How to Cook Catfish

How to Cook Catfish

Catfish is a freshwater dwelling species. You can find them in water bodies in the Southern US. This is also why it is a culinary favorite in this region. You can purchase farm raised catfish frozen, fresh, filleted or even in nuggets. Here are some tips as to how you can cook catfish.

Poaching  Catfish

Use a broth to add to the flavor of the catfish if you want to poach it. Add some herbs and spices like onions to the simmer. Put the skinless catfish fillets in a pan. Put a lid on it. Cook the fish for approximately 9 minutes for every inch it is thick.

Broiling  Catfish

Wash your catfish steaks or fillets. Remove excess water with a paper towel. Dredge the fish in either corn meal, flour or bread crumbs. Put the catfish in a baking dish and on a rack.

Preheat the broiler. Lay the fish on the rack approximately four inches from the top. Turn the fish one time during the broiling process. Check to make sure the catfish is clear in the middle. It should be firm all the way through. This may take up to 10 minutes. Time will vary according to the size of the fish.

Deep Frying

Add oil to an wok or fryer. It needs to measure 1 ½ inches deep. If you are using a deep fryer, add oil to the half way mark.

Warm the oil to 375 degrees. Use a thermometer.

Dice catfish into sections. They should be 1 ¼ to 1 ½ inches across. Dredge in the batter and drain. Now put the fish in the oil. Cook for several minutes until golden brown.

Pan Frying Catfish

Wash the catfish under cold water. Plot the water off the fish with a paper towel. Dip the catfish in flour. Remove excess flour

Put the catfish inside the hot pan with oil. Turn the fish one time and cook for 5 minutes on each side. Time varies according to size.

Catfish sub

Put catfish steaks on a direct heat source on your grill. They should be four to six inches above the gas or charcoal. Baste the fish so it doesn’t get dry. Use oil, butter or marinade. Shut the hood. Grill for 7 to 10 minutes if the catfish measures less than one inch thick; 12 to 15 minutes for  any size bigger than that.

Oven baked catfish

Baking

Wash the catfish fillets thoroughly. Dry the fish with a paper towel. Put the fish in the pyrex baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover the fish with spices, and other things like vegetables. Season the fish with garlic, salt, pepper and onions. Bake until done.