Fish tastes good and is also healthy, so fish should be eaten more often. But what do you have to look out for? And how do I prepare the fish correctly? How do I know if the fish is still fresh? Here are a few collected tips on the subject of fish:
Fresh fish
When buying a whole fish, there are a few things to look out for so that you can be sure that the fish is really fresh.
- Skin: this must be shiny and slippery and feel firm. The markings are clearly defined.
- Eyes: must be clear and slightly protruding (do not buy if they are cloudy, pink, or sunken!)
- Gills: these must be bright red or pink; if they turn gray, do not buy the fish, it is spoiled!
At home, you can also easily check whether the fish can still be used by placing it in a pot filled with water. If the fish sinks to the bottom, you can safely use it; however, if it stays on the surface, throw it away immediately and do not eat it.
Storing fish
Even without a refrigerator, you can store freshly caught fish by wrapping it overnight in a cloth soaked in vinegar.
Preparing fish
Now it's time to prepare the fish. There is a sequence that should always be followed, regardless of whether it is fried, boiled, or steamed. Specifically, it should always be cleaned first, then acidified, and finally salted. It is cleaned under running water, acidified with lemon juice or vinegar (which, by the way, also binds the fishy smell!), and only salted at the very end.
Removing scales
To quickly free a fish from its scales, there are also tricks: Place it briefly in hot water beforehand and then shock it with cold water. Then remove the scales with the back of a knife, starting from the tail end towards the head. Or you can rub the fish with vinegar beforehand, that also helps.
Another possibility is to descale the fish under running water, because it is easier to remove the scales under water and the scales are washed away immediately. Extra tip: it is best to use the garden water connection, so the scales do not clog the drain.
Gutting fish
Now all that's left is to gut the fish. The best way to do this is to cut open the belly from the tail to the head and remove the entrails neatly. Then rinse the abdominal cavity thoroughly under running water.
Easier deboning
To make it easier to debone the fish after cooking, rub the back with melted butter before steaming.
Fish doesn't slip away
To prevent the fish from slipping on the work surface during preparation, sprinkle some salt on the work surface.
Prevent fishy smell before frying
To prevent Fishy smell doesn't even develop, simply add some peanut butter to the pan when frying, that prevents it.
Fish becomes particularly tender
Does the fish sometimes get way too dry? Then here are a few cooking tips to make it a success:
- Before frying, let the fish soak in a little lemon juice or vinegar; this preserves the white color and it stays nice and firm.
- Soak the fish in milk before use so that it stays nice and tender during frying.
Crispy fish fillets
Fish does not stick to the pan
This way, fish no longer falls apart
Usually, when turning a fish you have the problem that it falls apart. To avoid this, you can add some Lemon juice or Salt to the frying fat.
Trout skin does not tear
It's annoying when the skin of the trout tears during cooking. Unfortunately, it doesn't look very nice, although you should actually be happy about it. Because that means the fish is very fresh. If it doesn't tear, it can also mean that the trout was frozen.
However, to prevent tearing anyway, there is a tip: Place the fish in the refrigerator for about 2 hours before cooking.
Many fish for a big fish dinner at Christmas
If you have several guests, for example at Christmas, and want to fry fish, it is a bit difficult with the timing so that everyone gets a warm meal. To prevent this from happening, put them in a picnic cooler. First line the box with paper towels, then fry all the fish and place them in the box one after the other. With this tip, the fish stay warm and everyone can eat at the same time.
Too salty fish
Anchovies and matjes are salty, but if it is too much, you can help yourself with this tip: Place the fish in cold water for about 15 minutes. Then dry it off a little and enjoy.
Dishes smell like fish
You have prepared a fish and now the dishes smell like fish? With a few tips, it is quickly removed: The affected dishes should first be rinsed with cold water. Then rub with lemon slices or coffee grounds. By the way: this is also how you remove the fishy smell from your hands!
Get rid of fishy smell in the kitchen
If you forgot the peanut butter tip, in a pot 200 ml water and 100 ml colorless vinegar let it boil until it has completely evaporated. Then the fishy smell is also gone!
Read also: Table decoration for a fish dinner
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
