Eating fish head and shrimps head...

Philippines
June 8, 2009 6:59am CST
My boyfriend who is not from here, in the philippines, always asked me if i eat fish head and shrimps head. and i said yes because the taste of the seafoods are either in the head or the belly. and also because i grow up that most of the people here are eating the head. they said its dirty but we cleaned it, i myself cleaned it so i know its not dangerous. although for people who have hypertensions, its now advisable. What about you? did you eat fish head or shrimps head? or you throw it away. People in the US and canada, i know they dont eat it. when they buy their seafoods, its no head already and frozen.
4 people like this
25 responses
• India
8 Jun 09
We Bengalis love every edible part of fish and the head is definitely edible. Not only that, it’s a very prized part of the fish coz it is believed that the fish brain is very high is food value and is particularly good for eyes and brain development of growing children. Regarding shrimps, we clean it and mix it with chopped onions, chillies, ginger garlic paste, some salt and bind it with flour and make wonderfully crispy fritters. As for large prawns, the head has that yellow substance which enhances its taste when cooked properly.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
yes, it has different vitamins that is good for everybodys health, i think seafoods are good for people who have goiter. But now our family have hypertension, we cant eat the shrimps head anymore, since it is the one who have the substance that make blood pressure go higher.
1 person likes this
• United States
8 Jun 09
People in my country also enjoy eating fish heads and shrimp heads. I don't really like eating fish heads because I don't like the taste. I don't eat much fish anyway but I love eating shrimp and eat shrimp heads too.
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
i dont eat the shrimps head because it make my blood pressure high, it makes me feel dizzy so i stopped. With fish head, i still do but not all the head. there are certain fish that i eat the head. i also dont eat it if im not the one or my mom is not the one who cook the fish. but i do love the belly.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
8 Jun 09
Fish head is considered to be the best part of a fish in China. We usually serve fish head soup when we have guests. I guess that you are sure to know that the fish head soup is very tasty with some ginger and tofu. I love the soup very much. Also I love to eat shrimps. Shrimps are my favorite. I eat the shrimps head if they are fried, but not water boiled. Take care, friend.
• China
9 Jun 09
I am glad you like it.
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
I love chinese food. i always go to chinese restaurant whenever i have the chance. We have a place here called chinese restaurant, there price are really resonable and the taste is really delicious. We really are trying to learn how to cook that way but nobody can copy how they do it.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
I also eat the head part of shrimps, but not the head part of fish. I do agree with you that the head part are tastier than any other part. Most foreigners do not eat the head part. They usually buy their fishes and shrimps in fillet form already. Well, in our country we usually eat those parts that more foreigners do not like to take. But obviously if they only tried it, they would most likely like it too!
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
I believe we are of the same country my friend. And if I am not mistaken, your family name is very common in our area, Cebu City. Anyway, shrimps are high in cholesterol and fats so its not good to eat it all the time. Maybe perhaps once in a while. My wife does the eating of the fish head while I eat the tail portion. That is why I rarely eat the head of the fish. Do take care....
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
Yes, in our country we eat everythig, chicken head, intestines of chicken and pig. if we have to think about it, its actually gross but if you know who do the cleaning, then it safe to eat. Going back to fish head, its delicious although its also fatty. with shrimps, i refrain myself eating for health reason.
@geniustiger (1694)
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
I love to eat it like candy I taste the its deliciousness if I can taste it head. I need rice for it and also fried fish its good to eat. I want to eat its brain so that I will be intelligent. It is true that its yummy is found in the head .
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
I eat the head of fish or shrimp. I like it when the fish is fried crispy so I can't eat the head. Here in the Philippines as much as possible we don't throw any parts of fish or chicken. We remove the gills and clean it so we can eat the head of the fish I know that shrimp head can cause high blood. Sinigang is the best way to cook the head of the big fish. I don't think eating fish head make you smart I think it is a myth.
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
yes, its delicious and for kids its yummy but i dont know if the head will help you to become smarter. yes fried fish and sinigang sa miso is what my favorites, i dont like fish with different sauce like sweet and sour or lemons, i dont it eat.
@rdadey (484)
• Canada
8 Jun 09
I live in Newfoundland in Canada, and this is a province that was built on fish. Many people do eat the fish heads and there is nothing wrong with it. Some like it and some don't; I don't myself...lol. It's no more dirty than any other part of a fishes body. How you cook it is a different matter and depends on how you like it.
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
my boyfriend is from canada and he is the one who told me that people there dont eat the head since its dirty. he also told me that when they buy the fish or shrimp its head is already removed. Well maybe he was just talking about his family but generalizing all canadian, lol.
1 person likes this
@rdadey (484)
• Canada
8 Jun 09
Guess your boyfriend is from a non-fishing province. I've been in supermarkets all across Canada and you can buy fish with the heads on. You can buy fish at different stages of being cleaned, right down to filleted and deboned. Some people don't even want to touch it they're so squeamish. I'm sure there are some species where parts of a fish may be bad to eat like the puffer fish.
• Philippines
11 Jun 09
I also like eating the fish head including the eyes. My bf is a Belgian guy and they don't eat the head of the fish as well in their country. When he was here last month together with me, he even closed his eyes when I was eating the fish head as he finds it really yucky. I think I want to bu fish with its head still intact as you can know whether its really fresh or not. I don't like buying frozen fish or seafoods in the supermarkets.
