What Does Sturgeon Taste Like? Does Sturgeon Taste Good?

Sturgeons are large, dark-colored fish that live in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Cooked with other types of seafood like shrimp or crab, sturgeon meat can be prepared to taste like other types of seafood.

In this article, you will know the answer to the query “What Does Sturgeon Taste Like?“.

Despite its price, Sturgeon tastes great and has a great texture.

It’s hard to compare it with anything because it has a similar texture or taste to other fish.

In this article, we answer the question, “What does sturgeon taste like? We will give you an idea of what to expect when eating this dish for the first time.

What is Sturgeon Fish? What Does Sturgeon Fish Look Like?

A sturgeon can range anywhere from seven to twelve feet in length and is usually brown in color.

Sturgeon fish has a large mouth with sharp teeth, two small eyes on either side of their heads, no dorsal fin or anal fin (on the back), and five short gill slits underneath their heads, where they draw oxygenated water for breathing.

Furthermore, under the surface of their skin, there are dark spots that camouflage them against objects beneath the water surface.

Sturgeon fish consume prey by sucking it in with their mouths. Using powerful suction mechanisms, they swallow food whole without chewing while filtering unwanted items like bones and scales using sandpaper-like structures within their throats called gill rakers.

In addition to fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic animals, these fishes eat other types of food such as crustaceans, shrimp, and crabs.

Fish like this are slow-growing species that are endangered in the wild. A sturgeon fish is a carnivore that eats crustaceans and other types of fish.

In modern cuisines, these birds are also known for their eggs, which are considered a delicacy.

Each of these sturgeon fish produces two million eggs over several years before they die of old age or from diseases, floods, or natural disasters.

Pesticides, sewage, mining, and logging were major causes of the sturgeon’s decline.

Furthermore, poachers stole their eggs and sold them for high prices as caviar despite caviar being illegal internationally.

Is Sturgeon a Good Fish to Eat?

The sturgeon is a type of fish that belongs to the family Acipenseridae.

This aquatic animal lived in almost all major water systems worldwide and provided caviar and fish oil.

But now? Fishing pressure, habitat loss from dams, and pollution contribute to the decline of sturgeon populations around the world (Source: NMFS).

The sturgeon is not a great choice for eating nowadays due to its extinction threat.

Although the Sturgeon has no taste now, it used to be regarded as one of the most delicious fish back in the day.

Is it Legal to Eat Sturgeon?

One of the most common questions is, “Is sturgeon legal to eat?

There are caveats to the yes answer, however.

Sturgeons are classified under federal law as an “unrestricted species,” and commercial fishermen are allowed to sell them for consumption if they follow state regulations regarding harvesting those fish (California Department of Fish and Wildlife).

There are many consumers of this fish in the Caspian Sea region of Russia, which is prized for its meat and caviar.

The population of sturgeon has plummeted due to overfishing, with some species declining to fewer than 20 fish left in the world.

Since 1998, Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species prohibits international trade in sturgeons.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, all freshwater species in North America, including white sturgeons, are endangered throughout their range, except those in the Columbia River Basin.

State laws regulate fishing at various times throughout the year based on the spawning season or other reproductive indicators.

The Sturgeon has a slow growth rate and a long lifespan, so recovering from population declines may take decades.

What Does Sturgeon Fish Taste Like?

Let’s move on to the main question, how does it taste?

Having a taste and texture like a sturgeon fish is unique. It’s something you won’t find anywhere else.

The taste of White Sturgeon farmed on a farm is delicate and sweet.

It has a much richer flavor and texture with a spicy or buttery taste, which is characteristic of the wild variety.

Wild Sturgeons are often found in river bottoms, so their flavor may be earthier than farmed fish that live in tanks versus rivers or lakes.

You are eating what’s similar to chicken meat from a local grocery store and what you would get from a farm-raised chicken, except it is more potent since it’s a freshwater fish.

White sturgeon and green sturgeon have similar flavors, but green sturgeon’s meat is more elastic and firmer.

The flavor of raw sturgeon fish can be overpowering for some people.

The taste and texture of the Sturgeon will likely appeal to your palate if you like sushi and ceviche, which are dishes served with raw fish.

Compared to salmon or swordfish, sturgeon fish is a type of fish.

So while it’s different from either, it’s close enough to those flavors to make it easy for those who enjoy them to appreciate what Sturgeon tastes like.

How to Cook and Use Sturgeon in Recipes?

Sturgeon can be prepared in a variety of ways; it can also be cooked in various ways.

The best way to prepare sturgeon is to grill, poach, or pan-fry it in oil.

While the fish tastes great without any seasoning, if you would like to give it a little extra flavor, try adding a little garlic, rosemary, paprika, or another herb like thyme.

When cooking it, you can add some soy sauce and garlic to the pan or fry it with butter.

Sturgeon can be fried by heating oil over medium-high heat and add the fish.

The outside should be brown after about two minutes of cooking on each side.

In addition to balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic, salt, and pepper are also commonly used when cooking this fish. When baking, line the pan with parchment paper so the skin will come off easily (the paper makes it easier to remove the fish from the pan after cooking).

Sturgeon can also be poached, which is another common method of cooking it. You can either do this in a pot on the stove or in the oven.

During cooking, make sure that the liquid covers at least half the fish with water, salt, and vinegar.

Adding other ingredients like bay leaves, onions, or peppercorns will enhance the taste of your dish.

When grilling, there are three basic steps: preheat the grill for about five minutes before putting food on.

Brush grate lightly with cooking oil (be careful not to use too much).

Place fish skin-side down after brushing with thyme, garlic cloves, and lemon juice in olive oil mixture.

After that, grill it for about three minutes under the cover. Rotate gently and cover the grill until the fish is cooked through.

Grilling consists of the following steps: preheat the grill for approximately five minutes before adding the food.

Conclusion on What Does Sturgeon Taste Like?

For those looking to experiment with dishes or change their diet, sturgeon is an excellent choice. 

Furthermore, due to its low mercury content, it is also rich in omega-three acids, which are known to help prevent heart disease and some forms of cancer.

People will find that eating Sturgeon brings a lot of variety to their routine.

If you want to read more about cooking, read here: Cooking Tips and Tricks.