Do You Have To Scale Fish Before You Cook It?

Fish is one of the most widely-eaten seafood in the world. People worldwide enjoy eating different kinds of fish based on their type and recipes. As much as people love to eat fish at diners and restaurants, a large proportion of the population prefers cooking it by themself with their signature recipes enjoyed by their loved ones.

But a question that definitely arises in the mind of the people who are cooking it for the first time is whether or not to descale a fish before cooking it. Well, there is no definite answer to that. People seem to have conflicting opinions on this matter because where one school of thought states that scaling a fish before cooking is absolutely necessary, another holds that since the scales loosen up and fall off after cooking, there is no need to take the extra hassle. So it is up to the individual whether they want to scale and clean the entire fish, cut it into filets and store it in the fridge for later use or just cook it without scaling.

Are Fish Scales Edible?

You can eat fish scales, but doing so puts you at risk of choking. Additionally, there is no research on fish scales’ nutritional benefits. If cooked correctly and thoroughly cleaned, however, fish skin is edible.

For ages, it has been safe to eat fish skin. Many many people also like it as a snack. Fish skin is usually acceptable to consume as long as it has been well washed and the exterior scales have been removed.

Salmon skin with scales may be eaten without any problems. Depending on how the salmon will be prepared and your particular preferences, the scales may or may not be removed from the skin. When eating the skin of salmon, the scales can provide an unpleasant crunchy sensation.

Which Fishes Can be Eaten With Scales?

Most scaly fish don’t require scale removal before cooking. Some fishes, like smelt, are eaten whole, including the scales. They are a little freshwater fish that are highly well-liked in the states around the Great Lakes, where they gather in tributary rivers each spring to reproduce and are taken out using dip nets. They are typically gutted, fried, and consumed head, skin, scales, and bones.

Why Do People Scale Fish?

Although eating fish scales is generally not considered unhealthy, a big chunk of the population finds it rather unpleasant. Fish scales have an unappealing and slimy flavor to them. Even if the fish is cooked with all the scales still on, people will most likely not like it. In addition, fish scales make it challenging to access the meat, which is the most delectable and appetizing component of any fish. People must repeatedly take the scales out of their mouths if they put a piece of scaled fish in there.

Fish scales can be compared to fish bones which are also not pleasant to eat and hard to swallow. They also don’t provide a lot of nutrition. Simply said, eating fish without its scales is simpler, and so it is descaled.

How To Scale a Fish?

You must learn how to peel fish scales if you decide to cook your fish entirely with the skin on. To remove the scales from both sides of the fish, you can either use a fish scaler, a specialized instrument for scaling fish, or a butter knife. First, grab the fish firmly by the tail and remove the scales with the fish scaler, starting at the tail and working your way up to the head. Next, wash the fish under running water to eliminate any leftover scales. Repeat on the other side after flipping the fish over.