Do you need to know how to fillet fish? A fillet is a slice of fish that has been removed from the bone in a lengthwise slice, in contrast to a fish steak which is a thick slice cut across the fish. Read on to learn how to fillet a fish, step by step.
How to Fillet Fish
This video demonstrates an alternate method for filleting a fish. Although the cuts may be made in a different order than detailed below, many of the tips will be useful no matter how you fillet a fish. For example, when inserting the knife, make sure to keep the knife on top of the ribs while filleting.
Introduction
After you've cleaned a fish, you can cook it whole, slice it into steaks (if it's large enough) or fillet it. While the basic procedures are the same for all fish, there are a few differences in how to cut a fillet from a small fish, and how to cut a fillet from a large fish. This page will cover both methods.
How to Fillet a Small Fish
- You don't need to skin the fish first, but make sure the fish has been scaled.
- Place the fish on its side on a cutting board, with its backbone facing towards you.
- Insert a sharp knife under the flesh at the base of the backbone, with the sharp edge facing towards the head.
- Slide the knife all the way through the fish.
- Holding the tail, slide the knife towards and over the ribs, until you've reached the head.
- Remove the fillet from the fish.
- Turn the fish over, and repeat on the other side.
How to Fillet a Large Fish
- Cut off the fins.
- Clean and scale the fish.
- Split the fish open from the vent to the tail.
- Place the fish on its side on a cutting board, with its backbone facing towards you.
- Using a sharp knife, cut along the backbone all the way up the fish.
- Insert the knife through the slit you cut,under the flesh at the base of the backbone, with the sharp edge facing towards the head.
- Slide the knife all the way through the fish, or as far as it will go
- Holding the tail, slide the knife towards and over the ribs, until you've reached the head.
- If your knife did not reach all the way across the fish, insert the knife at the tail end on the side across from the backbone, and slide the knife up towards the head again.
- Remove the fillet from the fish.
- Turn the fish over, and repeat on the other side.
Remove Any Small Bones
What You'll Need: Tweezers or a Paring knife
No matter how careful you are when filleting a fish, some small bones may remain. These are difficult to see with the eye, so you'll need to use your sense of touch. Feel the fish all over, to find small bones. When you find one, remove it with tweezers, or use the flat edge of a small knife to push the bone out.
