How to Clean and Cook the Fish You Catch
Some fishermen catch and release fish simply because they don't want to be bothered with cleaning them, but they are throwing away one of the most nutritious of all animal foods. Cold, deep water fish are rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. There are four basic ways to clean a fish. Which you choose depends on how you plan to cook them.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
For baking, many chefs leave the fish whole. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice your fish vertically along its belly, removing its stomach and viscera. Cut out the gills and nearby tissue. Scale the skin by drawing your knife back from the tail to the head. Cut off the fins.
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2
Wrap the fish in foil and place it in the oven. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. If the flesh separates easily from the bone, it's ready. Don't cook any longer, or you'll dry it out.
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3
For grilling, clean as you would for baking, but cut off the fish's head. Split the fish vertically from bow to stern along its spine. Remove the bone. With a brush, apply a layer of oil to its skin. Rub crushed garlic and basil along its flesh and place on a grill. Cover with a lid if you have that option. Check periodically to see if the fish is done. Cooking time will vary, depending on the intensity of the heat.
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4
Grill the fish as steaks. This method works well with longer fish that have a consistent diameter. Clean as above. Cut horizontally through the fish's spine in 4-nch slices. Apply a marinade to both sides of each steak. The mixture can be something as simple as lemon juice and soy sauce or garlic and white wine. Slap the steaks on the grill and flip when the bottom is done. Cooking time will vary, so watch closely.
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5
Fillet the fish. Clean as described, but cut out the bones. Slice from head to tail and remove the spine with all of its supporting bones. Then slice off the skin. This takes some practice to maintain the integrity. Fish fillets are great for broiling after marinading. Times will vary with the thickness of the fish.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Closely watch your cooking times. Fish should still be moist, whatever cooking method you use.
