Instructions

1. Check the color of your Dover sole fillet for proper tone. Look for a delicate and white fillet that glistens once it has been skinned. Avoid fillets that are gray or blue in color or those with a dull finish.

2. Sniff the surface of your fillet. Dover sole should smell fresh, slightly sweet and reminiscent of clean ocean water. An overpowering "fishy" odor or sourness indicates that your sole is past its prime.

3. Keep track of the purchase date. Ask your fishmonger when your sole was caught, and if the sole was frozen before it made its way to your market. After purchasing whole Dover sole, store it in airtight packaging for up to two days in the refrigerator. Store fillets for one day only. After two days, the sole should be discarded.

4. Press the flesh of your Dover sole with a finger or the tines of a fork. Dover sole should be firm and dense. If light pressure dents the flesh or produces a mushy sensation or separation of the fillet, the sole is not fresh and should be avoided.