Easy Cooking Fish Methods

Cooking fish is simple!

As fish cooks quickly and easily it is one of the best foods to cook. And with the many different cooking methods to go about it cooking will be surprisingly simple. They include baking, grilling, barbecuing, deep-frying, shallow-frying, stir-frying, steaming, poaching, and microwaving.

Baking

This method is suitable for cooking whole fish, large fillets and steaks of fish. Fish is usually baked in an oven preheated to 180C-200C/350F-400C. When baking with whole fish make sure to have 2-3 deep-cuts on the body to ensure even cooking. Pat dry before seasoning and you can also have some favorite herbs added to stuff in the stomach.

As for baking with large pieces of fillets and fish-steaks, adding a little liquid such as wine, lemon juice or stock would prevent the fish from getting too dry. Cooking time vary depending on the thickness of the fish. Keep an eye while it’s cooking, don’t overcooked. Overcooked fish is dry and tasteless. Remove fish immediately when flesh flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Grilling

This method is suitable for small whole fish as well as fish fillets and steaks. You can marinate and set aside for about 30 minutes or just season the fish before grilling. Make sure to brush with a little oil before placing fish on the grill rack. Line the rack with foil or use a metal mesh net to prevent fish from falling and better grilling. Once or twice the fish needs to be turned. For this method of cooking fish, a slow-medium heat is the best to ensure the heat penetrate evenly.

Barbecuing

This is a very popular cooking fish method when the weather is fine and with a large gathering of family and friends. As in grilling the fish need to be marinated or add a little seasoning before cooking to give the fish a delicate flavor. Make sure to brush with a little oil on the fish as well as the rack. And when cooking with whole fish make 2-3 deep-cuts on the thicker part of fish. For small whole small fish try wrapping them in a foil parcel, then add seasoning and some of your favorite herbs before you cook them.

Deep-frying

This method is ideal for small whole fishes or fish cut into bite-pieces dipped in a batter. Fried perfectly, the fresh are golden-brown and crunchy on the outside, while the flesh inside tastes soft and juicy.

For deep-frying using a deep fryer enough oil must cover the fish. Heat the oil to a temperature of about 350F before adding fish to prevent fish from turning soggy. You can test it with a small piece of bread or a slice of onion, but not your finger. It should turn brown in 30-40 seconds. If the oil is extremely hot the outside will burn before the inside is cook. Take your time don’t put all at once, some at a time, too overcrowded will reduce the temperature of the oil. Drain well and serve.

Shallow-frying

This method is usually done with a non-stick shallow frying pan. It is ideal for small whole fish, finely cut fish fillets and steaks. For fillets and steaks a coating of flour or beaten egg is needed to prevent the fish from breaking up. Fried with thin layer of oil, butter or margarine this is a quick and easy way to cook fish in small amount. Fried perfectly, the fish is crispy on the outside, and moist and flaky on the inside.

Stir-frying

This is a versatile style of cooking fish said to be developed in ancient China. It suits not only fish and seafood but also other meat and vegetables. The beauty of stir-fry is that you can easily mix or replace with different ingredients.

Stir frying is done in a wok or a shallow frying pan. It’s ideal for cooking fish cut into bite-pieces mixed with vegetables and a sauce. Soya sauce is essential for Asian stir-fries—other popular favorite sauces are oyster sauce, sweet and sour chili sauce, plum sauce and hoisin sauce.

First you need to do is prepare and get ready the ingredients. Then heat the wok with a minimum amount of oil and stir fry the evenly cut vegetables, then add in the fish, stirring all the time over high heat. At the same time add the seasonings and bring it to a boil and is ready to serve. It requires a very short cooking time—sometimes less than a minute. Stir frying is a healthy way of cooking because little oil is used—short cooking time, which helps to retain all the nutrients.

Steaming

This is a quick method for cooking whole fish, large fish fillets or steaks of fish. Steaming is usually done in an aluminum or bamboo steamer. If you don’t have one you can use a big wok with a metal trivet stand placed in the middle, fill some water but not to overflow the stand.

The prepared fish in a dish is placed on the trivet stand over high heat. Cooking time is about 8-12 minutes depending on the thickness of the flesh. Don’t overcook the fish! Overcooked fish tastes horrible. Always keep a close watch while fish is cooking. Make sure to cover the fish with a tightly-fitted lid so that the steam will cook the fish—just like in the sauna.

Poaching

Poaching is cooking whole fish, fillets or in chunks in liquid such as water, stock, milk or wine. The amount of liquid use is just enough to cover the fish. Season and simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes for whole fish and about 8-10 minutes for fillets and chunks. Never put it into a boil or else the flesh will disintegrate. Remember to cover with a lid. The remaining liquid is used as an accompanying sauce. Garnish if desired.

Microwaving

Fish can be cook or defrost in a microwave. Several cooking methods such as poaching, steaming and baking can be done with good result using the microwave. Allow 2-3 minutes standing time at the end of cooking. Cooking time vary with different models, check before use. Always arrange fish in a single layer with the thicker parts on the outside to allow heat to penetrate evenly. Remember to cover during cooking unless you want to brown the fish. Stir if you are cooking fish soup, stew or chowder.

Cooking fish is no big deal! If you have acquires some knowledge of the various cooking methods and with a few good fish recipes you will be much surprise that fish is so easy to cook.

Custom Search

Back to Top: Cooking Fish

Fish Recipes

Home