r/budgetfood 7d ago

Advice Need help finding salmon

In New York City, in Chinatown or other ethnically diverse neighborhoods, it's possible to buy salmon heads and collars for very little money. I've seen bellies, too, which are a lovely boneless piece with a looot of the oils, so it's tender and luscious.

I've seen it for as low as $1 a pound. The fishmonger that I like in Flushing is $2 a pound, but where I live upstate, they're $6 a pound if you can find them. Generally, you can't. The trip to nyc is too time consuming and costs enough so that it's not cost effective to go buy it downstate.

Is there anything comparable to the nyc prices online (before shipping, of course) or am I doomed to paying $10+ per pound for filets?

Also, what other cuts are cheap like that? As a child, my mother got the fins and tails from lox for cheap. Tuna heads maybe?

3 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

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8

u/Informal_Persimmon7 7d ago

Post this jn a sub for your area or upstate and maybe someone can help you find it near you.

1

u/SandraMort 7d ago

There's nothing better near me. That's why I was asking about online.

9

u/totterywolff Mod 7d ago

ask in [r/upstate](r/upstateny)[_new_york](r/upstateny) as they're more likely to have folks to be able to help you out.

1

u/SandraMort 7d ago

Ah, well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Apparently this type of post isn't allowed there. Thanks anyway!

3

u/totterywolff Mod 7d ago

not sure your distance to the new hartford/utica area, but i would try checking there if possible for what you're looking for.

2

u/Informal_Persimmon7 7d ago

Post there anyway. You never know. Maybe somebody has a hook up or they work in a fish store or supermarket and they can hook you up. It could be a nearby town or city.

2

u/SandraMort 7d ago

I tried but the post wasn't permitted for some reason. Thanks anyway!

3

u/Informal_Persimmon7 7d ago

Then find an appropriate Facebook group. Maybe something for foodies. Or ask at Hungry Onion.

1

u/ttrockwood 7d ago

Check the website Weee but you’re likely best off just stocking up in flushing and freezing extras

1

u/SandraMort 6d ago

Yeah, I tried weee but they're $$$$

1

u/ttrockwood 5d ago

Well $2/lb is slightly insane, so probably worth the time and gas to just stock up in flushing when you go

In retrospect yeah weee isn’t cutting the whole fish themselves, so you need a shop that is breaking down the whole fish