How to Cook Fish Perfectly

Fish for dinner: easy prep options

With fast cooking times and endless flavor options, fresh fish makes a healthy, family-friendly dinner.

Grilled fish and onions Not sure how to cook it? Follow our simple steps — and you'll find that preparing fish is surprisingly easy.

The most important thing to know about cooking fish is when to stop. No matter how you're preparing it, cook fresh fish for 10 minutes — at most — for each inch of thickness. That means a 1/2" thick fillet requires just five minutes of cooking.

These great ideas will help you get started on a feast of fresh fish:

Simple sautés

Fish fillets like cod, tilapia, and orange roughy are very easy to sauté. Cook them in butter or olive oil, then top them with your favorite salsa or marinara sauce.

Get grilling

Even die-hard meat lovers can't resist grilled tuna steaks.

Brush both sides of the fresh tuna with olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and rub on a bit of garlic and your favorite herbs. (Rosemary and dill are both great choices.)
Place the tuna on a greased grill rack or in a grill basket and cook over medium-hot coals until the tuna flakes easily with a fork. Allow four to six minutes per 1/2" of thickness. Turn once if the tuna is thicker than 1".
Many other types of fish and shellfish taste wonderful when prepared on the grill. If you select a fish that is flaky, be sure to place it in a foil tray so it doesn't fall apart while cooking.

Don't toil — quick broil

Using the broiler is a quick and delicious way to prepare fish.

Try broiling a fillet for two minutes, then turning it, topping with a mixture of sour cream and mustard, and broiling for two to three more minutes until the topping glazes.
Or, add seasonings such as parsley and thyme to butter, then slowly pour in a bit of lemon juice. Spread half of the butter mixture over the fish and broil three minutes. Turn and spread the rest of the mixture on the other side of the fish and broil three to five more minutes.

Fast marinades

Unlike marinating beef or chicken, marinating times for fish should be brief — or the fish gets mushy.

For an easy marinade, mix extra-virgin olive oil with an acidic ingredient like chopped tomatoes, red-wine vinegar, or lemon juice. Add salt and pepper and your favorite seasoning. Try spicy jalapeño peppers, crushed red pepper flakes, fresh thyme, or parsley.
Many spices and marinades are made specifically to bring out the flavor of seafood. Look in the spice and marinade aisles for easy, ready-to-use items. Then, season fish prior to grilling, baking, or broiling.
Marinate fillets like tilapia for only 30 minutes, and steaks like tuna or salmon for one hour. After marinating, grill or broil until the flesh of the fish flakes with a fork.

Cheesy baked fish

If you've got finicky kids who aren't big fans of fish, a cheesy topping might be just the ticket.

Combine their favorite shredded cheese with a little salt, pepper, and paprika, and then sprinkle the topping over mild, white fish fillets in a greased baking pan. Bake at 350° F until the fish flakes with a fork.
For a more subtle cheese flavor, mix shredded Parmesan cheese with crushed, seasoned bread crumbs. Brush the fish fillets with diluted milk, then coat them with the cheese and bread crumb mixture. Bake in a greased pan at 350° F.

Nutty, crusted fish

A thick, center-cut cod loin (or other mild fish) encrusted with a nutty coating is sure to be a winner with the whole family.

First, grind 1/2 cup of your favorite nuts in a food processor. Season the fish with salt and pepper, and press the nuts onto one side of the fish. Bake at 350° F in a greased pan, until the fish flakes.
Or, sauté the fish in oil, starting with the nut side up, for about four minutes. Turn the fish in the pan and cook until the nuts start to toast.