How To Cook Flaky Fish In A Pan

Choosing The Right Fish

Choosing the right fish is important to make it tender and flaky in texture. The first thing to do is to look for fresh fish. It will have a clear and soft pink color. Fish with an unpleasant odor indicates an older one, so avoid this. If the fish feels mushy or too firm, this also indicates a spoiled one. 

If possible buy fish directly from the fisherman instead of going to the grocery stores. This is because fishermen will have freshly picked fish.

Additionally, fish named cod, pollock, oily, perch, tilapia, and flounder give a flaky texture when cooked. These are considered good for pan-frying.

Ingredients Required To Cook Fish

Oil or butter

Oil or butter is necessary to moisturize the pan and prevent the fish from sticking to the pan. You can use any vegetable oil or butter according to your taste. 

Fish fillets or steaks

The main ingredient required is fish fillets or steaks. You can get this from the nearest meat shop or fisherman. It's best to buy fresh fish fillets to enjoy the juicy and tender texture.

You can choose the fish you like either with bone or boneless depending on your comfortability while eating. 

Salt and pepper

Salt helps to soften the fish along with bringing out many flavors on a plate. Whereas black pepper increases the hotness of meat. You can adjust the amount of these spices based on your taste. 

Garlic

Garlic is light spicy and a bit sweet. When it is added to the pan, the flavors are released due to heat. Later, the flavors blend into the fish, enriching its taste. 

Lemon

Lemon is known for its sour juicy taste. Squeezing some lemon juices over the fish balances out all the seasonings and gives a bit of tangy and savory taste to the meat. 

Herbs

You can use any green herbs that are accessible to you. The addition of a few green and fresh leaves adds an aromatic earthy fragrance to the fish. 

Additional ingredients

You can use other ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, paprika, etc. These will further contribute to enhancing the taste of the fish. besides this, you can use some wheat flour over the fish to create a crispy outer layer.

Additionally, you can add some spoons of red wine or broth to deglaze the pan. These ingredients are optional, so you can skip them if you want to. 

Tools Required To Cook Fish In A Pan

• Non-stick pan: One of the essential tools for cooking fish properly is a non-stick pan. This will allow the fish fillet to cook without sticking to the pan. Also, it will prevent breaking or tearing the fish fillets while flipping. 
• Spatula: This tool will be useful for switching from one side to another while cooking. 
• Tongs: You can use a tong to transfer the fish fillets or steaks from the pan to the plate after it is cooked on both sides. 
• Knife and cutting board: These tools will be used to chop the ingredients like garlic, fish fillets, and herbs. 
• Paper towel: You can use this to pat dry the fish before placing it on the pan to remove the excess moisture. 
• Plate: A plate is useful in serving the fish after it is cooked.

How To Cook Fish In A Pan

Ingredient Measurements

• Fish fillets or steaks: 4-5 pieces
• Olive oil or butter: 2-3 teaspoon
• Salt: 1 teaspoon
• Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
• Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
• Green herbs: 2-3 leaves
• Lemon: half juice, half sliced
• Wheat flour: 2-3 tablespoons (optional)
• Wine or broth: 3-5 tablespoons (optional)

Instructions To Cook Fish

Follow the given instructions properly to cook perfectly tender fish:

1. Prepare the fish

The initial step is to pat the fish dry by using a paper towel on each side. This will absorb the excess moisture from the fish. After this, place the fish fillet or steaks on the cutting board. Sprinkle some salt, garlic powder, and black pepper over the fish. Then, use your hand to spread the seasonings evenly all over the fish. 

2. Heat the pan

The second step is to place the non-stick pan on the stove and turn on the flame. Leave the pan to heat for a minute. After that, add 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil or butter to the pan. Let the liquid melt. When the tiny bubbles stop appearing on the oil or butter, it indicates the oil is heated. 

3. Add the fish

After heating the oil, place the fish fillet or steak carefully. You can use tongs to transfer the fish to the pan. Ensure the fish fillets are not overcrowded on the pan. It is because the fillets start sticking to each other resulting in the tearing or splitting of the meat.

