How to Broil Fish

Fish is a tasty treat for many non-vegetarians all across the globe. But, not many of us are familiar with the different fish cooking techniques. Grilling fish is quite messy, as the fish fillets tend to stick to the grill. It is very simple to fry fish in oil, but the worrying part is the calorie count. An easy and tasty way of preparing fish is broiling it in the oven. If you are interested in knowing how to broil fish and for how long so as to conserve all the nutrients, the following information will interest you.

Broiling Fish in the Oven

According to fish lovers, the best fish choices for broiling are cod, grouper, walleye, pompano and tilapia. Whether you are broiling tuna, haddock, flounder, cod or any other type, the basic preparation steps remain the same. It is the seasoning ingredients of the fish recipes and broiling time, that will decide the taste of your broiled fish. So, how long does it take to broil fish?. The cooking time depends on the size of fish cuts that you are broiling. Refer to the following tips on how to broil fish in the oven.

• Purchase fresh fish with firm flesh and clear eyes, and avoid foul-smelling fish. If possible, prepare on the same day itself for better taste.
• First of all, rinse and wash fish thoroughly. Pat it dry with a clean towel. If fish fillets are still frozen, you need to broil it for a longer time.
• Preheat the broiler to high heat setting for 10 minutes. Place the already cleaned fish fillets in the broiling pan. For fish with skin, orient the skin side down to avoid sticking.
• For seasoning part, use your preferred spices and herb ingredients. You can simply spray pepper and salt over the fish fillets. With your fingers, rub the seasoning spices and oil (or butter) for even coating, and broil it.
• You can also prepare a sauce by combining mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, pepper and salt. Apply this sauce over the fillet and wrap with foil.
• Either way, place the pan in the preheated broiler, maintaining a distance of 10 cm from the heat source for fresh fish, and 15 cm for frozen fish. Broil fish fillets for 2-3 minutes for fresh fish, and 4-6 minutes for frozen ones.
• The next step is to remove the partly cooked fish from the broiler, and apply seasoning spices. Following this, broil for another 3-4 minutes. These repeated seasoning steps are not required if you are using sauce.
• Your fish fillets are done, if they flake easily, when tested with a knife or fork.

Broiling fish is not messy at all, even if you are cooking this way for the first time. After you are done with cooking, all you need is dispose the foil. The key tip while broiling salmon or any other fish is to keep a close eye on the fish. In any unattended moment, it may become overcooked and unpalatable for eating, which you do not want. So, watch your fish, till they are broiled perfectly as per your taste. You can serve broiled fish with roasted peppers, grits and vegetable salads.

According to nutrition facts, serving three ounces of deep-fried fish yield 211 calories, while serving the same amount of broiled fish gives 74 calories. So, better prepare the fish by broiling, instead of consuming oil laden fried fish to avoid unwanted weight gain.