How to Prepare Perch

by Jon Gebarowski

If you’re in the mood to cook seafood this week, we have a suggestion you are sure to fall in love with. Perch is a flavorful fish found throughout the streams and lakes across the country. Whether you’re an avid angler or prefer store-bought or home delivery perch, selecting the perfect cooking seafood method presents plenty of mouth-watering options. While perch is the ideal size for pan-frying, there are several other ways to prepare them that are just as delicious. Let’s take a look at how to properly prepare your fish for cooking and our top three favorite ways to create a delicious perch meal. We promise to have your guests believing you’re cooking seafood like a master chef in no time.

 

Top 3 Ways to Prepare a Delicious Perch Meal

  1. Pan-fry
  2. Poached
  3. Baked

 

Preparing the Perch

Proper preparation before cooking seafood is always vital. You don’t need to be a pro when it comes to cooking seafood with our easy-to-follow steps:

  1. Scale your fish with a scaling tool or sharp knife. Then rinse off the fish.
  2. Use the knife to gut the fish, then rinse out the belly cavities well.
  3. If you plan to cook the perch whole, use your kitchen shears or knife to cut away the spiny fins from the perch’s back.
  4. Suppose you prefer to fillet the perch, cut along its backbone from its head to its tail. Turn the perch over and repeat the process for the second fillet.
  5. Remove the rib bones by carefully sliding the knife underneath them. Be sure to angle your blade toward the bones to help minimize any waste. You will use one long, smooth stroke to remove the rib bones as well as the thin membrane that holds them together.
  6. If you prefer cooking seafood without skin, use your knife to skin your perch To do so, make a shallow, diagonal cut at its tail until your knife blade reaches the skin. While holding its tail in place with one hand, carefully draw the knife along the skin until it reaches the end, freeing the fillet. You’re now ready to season and cook seafood like a pro!

Choosing a Perch Cooking Method

If you already have a preference for cooking seafood, hear us out – we may persuade you to try out a new method that impresses your tastebuds. Regardless if you have experience cooking seafood dishes, you won’t go wrong with any of our three simple methods.

 

Pan-Fried Perch

Perhaps the most popular method of preparing a perch dish is to pan-fry fillets. Its lightly crisped texture provides incredible flavor and is easy to make.

 

  1. Season your perch: Gently pat your fillets dry with a paper towel. Next, sprinkle salt and pepper and additional seasoning over both sides of your fillets.
  2. Dip each fillet in flour: Generally, you’ll use approximately 1 tbsp of flour per perch fillet. Add your flour to a large bowl. Dip one perch fillet at a time into the flour, flipping it over and pressing it gently to coat all areas.
  3. Dip your fillets in a bowl of beaten egg: Beat one large egg in a bowl. Dip the perch fillets into the beaten egg, covering it completely.
  4. Dip the fillets in breadcrumbs: Dip your fillets into a bowl of breadcrumbs, pressing gently to cover your entire fillet. Cornmeal works just as well and will yield a slightly sweeter taste.
  5. Lay each fillet flat on a plate as you finish them. Do not stack your fillets, as this may cause some of your breading to fall off.
  6. Fry each side of the perch fillet: Once your oil is hot enough, carefully place the fillets in the frying pan. Keep an eye on them, checking them every few minutes to avoid overcooking. When you notice a nice, light golden-brown color, it’s time to flip your fillet and repeat.

 

Poached Perch

Poaching is an often overlooked method of cooking seafood. We love to cook seafood with this method, as it allows so much flavor to simmer in the pot.

 

  1. Seasoning your pot: Add your seasonings to the pot as the water heats to boiling. At the very least, we recommend a mixture of onions, a bit of lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
  2. Bring the water to a boil: Once your water begins to boil, cover your pot and simmer the liquid for approximately twenty-five minutes.
  3. Add the perch to the pot: Turn the heat to low. Add the fish, and make sure the fillets are covered up at least 2/3 of the way. Add additional water if necessary.
  4. Cover, boil and simmer: Cover the pot and bring water back to a boil. Once you reach a boil, remove from the heat and allow your perch to steam for eight to ten minutes. You’ll notice an opaque color when your fillets thoroughly cook through.

 

Baked Perch

If you prefer a method with fewer calories and less hands-on requirements, baking may be your ideal method of cooking seafood.

 

  1. Preheat your oven to 500 °F /260 °C:Fish tend to require a higher baking temperature to ensure they cook all the way through.
  2. Breading or butter:As your oven preheats, prepare your breading mixture as you would if you were pan-frying your fillets. If you prefer your fillets naked, brush them with a light coat of melted butter on each side.
  3. Place the fillets in a greased baking pan: Pre-grease a pan with butter, oil, or cooking spray. As you dip or coat your fillets, line them in your pan, being mindful not to overlap them so they will cook evenly.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes: Leave your pan uncovered and bake your perch for ten minutes. Your perch fillets will flake easily with a fork if they are thoroughly cooked. Return your fillets to the oven and cook for an additional two to three minutes if necessary. 

 

Order your Yellow Lake Perch with our exceptional home delivery service and prepare a delicious seafood dinner your whole family will enjoy!

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