Before you start cooking the amazing fish that you have caught or bought you need to clean it. If you think cleaning a fish is dirty and messy, you are wrong as it is not at all a sloppy job if done in a proper manner. You can easily prepare the fish for cooking and avoid mess created during the procedure of cleaning it. Here’s how you should go about doing the task. Read on.
Complexity Level: Moderate
Time Required: 15 -30 minutes, depending on the size of the fish.
Resources Required:
- Plenty of paper to cover your platform
- A boning knife
- A fish scaler
- A cutting board
- And a fish
Instructions:
1. Avoid the mess and clean the fish
The quicker you clean the fish the better and the easier it is. To avoid messiness you need to lay lots of paper on your platform first. Keep a carry bag ready to put the disposables into it. Now, you need to wash the fish under fresh tap water. Do not wash the fish in a lake or a river as they might be contaminated.
2. Remove the scales of the fish
To remove the scales of the fish, you need to have your fish scalers with you. In case, you do not have a fish scaler you can use a blunt knife to scale off the fish. Start scaling the fish from its tail. Take short strokes as you scale down to the head of the fish. You donât need to skin the fish before cooking.
3. Cut the fish to clean the entrails
Now, you need to cut the fish with a boning knife. Start cutting it from its gills to its vent. Use your fingers now to remove the entrails from the slit that you have made by cutting the fish. Check the cavity properly to confirm if the entrails are removed properly. Donât forget to rinse the cavity.
4. Now remove its dorsal fin
If you plan to cook the fish without cutting it you need to remove its dorsal fin before you start cooking it. Use a boning knife to cut along each side of the fishâs fin in such a way that you are able to pull out the fill along with pliers. After you remove both the fins, wash the fin sides of the fish under fresh and cold tap water.
5. Storing the fish in a refrigerator
To store the fish you need to use clean ice. It needs to be stored in a container that can drip out the water of the ice as it melts.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How can you clean a trout?
After you clean the fins of the trout you need to remove the head of the trout properly. Remove its guts and its spine. After you remove its spine you, need to properly remove the tissues near its spine. After you clean it, place it in a storage bag and store it in the refrigerator.
Quick Tips:
1. Clean the fish as soon as you bring it home to make the cleaning easier and keep it ready for the time you need to cook it.
2. If you are storing the fish in ice, make sure you donât allow the melted water to touch the fish as it can spoil your fish. Use a container that will allow the melted ice water to drain out.
3. The cavity of the fish needs to face the top of the container to avoid accumulation of water inside the cavity.
4. The fins of the fish need not be trimmed before removing it as it could leave its bone inside the fish.
Things To Watch Out For:
Watch out as you are removing the fins of the fish as few fishes could have very sharp fins that can cause serious wounds.
