Why Frozen Fish Is Always the Best Choice

For some reason, many of us seem to have an irrational fear of cooking fish at home. We love it when it's served to us in a restaurant, but the thought of preparing it ourselves is often terrifying. But I’ve got an easy fix for that—and it guarantees you the freshest fish possible, unless you happen to live right next to a fishing dock.

Always choose frozen fish. Without exception.

It might sound like I’m contradicting myself when I mention 'fresh,' but here’s the truth: most fish at the store has been frozen at some point before it gets there. The issue is, you can’t know when or how it was thawed. On the other hand, fish frozen right after being caught and cleaned, then sold to you still frozen, allows you to choose the perfect moment to thaw and cook it. This method guarantees superior freshness, flavor, and texture.

But that still doesn't address the 'fear factor' question.

If you buy high-quality frozen fish, whether from a large retailer like Costco, a trusted local grocery store, or one of the new direct-to-you frozen fish delivery services (such as the fantastic Sitka Salmon Shares), you’ll receive fish that’s pre-cut, pre-cleaned, and portioned to perfection. This eliminates three common concerns—how to choose the right fish, how to determine if it’s fresh, and how to properly portion it.

Now let’s tackle the big fear: cooking the fish. Here’s the thing: overcooked fish might not be ideal, but it’s still edible. Undercooked fish, however, is often even better. The trick to cooking fish fillets at home is simple: cook it fast. With clean, perfectly portioned fillets, cooking becomes a breeze. Heat some oil (or a mix of oil and butter) in a nonstick pan, add your seasoned fillet, flip it gently after a minute or so, and let it cook for another minute. That’s all there is to it—just be sure not to overcook. For thicker pieces, add a minute or so to each side. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be a fish-cooking pro.

Another common worry: 'But won’t the house smell like fish?' No, it won’t. Cook a thin fillet quickly, and your house will smell like nothing but a delicious dinner in the making!