• Philippines
11 Jun 09
but did you know that frozen foods are good most especially for those who have hypertensions. i dont know if this is true but they said thats why americans love frozens. But same with you, i more on with fresh seafoods. buying with head fish, we can check if it is fresh.
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
8 Jun 09
I love those part... they are good tho. some people won't eat it cuz it is dirty but not for me. I love them so much and it is the best of all part.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
if you are the one who will cooked it then you will make sure its cleaned for you to enjoyed the fish head. and yes this is the best part for me also.
• Malaysia
9 Jun 09
It's fine to eat fish head, but shrimps head are not encourage to eat. As I know shrimps head contains some nice and tasty material, but that is high colestrol. It is advisable not to take especially the elders.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
thats it, high in colesterol and that is the reason i didnt eat the shrimps head anymore. although that is the most delicious part of the shrimp, when you put vinegar and garlic. the best.
@BlueGoblin (1829)
• United States
8 Jun 09
You can buy fish in the US and Canada with the head attached but most people like the head removed. When I was on vacation in Michigan the restaurant served the fish with its head still on. At first it was quite disturbing seeing the fish stare at you but I quickly got over it. I don't eat shrimp so I can't answer the second part of the question.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
i dont eat the eyeball, if i was the one who do the cooking, i removed it right away. So it will not bother me when im eating it, like the fish is looking back at me, lol. Maybe the owner of the restaurant are from asia that's why they served the fish head.
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
I can't see how a fish/shrimp head is dirtier than the other body parts save for the fact that it contains the gills. However, if the gills are removed and the head is washed, it is as clean as the other body parts. I think others don't eat the head part primarily to avoid being pricked with the fish bones which are quiet abundant in the head. Secondarily, there are those who don't like eating the slimy brain and eye covering. Also, there are very limited edible part of the head and the cleaning time is not worth the meat that you can get from it.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
we actually dont eat the head part but we just sip it. its the delicious taste thats why we eat the head not for anything else. i dont eat all kind of fish head, i just eat certain fish.
@mermaidivy (15395)
• United States
8 Jun 09
I'm from Asia country too and it is normal for us to eat fish head, shrimp head etc, they can be cooked to taste good! But my hubby is a caucasian, he thinks food head is gross... especially the fish head, he doesn;t like the fish eyes,he always thinks it is looking at him! :-p But I think it is okay to eat them as long as they are cooked right and well done!
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
Thats what my boyfriend told me, that eating head fish is gross. He actually referred me to animals who eat head fish, its offending but that how he is. Newayz, i will not stop eating head fish because he dont like it.
• Malaysia
9 Jun 09
i also eat fish head and shrimp too.actually its delicious. maybe others who not taste it will said that things dirty or something but believe me once you taste it it will bring some feeling to you..most asean people like fish head and shrimps.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
yes, most of asian people love fish, were more to seafoods than meat. because we are a healthy buff. lol, a lot of us here in the philippines are into diet so they eat fish than meat. i think fish oil is really good for our liver. thats why most doctors are prescribing to eat tuna because of the omega 3 or fish oil.
@fheroan (615)
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
lol..im from the philippines. maybe your boyfriend live in manila or in some places that dont have much of seafood...coz seafood is very expensive here too..well, i eat the shrimps head but not the fish's head...shrimps head are really tasty, sometimes they were crushed to flavor some viands we eat...so I think eating those kinds of food is not dangerous.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
my boyfriend is from canada and he dont eat fish that much, he is more to steak and fish thats why he suffered from mild stroke 3 months ago. he said fish is for poor people like me. Because he thought that fish is cheap. i always explain to him that the reason why i eat fish is because for health reason.
@subha12 (18441)
• India
9 Jun 09
Yes we eat. we are from Eastern part of India. We eat fish everyday. its good to eat the heads of fishes and prawns. i like them.
@yxinxin (467)
• China
9 Jun 09
I eat both fish head and shrimps head. Fish head is considered to be the most healthy part in my place because it contains the fish's brain that will make you smarter. So enjoy it!
@CJay77 (4438)
• Australia
9 Jun 09
I am for the Philippines and yes I do eat fish head specially when it's deep fried, but I don't like the eye balls, lol. I don't eat the shrimp head, but I do save it and add it when I cook noodles for flavours.
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
I do eat fish and shrimp's head. Well not really eat the shrimp's head but more like sipping the juice from it. I would eat it when the cooking is done as crispy shrimps where the heard is too crispy and yummy to eat. Fish head on the other hand, is equally yummy. I think is has the best tasting meat on the part of the fish. You'll noticed it when you grill the fish.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
yes, we just get the juice of the shrimp but did you know that it is not healthy to eat the shrimps head because it will coz your blood pressure go higher. Like the yellow or sometimes orange part of the crambs. I that is their fats. But we cant help it because it the delicious part of the seafoods, the heads.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
I personally don't like eating the heads as much as I would the flesh of the fish or shrimp. But my mom loves fish heads! She claims it is really good!
@ruilong (158)
• China
8 Jun 09
Hi,my friend.I often eat fish head.it tastes no bad.Shrimp head,I don't like it.
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
I checked your profile and your also from china. Yes, chinese used the fish head for their soup. As what i said, i love how you cook your food although sometimes its too oily but i love your steamed fish, soimai and tofu. I missed eating chinese food, its been awile.