Fish

Head

Albacore head holds cheeks, collar meat, and collagen-rich bones for stock. It is not a primary retail cut in many Western markets but is valued in Asian and nose-to-tail cookery. Eyes and gills should be removed before simmering stocks. Roast or braise for pickable meat; simmer for dashi-adjacent fish stock with aromatics. Cheeks and collar are the prize bits. Keep iced; heads spoil faster than loins.

Track this ingredient

Quantity

Unit

Kg Liters Whole

Note

Cuts & parts

Cheek

Collar

Frame

Characteristics

Preparations

BraisedCheek Meat PickedRoastedStock

Traits

Cheeks And CollarCollagen RichEconomical YieldFlavourfulGelatinous StockHead SectionStock Base

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 112

Amount per 100 g

Total Fat 4.73 g
Saturated Fat 0.99 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Monounsaturated Fat 2.02 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.95 g
Cholesterol 53.1 mg
Sodium 79.9 mg
Salt 0.2 g
Total Carbohydrate 0 g
Dietary Fibre 0 g
Total Sugars 0 g
Complex / starch 0 g
Protein 16.2 g
Water 75.1 g

Detailed nutrients

Energy 112 kcal
Water 75.1 g
Protein 16.2 g
Fat 4.73 g
- Saturated Fat 0.99 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 2.02 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 1.95 g
  - Omega-3 0.78 g
Vitamins 39 mg
- Vitamin A 15 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.14 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 3.77 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.65 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.37 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.7 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 10.8 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 1.2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 1.3 µg
- Vitamin E 0.53 mg
- Vitamin K 0.4 µg
Minerals 337 mg
- Major Minerals 336 mg
  - Calcium 38 mg
  - Sodium 79.9 mg
  - Potassium 218 mg
- Trace Minerals 1.5 mg
  - Iron 1.5 mg
Salt 0.2 g
Cholesterol 53.1 mg

Vitamins

vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 1.2 · vitamin-a: 15 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.1 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.14 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 3.77 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.65 · vitamin-b6: 0.37 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.7 · vitamin-b9-folate: 10.8 · vitamin-d: 1.3 · vitamin-e: 0.53 · vitamin-k: 0.4 ·

Minerals

Sodium: 79.88 · Potassium: 218 · Calcium: 38 · Iron: 1.5 ·

Heads mix lean meat, collagen, and small fat deposits—great for stock more than pure macros.

History

1600JP

Tuna heads were used for broths and cheek meat in Japanese coastal cookery.

2000

Nose-to-tail restaurant culture revived tuna head collars and stocks in the West.