Always keep fresh caviar in the coldest part of the refrigerator.

Russian caviar still outsells fresh American caviar by about two to one, according to wholesalers in the business.

The freshest caviar, for example, is often labeled malossol, meaning lightly salted.

Also, no fresh caviar is coming in from Russia.

But if you buy fresh caviar, splurge only on as much as you plan to consume at one sitting.

At the moment, there is a 1.5 kilo (3.3 pound) tin of fresh caviar for $120.

When buying fresh caviar, buy only the amount you will use in one sitting.

It is sold in one- to four-ounce jars for about half the price of fresh caviar.

These are relics of a time when fresh caviar of the best quality was hard to find in the United States.

Though Draeger's has a full-time sushi chef and a dozen varieties of fresh caviar.