Is Plaice Acidic or Alkaline?
Plaice (raw) is acid-forming: Positive PRAL: acid-forming after digestion.
Classification
Raw plaice comes in at +6.8, slightly below haddock (+7.5) and sardine (+9.4), because this flatfish contains a lot of water and a bit less protein per 100 g. At 76 kcal it is very lean. Pan-fried with potato salad, it makes a classic dish, though the bacon in the Finkenwerder-style version pushes the balance up a bit again.
In the Fish & Seafood category, plaice (raw) ranks #12 of 56, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Squid (+6.6), Hake (+6.4), Mussels (+5.8). More acid-forming are Codfish (+6.9), Cod (+6.9), Matjes herring (+7.1).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
What balances plaice
A fillet (125 g) of plaice adds +8.5 to your daily balance. These three bring it back; the grams shown offset exactly this serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is plaice acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Plaice (raw) has a PRAL of +6.8 per 100 g, so it counts as acid-forming in your daily acid-base balance.
How much avocado offsets a fillet (125 g) of plaice?
A fillet (125 g) of plaice adds +8.5 to your daily balance. Avocado (ripe) has −9.9 per 100 g, so about 90 g of avocado offset this serving.
Do I have to avoid plaice on an alkaline diet?
No. What counts is the balance of the whole day, not a single food. Plaice is acid-forming; with enough vegetables, potatoes and fruit on the same plate, the meal stays balanced.
Plaice logged, balance checked.
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Compare all Fish & Seafood: Fish & Seafood table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.