10 Easy Ways To Know If Fish Is Cooked - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Know if Fish Is Cooked PDF download Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Use an instant-read thermometer for the most accuracy. 2 Cut the fish with a knife to see if it’s opaque. 3 Twist the meat with a fork to see if it flakes. 4 Stick a cake tester in the thickest part to see if it’s warm. 5 Check the skin for a crispy texture. 6 Press down on salmon fillets to see if the meat separates. 7 Look for a white substance if you're cooking salmon. 8 Cook fish for 10 minutes per 1 inch (2.5 cm). 9 Cook fish that isn't done for another minute. 10 Avoid cooking the fish until it's hard. + Show 7 more... - Show less... Other Sections Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: January 29, 2024 References

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This article was reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward. Jeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College. This article has been viewed 59,343 times.

Pan-seared, butter glazed, grilled, broiled, baked—is there anything better than some deliciously tender fish? With a delicate texture, fish is easy to overcook. But it’s also really important that it’s cooked all of the way through to avoid potential food poisoning. Luckily, it’s actually pretty easy to check if fish is cooked, and there are a few different ways you can do it.

Steps

1

Use an instant-read thermometer for the most accuracy.

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  1. Check for a temp of 145 °F (63 °C). Check for a temp of 145 °F (63 °C). Gently insert an instant-read, a.k.a. a meat thermometer, into the thickest part of the fish. If the internal temperature is 145 °F (63 °C), then it’s done cooking.[1]
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2

Cut the fish with a knife to see if it’s opaque.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked Use the tip of a small knife to take a peek inside. When you first start cooking the fish, it’ll have a shiny, translucent color and appearance. As it cooks, the fish will change both texture and color. It’ll become more opaque, meaning it won’t be see-through. Stick the tip of a sharp knife into the thickest part of the fish. If it’s opaque all the way through the meat, then it’s finished cooking and ready to eat.
    • Fish like cod and mackerel will be white all the way through. Other fish that have a deeper color, such as tuna or salmon, will be opaque and won’t look translucent when they're done.
3

Twist the meat with a fork to see if it flakes.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked Fully cooked fish will flake easily. Stick the tines of a clean fork into the thickest section of the fish at a 45-degree angle. Gently twist the fork and check to see if the meat is flaky and opaque. If it is, then you’re good to go![2]
    • Try not to shred the fillet. A simple flake test should be enough.
    • Some fish, like salmon and tuna, may not flake as easily as white fish like cod. But they’ll be fully opaque when they’re finished.
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4

Stick a cake tester in the thickest part to see if it’s warm.

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  1. Use this restaurant secret to avoid destroying a delicate fillet. Use this restaurant secret to avoid destroying a delicate fillet. A cake tester is a specially designed pastry tool used to check if a cake is done baking. Slide the thin metal rod onto the thickest part of the fish and hold it there for 3 seconds. Then, remove it and touch the tip of the cake tester to the skin under your bottom lip. If it’s warm, then the fish is cooked all the way through.[3]
    • This is a great trick for super delicate fish, such as flounder, which may fall apart if you use a fork to check it.
5

Check the skin for a crispy texture.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked If it’s crispy, it’s done. Fish with the skin on should always be cooked skin-side down first so it crisps up. Take a spatula and lift the fish to check the skin. If it’s firm and crispy, it should be finished cooking, especially if it’s a thin fillet.[4]
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6

Press down on salmon fillets to see if the meat separates.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked Cook perfect medium salmon with this simple test. Salmon is at its juiciest when it’s cooked to a medium temperature rather than a fully well-done, which can be dry and chalky. Take a fork or use your finger to gently press down on the top of the salmon fillet. If the flesh separates easily along the white lines that run across it, then it’s ready to go.[5]
7

Look for a white substance if you're cooking salmon.

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  1. You may see something called albumin, which is a white substance that appears when a fish like salmon is cooked. You may see something called albumin, which is a white substance that appears when a fish like salmon is cooked. Albumin is a sign that the fish is done cooking.[6] Some fish, like cod or trout, won’t have albumin.
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8

Cook fish for 10 minutes per 1 inch (2.5 cm).

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked Follow this simple rule of thumb to avoid undercooking. Measure the thickest part of the fish. Calculate 10 minutes of cooking time for every 1 inch (2.5 cm) of thickness. Cook each side for half of the total time so it’s evenly cooked. For instance, if you have a fillet that’s 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick, cook it for 5 minutes on each side.[7]
9

Cook fish that isn't done for another minute.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked Fish is delicate and can easily overcook. If you check it and it isn’t quite ready, don’t cook it for too much longer before you check it again. Wait another minute or so and then see if it’s finished.[8]
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10

Avoid cooking the fish until it's hard.

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Know if Fish Is Cooked Hard fish is overcooked. Use a toothpick or a metal skewer and insert it into the fillet. If it doesn’t easily slide through the fillet, then it isn’t finished cooking. If it’s hard, it may be overcooked.[9]

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Warnings

  • Undercooked fish can contain harmful bacteria. Never eat fish unless you know for sure that it’s fully cooked.[10] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.bhg.com/recipes/fish/basics/how-to-know-fish-is-done/
  2. ↑ https://www.seafoodnutrition.org/seafood-101/cooking/how-do-i-know-when-my-fish-is-cooked/
  3. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-tell-if-salmon-is-cooked
  4. ↑ https://www.yummy.ph/lessons/cooking/how-to-tell-if-fish-is-overcooked-a00249-20180909
  5. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-tell-if-salmon-is-cooked
  6. ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/seafood/fish/how-to-tell-when-salmon-is-done
  7. ↑ https://www.seafoodnutrition.org/seafood-101/cooking/how-do-i-know-when-my-fish-is-cooked/
  8. ↑ https://www.yummy.ph/lessons/cooking/how-to-tell-if-fish-is-overcooked-a00249-20180909
  9. ↑ https://www.yummy.ph/lessons/cooking/how-to-tell-if-fish-is-overcooked-a00249-20180909
More References (1)
  1. ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/safety-tips/food/is-raw-seafood-safe-to-eat

About This Article

Chef Jeff Woodward Reviewed by: Chef Jeff Woodward Private Chef This article was reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward. Jeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College. This article has been viewed 59,343 times. 9 votes - 78% Co-authors: 5 Updated: January 29, 2024 Views: 59,343 Categories: Fish and Seafood In other languagesSpanish
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Chef Jeff Woodward Reviewed by: Chef Jeff Woodward Private Chef 9 votes - 78% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 5 Updated: January 29, 2024 Views: 59,343

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Tag » How To Know Cod Is Cooked