How to Cook Frozen Tilapia Fillets

Learn the keys to cooking frozen tilapia.

Tilapia is a mild-tasting white fish, which is why many people who don't ordinarily like fish tend to like tilapia. It can be cooked in a wide variety of ways including baking, frying, grilling and broiling.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Pepper
• Skillet
• Olive oil
• Lemon wedge

Instructions

Cooking Frozen Tilapia

1. Defrost the fillet overnight in the refrigerator, leaving it in its original packaging. Or, to quickly thaw the fish, place the wrapped frozen fillets in a bowl. Put the bowl in the sink and turn on the faucet. Allow a stream of cold water to defrost the fish; this should take about 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Remove the fish from the packaging and rinse it thoroughly with cold water.

3. Season the fillets with salt and pepper.

4. Heat a large skillet. Add a tablespoon of olive oil or butter, depending on your preference.

5. Cook the fillets on medium-high heat. Turn the fillets over after two to three minutes and cook for another two to three minutes. A fillet thicker than ¾ inches will need to be cooked longer. When cooking frozen tilapia, the fillets are done when they are lightly golden in appearance.

6. Garnish with a wedge of lemon. Serve with steamed vegetables and/or couscous.

Tips & Warnings

• For added flavor, try cooking frozen tilapia with chopped garlic and lemon juice added to the olive oil. Before serving, add chopped cilantro.

• Tilapia can be marinated, but it should be marinated for less than half an hour as the consistency of the fish can change.

References

• Tilapia Recipes

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish