Scaling a Fish

[Swede]

I've seen many scaling tools on the market for scaling fish, but I keep coming back to a common household spoon.  Try a teaspoon or tablespoon - whatever fits your hand best.  The gentleman in the following video also demonstrates the use of the spoon.  I did learn something new from the video: submerge the fish in water to keep the scales from flying all over while scaling. 

http://www.ehow.com/video_2344133_first-steps-descale-fish.html

[Bassinkorea]

I hate it when those scales fly all over the kitchen, I never thought to do the scaling under water 

Thanks for posting Swede 

[coldfront]

okay, I feel realy stupid for asking this...



why scale vs skin?

[Swede]

Depends on the fish for me.  I scale panfish - sunfish and crappie.  I skin bass, pike, walleye, and most all saltwater fish.  I scale the panfish, cut the heads off and gut, and throw in the frying pan.  Meat falls right off the bones.

[fishinfranklin]

Been using a spoon since i was a kid to scale pan fish. Fish that i am going to fillet,I dont scale or gut , i just cut the side off with skin then trim it off of the skin, Like Swede said pan fish you can cook whole and pull the dorsal fin out and just roll the meat right off the bone.

[coldfront]

Depends on the fish for me.  I scale panfish - sunfish and crappie.  I skin bass, pike, walleye, and most all saltwater fish.  I scale the panfish, cut the heads off and gut, and throw in the frying pan.  Meat falls right off the bones.

thanks Swede...if they're not big enough to filet with the electric knife...they get set free..

[Ron Fogelson]

thanks Swede...if they're not big enough to filet with the electric knife...they get set free..

I've done that to FL brim before,,,,, ended up with fish chips  they cooked fast   

[ronalddipietro]

MMMM NOTHING BETTER THAN A MESS OF FRIED BREAM...SINCE I NVER CATCH THEM LARGE ENOUGH TO FILET...I SCALE THEM AND GUT..OUTSIDE.....I FILET MY BASS INSIDE...AND SKIN MY CATFISH...OUTSIDE...

[kevin dye]

 too me a spoon is the best tool for the job. I have used a spoon since I was a kid. Holding fish under water is a great idea. I will have to try that. I cook all my fish with the skin on. But not cat fish.

[Nutt]

I filet all white perch and bass that I keep, but use the spoon method to scale fish.  Also to skin catfish, use a wire grill brush to remove the skin.  Just rub the brush lightly on the fish and the skin comes right off and doesnt tear the meat.  Then just gut it as normal.  Sounds crazy but I have done this for years.

[fishinfranklin]

Skeeter i will have to give the WIRE BRUSH a try. You might even should post it as a tip!! cause skinning catfish  big time