How to Cook Fish - Top Tips for Successful Fish Recipes

Learning how to cook fish is really simple and if you are new to cooking fish you will be delighted at how easy it is to transform a piece of raw fish into a delicious meal.

How to Cook Cod Fish

Cod can be poached, fried, grilled, or baked. You can also cook it in a crock-pot. Cod can be added to soup, stew or a risotto. Parsley sauce and lemon wedges are good accompaniments for it. You might like to broil cod with soy sauce and ginger for an Asian dinner or bake it with lemon, butter, salt and pepper in aluminum foil.

There are many ways to cook cod but it is vital not to overcook it. Grilled cod is done when it begins to flake and baked cod should be cooked for eight to ten minutes per inch of thickness. Do not set the oven any higher than 350 degrees F when cooking cod, to keep it moist.

How to Cook Cat Fish

Cat fish can be grilled, fried, or baked and this tasty white-fleshed fish is a favorite. Use a grilling basket if you want to cook it and only give it a maximum of ten minutes. This fish cooks fast. Pan frying will take the same amount of time unless you are cooking whole fish or extra big filets. If you prefer to bake it, cat fish needs ten to fifteen minutes at 400 degrees F.

How to Cook Frozen Fish

Thaw frozen fish before you cook it. This can be in the refrigerator, under running water or in the microwave. When it is thawed, cook it as normal. One great way to flavor your fish is to thaw it in milk overnight in the refrigerator. Discard the milk the following day and cook the fish.

How Long to Cook Fish

The exact cooking time for fish depends what you are cooking - filets, steaks, whole fish, large chunks or something else. The general rule is ten minutes per inch of thickness but that really only goes for filets cooking over or under a direct heat source. When the flesh of the fish changes from glossy to opaque, it is done.

How to Cook Fish with No Fishy Taste

You can either choose a mild fish or disguise the flavor of a strong fish by adding herbs, spices or other ingredients to the recipe. Add cinnamon, orange slices or cloves to the water when poaching fish or serve the fish with a lemon-based sauce. Some fish are naturally mild and cod, red snapper, tilapia, and halibut are just a few examples.

What Fish to Cook for Kids

Why not start them with fish fingers or fish cakes and then progress to other kinds of fish? Kids can be notoriously fussy eaters so avoid any strong-flavored fish and go for whitefish with their favorite side dishes (maybe mashed potatoes and baked beans or fries and corn on the cob) before introducing the stronger-tasting varieties.

How Do You Cook a Whole Fish?

Cooking a whole fish is different than cooking filets or steaks. Grilling is one of the best cooking methods for a whole fish. You will need to remove the guts, scales, fins, and gills (or your fishmonger can do this for you).

Stuff the cavity with lemon slices and herbs, and then tie the fish closed using string. Brush olive oil over the fish and then grill it over medium coals for about forty minutes or until the thickest part of the fish has reached 135 degrees F. You can also cook it at 325 degrees F in the oven for about the same amount of time.