This destroys the shape of the fish. To avoid this, you can cook them in batches like 3-4 fillest in the first round and the remaining in the second round of cooking. 

4. Cook the fish

After you are done adding fillets to the pan, cook them for about 3-4 minutes on each side. While cooking fish, you are not supposed to stir or move them with a spatula. Just leave them on their own until one side gets golden or brown. Flip the fish to the other side with the use of a tong and let it cook for another 3-4 minutes. 

If you are using a sticky or normal pan, flip the fish after every 2-3 minutes to prevent the meat from sticking to the pan. You can use some wine or broth to bring moisture to the pan. This further helps to bring flavor to the fish and prevent it from being sticky. 

5. Check for doneness

The fish fillet is cooked when the meat is flaking apart easily. You can use a knife or fork to test, if the meat splits easily, it is cooked. Another way to test is to look at the color of the fish. A cooked fish fillet will have a white color on the inside and golden brown on the outside.

6. Serve and enjoy

When the fish fillets are ready, you can transfer them to a plate. Leave them to cool for about 2 minutes. Add some chopped green herbs on top of the fish and some sliced lemons on its side for decoration. 

Then, you can proceed to enjoy the crispy and soft fish with sauce or drink. Don't forget to add some green leaves to garnish the fish for added earthy fragrance and flavor. 

Helpful Tips

• Always use fresh fish to enjoy a delightful taste.
• Don't forget to pat the fish dry before seasoning it.
• Gently flip the fish to avoid it from splitting the meat.
• Cook the fish in medium to low heat to avoid burning. 
• Garnish with freshly chopped green leaves for an aromatic smell.
• Use wine or broth to deglaze the pan to turn the residing food, on the surface of the pan, into sauce or soup. 

How To Cook A Whole Fish In A Pan

Among various ways to cook a whole fish, one of the common methods is pan-frying. This may sound like a bit discomforting but it is possible. All you need to have is a deep large skillet and a spatula to flip the whole fish when one side is cooked. 

Besides this, you need to gather some ingredients like garlic powder, salt, black pepper, red chili powder, lemon juice, and green herbs. Once you have these ingredients and the required tools, you can follow the following steps to cook a whole fish in a pan: 

• First, prepare the fish. Use a paper towel to pat the fish dry to clean the excess oil. Then, add seasonings like salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, and gently spread the seasonings all over the fish. 
• Second, place the pan on the stove for heating. Once the pan gets heated, add oil or butter and let it melt. 
• Third, add the whole fish slowly to the pan. Be careful while placing a whole fish in the pan with hot oil, if messed up you might get burned. 
• Fourth, cook one side of the fish for 7-10 minutes and keep the heat at medium flame to avoid burning the meat. When the fish gets golden and brown, this indicates readiness. 
• Fifth, use a spatula to flip the fish to the other side very carefully. Again, cook this side for about 7-10 minutes. 
• Sixth, when the other side of the fish also turns golden and brown, turn off the stove and transfer the fish using a spatula on a plate. 
• Lastly, garnish with some chopped green herbs to bring an aromatic fragrance to the fish. Serve the fish with sauce or you can enjoy this with a glass of red wine. 

How Long To Cook Fish In A Pan

The exact answer to "how long to cook fish" is a bit tricky without specifying the quantity of the fish. Typically, fish takes around 3-5 minutes to cook each side. The size and thickness of the fish significantly influence the cooking time.  

If the fish pieces are medium-sized and thickness is also moderate, then cooking time will be around 3-5 minutes per side. Whereas, if the fish is a bit bigger and slightly thicker, it will take 2-3 more minutes to cook properly on each side. 

Besides thickness, the type of fish like bone-in or boneless also impacts the cooking time for each side. A bone-in fish piece with 1 inch thick takes around 5-7 minutes per side to cook properly. Whereas, a boneless fish piece with 1 inch thick takes 3-5 minutes. 

