3 Things to Know About Soaking Tuna in Milk

Fresh tuna should not smell fishy Good fresh tuna has almost no odor, just a clean ocean-like smell. If it smells fishy, it is not as fresh as you think.

Milk is better than acid for slightly smelly tuna The casein in milk binds to odor compounds without ruining the texture. Acid like lemon or vinegar can make the surface proteins mealy or mushy.

Skip the soak for high-quality tuna Pat bright-red tuna dry, season it, and cook it directly. No marinade fixes spoiled fish—return or toss tuna that smells strong.