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No one wants to sit down for a lovely fish dinner just to end up with a mouthful of scales. Instead, make a positive impression on your friends and family with your culinary skills. Follow these easy steps to learn how to scale a fish.
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Tips on how to scale a fish using a scaling tool or a spoon.
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Introduction
- Fish scaling, while not always necessary, can be very beneficial in prepping your fish for cooking. Scaling allows the skin to remain on the fish, and since the skin hold most of the moisture, baking or broiling the fish with the skin still on will leave it much juicier once cooked. Removing the scales also makes for a much more pleasant meal for those you will be cooking for, since many people are quite sensitive to getting scales in their mouths while eating. If you follow the steps below, you can be assured of serving a mouth-watering, scale-free meal.
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No one wants to sit down for a lovely fish dinner just to end up with a mouthful of scales. Instead, make a positive impression on your friends and family with your culinary skills. Follow these easy steps to learn how to scale a fish.
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Step 1: Prepare Your Work Area
- Fish scaling can be a very messy endeavor. You will want to scale your fish outside, or in another area you can clean up easily. One suggestion would be to cover a clean cutting board or counter with a large piece of wax paper. You can also immerse the fish in water while you scale it. Set out tool you plan to use to scale your fish. This does not have to be a fish scaler, a large spoon or butter knife will do the job fine.
Step 2: Prepare Your Fish
- Fish are much easier to scale prior to gutting as the ventral walls will still be rounded and firm. Because fish are quite slimy, rinse your fish thoroughly before beginning to scale it so that it will be easier to hold steady.
Step 3: Scale Your Fish
- Once your work area and fish are ready, you can begin the actual scaling process.
- Lay your fish flat on the board or hold it steady in the water.
- Hold the fish down firmly with your hand near its head.
- Begin to rake the scales from the tail towards the head. They should start coming off in clumps.
- Be sure to remove the scales on both sides of the fish, as well as scales near the fins, the collar and the tail.
- When you think you have gotten most of the scales, rinse the fish off again with water. This will wash away any loose scales and help you to identify any remaining scales that need to be removed.
- YouTube: How to Fillet Fish : First Steps to Descale a Fish (Time: 2:30)