What is scrod? Is scrod the same as cod? And why is there a wooded “Sacred Cod” suspended over the public gallery in the Massachusetts House of Representatives? Read on to learn more about the curious history of scrod fish in New England.
Wait, scrod isn’t a fish? Nope! In fact, it can be several, and simply refers to a young haddock, cod, or any similar fish. You can still find scrod on the menu at many restaurants, and while it may seem confusing, it’s simply a term that means “catch of the day” for your average mild, white fish.
The Legend of the Sacred Cod (Or Is It Scrod?)
There is, of course, no such fish as “scrod” in New England waters or anywhere else. The term began years ago when fishing schooners would return from the Grand Banks to the Boston fish pier, loaded with fish ready to be auctioned off. Now, fancy hotels like, for instance, the Parker House (still going strong) didn’t want to serve fish that came out of the bottom of any ship’s hold. It would be old, flabby, and maybe soft from the weight of each succeeding day’s catch on top of it. To go along with its famous rolls, the Parker House wanted only the small, choice, firm fresh fish from the top layers.
Of course, the Parker House maître d’ couldn’t predict what sort of fish would be on the top layer. If he printed the menu featuring haddock and the top layer turned out to be pollack — well, he might get away with it in Kansas City, but not in Boston. So what to do? The answer was simple. He coined a name for a new seafood. He called it “scrod.” (Possibly he was making a contraction of “sacred cod”?)
Haddock, cod, pollack, and hake are all related and all caught off the New England coast but, for the most part, “scrod” is either haddock or cod. If both are fresh, properly prepared, and cooked without skin, it’s pretty difficult to tell the difference.
Cape Cod Baked Scrod
FAQ
Is scrod a good fish to eat?
What is another name for scrod?
What is Boston scrod?
What does scrod stand for?
Is scrod the same as a cod?
Scrod can be exactly like this if the type of fish used for it was a young cod. However, in some cases, it might be completely different too. This is the case when you use a haddock or other type of whitefish. Haddock also has a mild and sweet taste, as do all other whitefish of the kind.
Are scrod fish better than cod?
Yes, you don’t have to worry about going out of budget or spending a huge sum on these options. Going with either one will serve you well, and the Scrod fish is just as great when you compare it with cod. The only major difference is in size. All other differences are pretty minor and you can think of scrod as a smaller cod.
Is scrod a young cod?
Most of the time, people refer to scrod as just a young cod. If that is the case, then you will just struggle to find any differences between these fish. On the other hand, if you’re talking about scrod as in a younger haddock, then the texture and the flavor can be quite different.
What kind of fish is scrod?
The ones used most commonly for scrod are cod and haddock, specifically the ones that are young. A good sum of all scrod comes from these two kinds of whitefish. Because of scrod sometimes being cod itself or being an entirely different fish, there can be no differences at all between their taste or there can be very noticeable differences.