5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Seafood

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Seafood

Cooking fish and seafood is an art in itself! When done right, you will get one of the most delicious and satisfying meals you would have ever tasted. However, you might not possess the required skills and experience needed to correctly prepare seafood for the best outcomes.

For instance, cooking salmon for the first time can be intimidating because you may not know which side you should sear first or which color you should aim for.

Below, we have listed the top five mistakes to avoid when cooking seafood!

1. Fiddling too much- Seafood is delicate; the more you touch it or move it in the pan, the more juice it will lose, resulting in the piece of meat to fall apart. Therefore, the less you touch the seafood, the better.

If you are cooking the seafood in the pan, track the cooking time and ensure that the pan is not too hot. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes, and then flip the food.

For instance, if you are cooking fish, drizzle a little olive oil and cook each filet for five minutes on each side, thus following the 10-minute rule.

2. Prioritizing quantity over quality- You may have guests coming over and want to serve fish for dinner. However, do not mistake buying fish depending on the size. Always prioritize quality over quantity and size. Instead, shop for firm fish and remember smell is not an indicator of the quality; the eyes are, they must be alive.

If the fish is too soft, it means it has been there too long and has been frozen. And, the gills should be bright red and not slimy.

3. Not freezing properly- Before cooking seafood, you must freeze it adequately. For instance, while freezing fish, properly dry fillets before you vacuum-seal them or cover them with cling wrap. It is better to use fish within ten days after freezing them.

4. Seasoning at the wrong moment- If you want to avoid drying out the seafood, avoid over seasoning while cooking as salt draws out moisture. You should season your fillet after removing it from the pan when it is 80 percent cooked through while still being translucent in the center.

For instance, salmon needs to be pink in the center; otherwise, it will lose its good qualities.

5. Using cream sauce with everything- As a cook, you must understand that cream sauce does not go well with every seafood. For instance, cream sauce with fish is a wrong idea; instead, go for citrus sauces, such as lime, orange, or lemon. These sour sauces will help you bring out the fish's natural sweetness. You can also go light with a soy sauce and not add the cream.

On the other hand, French or Chinese cuisines are primarily cooked in sauces and stocks. However, in such dishes, you might not be able to determine whether you are eating fish or chicken because the sauces are too strong.

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Seasoning your seafood properly is key to bringing out the best flavors and aromas. If you're not a fan of bland seafood, then you need to get yourself some The Spice King Gourmet Seafood Seasoning! This seasoning blend was formulated with 15 different herbs and spices, including lemon, dill, and tarragon, so it can complement any seafood dish perfectly! At The Spice King, our spices are fresh, non-GMO, low sodium, and gluten-free. We also offer utterly delicious spices and seasoning mixes that are ten times more flavorful than any other brand. For more information, email us at hello@spicekingworld.com or fill out our contact form.