mature in two years. They spawn between September and October. Females lay eggs in a gravel nest called "redd". Irrespective of whether fresh or saline-water habitat, trouts return to their natal waters for reproduction. Tiny alevins and small fry thrive well in cold, clean, oxygenated water to survive and feed primarily on planktons, insect larvae, and other fish larvae.

Brook trout lifespan varies widely from 7 years.

Habitat:

Brook trout prefers clean, oxygenated, cold streams of the northern water bodies, but sometimes in brackish water bodies and estuaries also.

Small brook subtypes spend their entire life in freshwater cold streams, rivulets, and small rivers. Anadromous trout (salters) species are migratory, completing their journey from natal freshwater streams, rivers, lakes, cold creeks, estuaries open bay, and to deep ocean waters and back again to its natal waters to spawn.

Adult brook feeds on insects, mollusks, and small fish.

Health Benefits of Brook trout

Brook trout is low in calories; 3.5 oz fish hold just 110 calories in contrast to 119 and 179 of rainbow trout and salmons respectively.
Brook trouts carry a good amount of protein. Their lean meat composes 21.2 g/3.5 oz (38% of RDI) of protein, being complete in all essential amino acids in healthy proportions.
Studies suggest that consumption of seafood decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke, obesity, and hypertension. Seafood is low in saturated fat and higher in “heart healthful” polyunsaturated fat, including omega-3 fatty acids.
American Heart Association recommends consumption of at least 2 servings of oily fish to fulfil requirements of essential fatty acids, protein, minerals and fat-soluble vitamins.
All species of trouts are rich source of vitamin-A, vitamin-D and long chain omega-3 fatty acids (PUFA).
As in other oily-fish types, brook trout also is a rich source of omega-3 eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA), docosapantaenoicacid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) fatty acids. Research studies suggest that these fatty acids, particularly DHA, play an important role in the development of neural system, especially in infants and children.
According to Cornell University and the New York Sea Grant Extension Program. 2012- these fatty acids can help lower blood pressure and heart rate and improve cardiovascular function. For example, research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) that can lead to sudden death. Omega-3 fatty acids also decrease triglyceride levels and slow the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque.
In adults, several large trials have evaluated the effect of fish or fish oils on heart disease. In the "GISSI Prevention Trial, heart attack survivors who took a 1-gram capsule of omega-3 fats every day for three years were less likely to have a repeat heart attack, stroke, or die of sudden death than those who took a placebo".
The essential vitamins in brook trout contains include niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin B12, thiamin, and riboflavin. In addition, being an oily fish, trout have generous amounts of vitamins-A and D.
It has small amounts of Vitamin-A (57 IU/100g) on comparison to salmon's. vitamin-A and omega-3's are essential for healthy mucosa and skin.
Its flesh carries less vitamin-D (155 IU/100g) than salmon's (526 IU/100 g). Vitamin D plays an important role in the calcium metabolism, and offers protection from cancers.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that pregnant women eat at least 8 ounces and up to 12 ounces (340 grams) of a variety of seafood lower in mercury a week.
Trouts are naturally rich source of minerals including calcium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. It is also a rich dietary source of iodine.

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:
**Rainbow trout**), raw, Nutritive value per 100 g. (Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
Principle	Nutrient Value	Percent of RDA
Energy	119 Kcal	6%
Carbohydrates	0 g	0%
Protein	20.5 g	36.6%
Total Fat	3.46 g	17.3%
Cholesterol	59 mg	20%
Dietary Fiber	0 g	0%
Vitamins
Niacin	5.38 mg	34%
Pyridoxine	0.406 mg	31%
Riboflavin	0.105 mg	8%
Thiamin	0.123 mg	10%
Vitamin B12	4.45 μg	185%
Vitamin-A	62 IU	2%
Vitamin-C	2.4 mg	2.7%
Electrolytes
Sodium	31 mg	2%
Potassium	481 mg	10.2%
Minerals
Calcium	67 mg	6.7%
Iron	0.7 mg	9%
Magnesium	31 mg	8%
Phosphorus	271 mg	39%
Selenium	271 μg	23%
Zinc	1.08 mg	10%
Omega-3 fatty acids (PUFA)
EPA (20:5 n-3)	0.167 g	--
DPA (22:5 n-3)	0.106 g	--
DHA (22:6 n-3)	0.42 g	--

Buying

You can buy brook trout fresh or frozen, whole, trimmed, fileted, and sometimes steaks. It is also available smoked, salt-cured, or in cans.

Buy good quality fish from authentic sellers. Buy a whole brook trout side or a fillet that is from the thickest cut of the fish. Wild-caught trouts will have pinker and brighter flesh than farmed ones. Wild trout are nutritionally rich and contain fewer toxins than farmed ones. There are some reported cases of artificial colorants/dye in farmed trouts to portray them as pink, wild trout.

In the markets, you can find products ready-to-cook pâté, kabobs, and marinated and peppered trout steaks and fillets, salted trout, and burgers.

Brook trout never smell fishy, amine odor, if so, avoid them. Also, avoid smoked trout with leaky and wet edges.

It spoils quickly as its flesh is fatty and attracts bacteria. Always store fillets/sections of fish in a deep freezer.

Preparation

Prepare trout as simply as possible so as not to mask its delicate flavor. Smoked brook trout is equally delicious.

The scales on the skin can be left on. The fillets are very easy to remove. The flesh close to the head of the trout is more delicate than the flesh nearer the tail. If you prefer to skin, just peel it inside out. Remove any bones before cooking.

Brook trout can be substituted in all recipes that call for char, salmon, and other trout members. It may be pan-roasted, shallow fried, broiled, foil baked and grilled in the preparation of a variety of mouth-watering menus. Just ensure it should be cooked until the meat is opaque and flakes off easily.

Here are some serving ideas:

Baked trout. Photo credit: Jan Murin

Brook trout is employed in the preparation of sandwiches, salads, omelets, pasta dishes, mousses and quiches.
Smoked brook is served with capers and cream cheese as appetizer.
Marinade whole brook trout with lemon slices and herbs (minced garlic, thyme, parsley, peppercorns, etc) for an hour. Then bake or grill and serve with with lemon wedges.
Canned brook trout is employed in mousse, soufflés, pâté and crepes. As a spread, it is used on sandwiches, and canapés.
In Japan ikura is a red caviar made from the roe of salmon, trout, or cod. It is employed in sushi, and rice dishes in Japan.

Safety profile

Brook trout, being seafood, may harbor microorganisms, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, that may cause foodborne illness. It is important to handle seafood safely to prevent foodborne illness. (Medical disclaimer).