How To Cook Freshly Caught Fish

To preserve the delicate flavor of a newly caught freshwater or saltwater fish, they need to be handled properly to prevent spoilage. You’ll also want to avoid an unpleasant smell. There are ways to properly prepare and maintain the quality of fresh fish. Check out the tips below:

1) As soon as you land the fish, try to avoid contact with hard surfaces to prevent bruising. The fish should be washed immediately by hosing or bucket rinsing in fresh water in order to remove the slime and possible bacteria that can cause spoilage.

2) Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled. It should be 3″ deep, you’ll need about a pound of ice for a pound of fish. Use chlorinated water for the final rinsing.

3) Clean the fish as soon as possible. Their tissues are sterile but not their scales, which contains many types of bacteria. When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds in the flesh can spread bacteria. Gutting the fish does not have to be elaborate. It is wise to cut the belly, as it leaves no blood or viscera in the body. Try not to soak the cleaned fish in excess water as it can unfavorable affect meat texture and flavor.

4) The eating quality and nutritional value of most fish can be maintained up to 5 days if properly cleaned. Washing of the hands before touching the fish is also important. No matter what fish and the cooking technique used a good rule of thumb is to cook 10 minutes for every inch measured. 15 minutes should be allotted to fish wrapped in foil or sauce baked. Double the cooking time for frozen fish.

Allow extra time if the fish will be baked while wrapped in aluminum foil to allow extra time for the penetration of the heat. That should be an additional 5 minutes for fresh fish and 10 for frozen. In thawing frozen fish, slowly thaw in the fridge for 24 hours or let the wrapped fish run under cold water, not at room temperature.

Always season your fish before cooking. I usually use a basic mixture of salt and pepper to help bring out the natural flavor. A little garlic powder or dill weed are also good. Read more valuable tips about fishing at aguidetofishing.com.