Tips for Choosing and Grilling Fish
1. Choosing Fresh Fish
When selecting fish for grilling, it is best to choose fresh fish rather than frozen. Here are some key points to consider while buying fish:
- Ensure that the fish does not have a strong smell or is difficult to smell.
- Check the appearance of the fish, ensuring that it has been refrigerated and has clean and shiny skin.
- If purchasing a whole fish, look for moist and shiny skin, and pale pink-colored gills.
- Avoid buying fish that has been refrigerated for an extended period.
- Select fish with firm, non-mushy flesh.
- Choose fish with a fresh and white appearance, avoiding those with a yellow or beige color.
- If opting for frozen fish, ensure that the packaging is secure, without any signs of excessive freezing. Check the packaging and expiration dates, and prefer crowded and popular stores for purchasing.
2. Using Aluminum Foil for Grilling Fish
Fish fillets or other thick and firm parts of the fish are ideal for grilling. Oily fish, such as salmon or tuna, also work well. When grilling fish with a grilling pan, it is recommended to wrap the fish in aluminum foil. The foil helps the sauce to seep into the fish during grilling, and it is a convenient and hygienic method that reduces cleaning effort afterward.
3. Preheating the Grill
Preheating the grill for about 10-15 minutes is recommended before grilling fish. This step helps the grill reach the optimal temperature quickly once the fish is placed on it, similar to preheating oil in a pan before frying food.
4. Grilling Technique for Fish
To enhance the flavor of the fish, marinating it for about 30 minutes is advisable. Before grilling, lightly brush both sides of the fish with cooking oil using a brush to give it a shiny appearance after grilling.
Grilling Time for Fish:
- If the fish is about 2.5 cm thick: Grill for approximately 10 minutes at 220 degrees Celsius.
- For fish thicker than 2.5 cm, add 5 minutes for each additional 1.5 cm of thickness.
- If the fish is wrapped in foil, grill for an additional 10 minutes.
- If the fish is grilled in foil without wrapping, grill for an additional 5 minutes.
- If the fish is not wrapped in foil, grill for an additional 10 minutes.
- If the fish is stuffed with other ingredients, grill for an additional 10 minutes.
- If grilling frozen fish, grill for an additional 10 minutes.
For example, if you have a 4 cm thick fish that is completely thawed, not stuffed, and wrapped in foil, the total grilling time would be 25 minutes.