Trust your Nose
One of the biggest mistakes that a lot of new cooks make is they buy fish that is too old. Just because something is labeled as being fresh, doesn’t mean it is. The main sign that you need to look out for is a bad smell. Fresh fish should smell of mineral water or salt water. The skin should also be firm and vibrant. If your fish smells a bit too fishy, or if you notice that the skin is dull and lacking color then this is a major sign that you need to find a new supplier. Your meals will only ever be as good as the ingredients you use, so be mindful of that.
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Pat Seafood Dry
Water is the enemy of getting a good sear. A good sear also stops your wild caught seafood from getting mushy. If you want to help yourself here then make sure that you pat your fish dry before cooking with them. Use a paper towel and remove as much moisture as you can. If you can do this then you will soon find that your fish has a nice flaky texture as it cooks. You will also be able to brown the flesh nicely which will help you out quite a lot.
Cook with Heat
A lot of people make the mistake of putting their fish into a cold pan. Make sure that you heat the pan and that you add a good amount of oil. If you can do this then you will soon find that you end up with a nice color, and that your fish doesn’t end up being overcooked. Waiting to cook the fish until the pan is nice and hot will also stop you from ending up with a raw middle, as the fish will cook way more evenly.
Skin Side Down
When cooking with fish, it is imperative that you start by putting the fish skin side down. The skin side should always touch the grill first. This helps the skin to get nice and crispy, so make sure that you keep that in mind. The skin will stick at first, regardless of how hot your pan is. With that in mind, over time, it will loosen up and unstick itself. Make sure that you don’t move it around during this time or try to unstick it yourself. If you do then it will ruin the skin which is the last thing you need.
Use Gentle Heat
Seafood cooks faster than other meats, and it will also dry out if you cook it too quickly. When you are searing something, make sure that you use a lower heat than what you would if you were cooking with meat. If you can do this then you will soon find that you get a better result.