How To Store Fish

Proper storage of fish, either raw or cooked, is important to maintain freshness and avoid spoilage from bacterial contamination. Here are the ways to store fish to retain the quality:

Store In The Refrigerator

Raw fish spoils very quickly, so it is good to store it in the refrigerator. First, wrap the raw fish with aluminum foil or a tightly sealed plastic container. Place the container in the coldest part of your refrigerator. You can also set the temperature to 47°F (4°C) or lower to keep the fish fresh. This way fish can be stored for up to 1-2 days for better quality. 

Whereas, cooked fish can be stored in the same way as raw fish. The only thing to do is to let it cool for about 1 hour before wrapping the fish. This will allow the steam or warmth to go. In case, the fish is still a bit warm, it may cause the formation of mold or bacteria leading to spoilage even after placing it in the fridge. 

Store In The Freezer

The freezer is used to store the food for long-term purposes. Raw fish can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months for better quality. Place the fish pieces in a tightly sealed container to avoid cross-contamination from the air. Place the container in the freezer and set the temperature to 0°F (-18°C) or lower for freshness. 

While storing cooked fish, cool it down properly and ensure there's no warmth in the fish. Then proceed to place it in a tightly sealed container and store it in the freezer. It's best to consume the stored cooked fish within 2 months for better quality. 

You can use the stored meat anytime you want. Just reheat the cooked fish pieces to restore the flavor and taste. Raw frozen fish need to be deforested before use. You can keep them in the fridge overnight or thaw them by submerging them in cold water for about 1-2 hours.

Ensure to change the water every 15 minutes to maintain the coolness in the water. This is because the sudden temperature change may lead to spoilage of the fish. 

What To Serve With Cooked Fish

Cooked fish can be enjoyed with various side dishes. Here are some of them that you might want to pair your fish with: 

1. Roasted vegetables

Roasted vegetables are popularly consumed all around the world. They are simply the easiest and least time-consuming snacks that can be enjoyed anytime. The roasting releases the natural sweetness from the veggies, making them slightly sweet and earthy in taste. 

This can be created by pan-frying veggies like chopped carrots, broccoli, potatoes, and eggplant along with sprinkling some seasonings like salt, pepper, and lemon juice. This flavorful dish can be enjoyed with cooked fish, alongside a glass of wine to make it more delightful.

2. Green salads

Salads are primarily made from mixed green veggies along with some salt and pepper. There is no use of fat, or high-calorie components which makes it a healthier option. Many health-conscious people include green salad as a part of their regular diet. 

Besides that, green salads are packed with essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. When such a nutritious dish is paired with cooked fish, you will not only enjoy the sweet, earthy, and tender flavors but also help with quick digestion, and healthy mental health. 

3. Sweet and spicy green beans

One of the best dishes to serve with cooked fish is sweet and spicy green beans. This side dish is mainly consumed in Asian households and slowly becoming popular around the world. The best part of this dish is that it blends well with any roasted or fried meat. 

It can be prepared by pan-frying the green beans along with some pinch of salt, pepper, soy sauce, paprika, and green herbs. The sweet, spicy, and earthy flavor of green beans blends well with the crispy, soft, and meaty taste of the fish. 

4. Tartar sauce

Cooked fish are usually served with sauce. One of the popular sauce that pair well with pan-frying fish is tartar sauce. The sauce is primarily made from mayonnaise, chopped pickles, lemon juice, and green herbs. The mixture of all these ingredients brings out rich flavors in the sauce. 

Since the sauce is creamy, and has a slightly tangy flavor, it enriches the soft and crispy texture of the fish. As a result, you can experience a bliss of flavors on a plate. Besides this sauce, you can enjoy cooked fish with other sauces like marinara, steak sauce, pesto sauce, etc. 

5. Soups

Here comes the center of attraction, when it comes to pairing fish with soup and stews. Soup is not only flavorful but also healthy to consume. Regardless of age, everyone loves having soup as a part of their meal. You can prepare a bowl of soup by boiling some chopped veggies like carrots, green peas, and lettuce in a pot.

Serve this deliciously made soup with pan-made fish. You can experience the liquid and flavor of soup along with crispy and tender fish. Both dishes complement each other by balancing out the flavors.