What to Look for When Buying Pollock Heads at a Korean Market

Pollock heads (황태머리) are used for making a deep seafood broth that is then used as a base for Korean dishes. Learn about any special prep needed and simmering timeline for pollock heads here.

While in Korea, I try to buy Korean dried ingredients because it is cheaper and of better quality. So while at the market to buy pollock heads for broth, I was taught an important tip that is crucial to achieve a clean-flavored, non-bitter broth using pollock heads.

The image above shows two pollock heads. To see which you should choose, you need to pick up the pollock heads and check the inside cavity.

The left bag of pollock heads is not cleaned. It contains the gills and other unwanted parts that can cause your broth to have a bitter flavor.

The right bag of pollock heads is cleaned and ready to be used for broth. You can then do necessary prep like washing the pollock head and you can add it whole like this or cut it on one side and flatten it before using it for the broth.