Cod Liver Oil

Cod liver oil is an oil extracted from the livers of Atlantic cod, and it has long been consumed as a dietary supplement rather than a cooking ingredient because of its high content of vitamins A and D and omega-3 fatty acids. It has a strong, distinctly fishy taste and odor that most people find unpalatable on its own, leading to its long history as a childhood tonic dosed by the spoonful, and it is now also sold in flavored liquid form and in capsules to mask the taste. Unlike ordinary fish oil, which can be extracted from the flesh or trimmings of various fish species, cod liver oil specifically comes from the liver of cod and carries a much higher concentration of fat-soluble vitamins.