stupid question on how to prepare fish

[weezergirl]

I'm making this tonight and i've never really worked with fish before....what do i need to do?? when i bought it at the store they took off the tail and the fins....

what do i need to do it before i start cooking it and stuff??? anything else? clean it again? take off the head? what about the outside of the fish? do i just put the macadamia crust part on the outside or do i need to take off the skin...hahah..ok...really...i've never cooked fish before. i'm so confused.

 

[Aquaman]

Does the fish still have it's guts? Then gut it

Other then that............ take off the head and scale the fish

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[gtsukada]

make sure the scales are taken off and i am assuming they gutted it for you?

 

[weezergirl]

I think they gutted it for me...

how do you take the scales off the fish? just use a knife...?

 

[GasX]

I have eaten Sea Bass with and without the skin. You definitely want to filet it though...

Some filet instructions here

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: weezergirl
I think they gutted it for me...

how do you take the scales off the fish? just use a knife...?

yes - you scrape them off

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: weezergirl
I think they gutted it for me...

how do you take the scales off the fish? just use a knife...?

If they took off the head and fins, you shoulda asked them to scale it a bit for you too. Yes, use a knife. A big one that won't bend or anything, an 8" chefs or a cleaver will do well. And filet it, don't just cook the whole body.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: Mwilding
I have eaten Sea Bass with and without the skin. You definitely want to filet it though...

Some filet instructions here

Great idea............. I forgot about that.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[amoeba]

actually, for this recipe I believe they are working with sea bass filets that are already skinned. It doesn't look like a skin on recipe. I'm actually surprised that you found whole seabass at a store.

Anyways, if you like skin, when you are searing, do the skinside down first.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: weezergirl
I think they gutted it for me...

how do you take the scales off the fish? just use a knife...?

1) if you bought it from a fish monger or supermarket, the scales are already off, it's just the skin, which is completely edible and delicious when seared.
2) you prepare the fish, salt and pepper it like the recipe said (i would use sea salt or kosher salt, you want the big grain salt since you'll be searing, but if you don't have it on hand, table salt will work) on the flesh side.
3) score some crosses on the back of the fish to stop it from curling when you sear it. Depends on the size of the fish, but probably 3 good scores will do (don't penetrate too deep, but you definitely want to go through the skin and into the flesh).
4) sear it on the skin side first to develop a nice crust, then flip it over and sear the other side.
5) then follow the rest of the recipe and toss it into the oven according to the directions.

 

[Nanotech]

Sounds tasty....Hope all goes well.

 

[Looney]

Ah wow, didn't realize it was a whole fish you bought. Will, you definitely want to take the head and tail off, and fillet it. I can't help you with that, since i never dealt with a whole fish before. And you might actually need to take some of the scales off. Just use a knife, and go against the grain of the scales to take them off.

 

[x RiSE x]

Dude just go get a big mac! trust me!