How to get rid of the fishy smell and taste of fish.
By Leighann on Jul 15, 2009 in What's Cooking?
How to get rid of the fishy smell and taste of fish.
Our Answer: Here’s a trick that my dad uses for fresh caught fish: He fillets them and then marinates them in diluted white vinegar for 30 minutes or so. Sometimes he would use buttermilk instead. Either one gives a delicious flavor to the fish and draws out the “fishy” flavor (similar to how you would get rid of a “gamey” flavor in deer or other wild game). Cheap, easy, and natural, and it doesn’t add a weird flavor at all. Vinegar can also get the fishy smell off your hands (of course then you smell like vinegar, but you can remove that with a good scrubbing in warm soapy water). Some people don’t like catfish (bottom feeders) because of their “dirty” flavor. But if you soak them in vinegar first, that flavor goes away. When my dad makes catfish, he prepares them in vinegar, then makes a bowl with 1/2 flour and 1/2 fine cornmeal, and another bowl with 1 egg, some milk to thin it, a squirt of yellow mustard, and a dash or two each of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. After it has soaked in vinegar, he takes each fillet out, shaking gently to get rid of extra vinegar, and soaks them in the egg/milk mixture. Then he rolls each one in the cornmeal mixture and slowly panfries them. That is the best catfish ever! Tender, delicious, and no catfish/fishy flavor. Try it!
Question: I don't mind fish. I really like salmon baked on a cedar plank, and tuna salad – I love fish and chips.
However, I hate anything that tastes or smells fishy. I don't know which kinds of fish are more likely to have that smell and taste – or if its a certain way of packaging/preparing before buying that makes fish more likely to taste like that.
I stay away from making fish because of it, but I would really like to eat it more and try different kinds.
Any recipes or tips on buying fish?
Our Answer: Here’s a trick that my dad uses for fresh caught fish: He fillets them and then marinates them in diluted white vinegar for 30 minutes or so. Sometimes he would use buttermilk instead. Either one gives a delicious flavor to the fish and draws out the “fishy” flavor (similar to how you would get rid of a “gamey” flavor in deer or other wild game). Cheap, easy, and natural, and it doesn’t add a weird flavor at all. Vinegar can also get the fishy smell off your hands (of course then you smell like vinegar, but you can remove that with a good scrubbing in warm soapy water). Some people don’t like catfish (bottom feeders) because of their “dirty” flavor. But if you soak them in vinegar first, that flavor goes away. When my dad makes catfish, he prepares them in vinegar, then makes a bowl with 1/2 flour and 1/2 fine cornmeal, and another bowl with 1 egg, some milk to thin it, a squirt of yellow mustard, and a dash or two each of salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. After it has soaked in vinegar, he takes each fillet out, shaking gently to get rid of extra vinegar, and soaks them in the egg/milk mixture. Then he rolls each one in the cornmeal mixture and slowly panfries them. That is the best catfish ever! Tender, delicious, and no catfish/fishy flavor. Try it!
For other answers and Amazon resources, check below.
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Start off by using boxed fillets(generally white fillets are the best to begin with) or filleted and sliced fresh fish from your local supermarket.This way there's barely a fish smell , if at all.Once you get used to (fall in love!!) with these then you could progress onto buying whole fish and eventually – even gut them yourself! Just kidding, but here is a fantastic recipe:
Pan fry fish fillets until done and keep warm.
(I love to use fresh,filleted Atlantic Salmon but frozen fish works perfectly as well)
Gently heat about 1/2 a cup of thickened cream.When it reaches a sauce like consistency, add in 20g butter (regular,salted)and 1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice. Continue stirring and cooking until butter is melted and the desired consistency is reached.
Switch off stove and add in a little chopped fresh cilantro or parsley and a quick grind of black pepper.
Serve immediately spooned over fish with a greek salad on the side.
ENJOY!
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zara
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
Fish isn't one of my favorite things, (and I HATE the smell of it cooking), but we BBQ salmon once a week, and I do like that:) I lightly coat with olive oil, and sprinkle with Creole seasoning and lots of dried dillweed; 5-8 min on each side, over mesquite chips. You'd also like swordfish and halibut, since they're firm fish and don't taste fishy at all. They're good with any marinade, but teriyaki is especially good on the BBQ…..
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TX2step
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
garlic butter fish gortons is good flounder spagetti sauce cheese is great breaded itlaion crumbs baked flounder
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p.h
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
Stay away from oily fish like mackeral, king fish, blue fish….etc
Stay with the mild fish like cod, flounder, sole, haddock, grouper
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mark
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
Tilapia or orange roughy are very light fish that have a mild taste. My son hates the 'fishy' taste but will eat these two kinds. There are a ton of recipes out the and these two fish allow the flavors of spices used in the recipes to take center stage.
Tilapia with lime is excellent and very easy. It is also great with garlic!
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meoohmy
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
Tips to buy fish- look for clear glossy eyes and glossy skin. If the skin is a bit slimey, even better. If you press the flesh of the fish, it should NOT leave a dent. Check the gills. If the gills are red the fish is fresh. If you get a fresh fish, the less fishy it will be. After scaling and rinsing the fish it should NOT smell fishy, it should smell of the sea.
NEXT: my sister dislikes fish usually, but the ways I make that she enjoys are- teriyaki salmon- where you cut the salmon into big chunks, roll them in cornstarch and deep fry, then coat the chunks in teriyaki sauce and serve that over rice. I suppose anything that masks the fishiness will be great. Salmon with creamy dill sauce and potatoes is also great- the dill is a strong herb and goes really well. Do you like smoked salmon? There are so many recipes you can make with it. I get salmon that has been smoked in a portion rather than slices, and wrap it in puff pastry with the dill sauce or dill butter, Then bake until flakey. Well, i hope this gives you some ideas!
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missopinions
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
so before you cook it make sure you rinse it and wash it properly and throughly with lemon juice! this would take away the smell.
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Seema
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
Fresh fish never smells fishy. If it does, pass on it. We eat fish almost every day. This is my favorite and really easy way to cook salmon.
2 salmon portions
3 tbsp dark brown sugar
1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
sea salt to taste
I preheat the oven to 425. I cover a cookie sheet with foil so I don't have to clean it afterwards, and spray it with some cooking spray. Lightly salt the fish and sprinkle with a mixture of the brown sugar and pepper . Bake it for about 10 minutes until cooked to your liking ( I like it slightly undercooked).
Low fat and absolutely delicious!!
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swf36D
| Mar 15, 2009 | Reply
I want to eat fish because it is good for you; but I cannot stand the taste of most of it. Even a HINT if fishy taste and I will not eat it. Yes, it is fresh and supposed to be “mild” but YUCK!
I will occasionally eat a small piece of bluegill, bass or crappie. I bought some very nice looking fresh frozen Hoki from New Zealand that is supposed to be a mild white fish. It is unbearable to cook so I am going to try the milk bath. How does Long John Silvers get theirs to taste so mild? I would eat fish several times a week if I could broil or saute and have it taste like that.
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BrenM
| Mar 9, 2010 | Reply