Think fish is out of your wheelhouse? Think again! With a little kitchen know-how, seafood can be just as simple as your go-to weeknight staples. If you’re looking for a special type of seafood, be sure to talk to one of our seafood teammates about special ordering in-season seafood.
7 Ways to Cook Seafood
01.
poaching
Defined: to cook by fully submerging food in a barely simmering liquid such as wine or olive oil.
Tip: The lower temperatures used in poaching help to prevent overcooking. To infuse even more flavor, try adding sliced produce, herbs and spices to your cooking liquid.
02.
baking
Defined: to cook by surrounding food in even, dry heat.
How to: Brush fish with oil, season as desired and arrange on a prepared sheet pan. Bake at 350-450 degrees (depending on the size of your fish) flipping fish halfway through cooking.
03.
sautéing
Defined: to cook using a small amount of butter or oil in a shallow pan over medium to high heat.
Tip: Sautéing creates a crispy crust while leaving the center tender and moist—just be sure to get the pan nice and hot before adding your fish.
04.
frying
Defined: to cook by partially or fully submerging in hot oil.
When to use: Frying is best for seafood with a neutral flavor like shellfish and lean white fish. Pan-frying works well for fillets whereas deep frying is a better option for small, irregularly shaped varieties.
05.
boiling
Defined: to cook by exposing food to direct, radiant heat from above.
How to: Place an oven rack a few inches from the broiler. Brush fish with oil or a glaze, season as desired and arrange on a prepared sheet pan. Broil, flipping once halfway through, until crispy on the outside and cooked through on the inside.
06.
grilling
Defined: to cook by exposing food to direct, radiant heat, commonly from below.
How to: Grilling works very similarly to broiling, except the heat is coming from the opposite side. Instead of arranging on a sheet pan, place fish directly onto the grate of a preheated grill.
07.
steaming & boiling
Defined: to cook by heating in a boiling liquid (like water, stock or bloody mary mix) or its steam.
When to use: While these methods are traditionally reserved for shellfish, steaming can be used as a lighter way to prepare most seafood. To steam, simply place a steaming basket into a pot above a couple inches of boiling liquid.
Nothin' Fishy Here
Fish doesn’t have to smell… well, fishy. Follow these tips to keep your food (and your home) smelling fresh.
Choose the Right Fish
Oily fish will produce stronger smells while cooking than their leaner counterparts; see our chart on the right.
Call on Citrus
Citrus is great at cutting through odors. Try including options like lemon juice, lime zest or orange slices in your next meal.
Start Fresh
Seafood should smell light and sweet. When shopping or defrosting, keep in mind that fish should be prepared sooner rather than later.
Consider Your Method
High-heat cooking methods like frying and sautéing tend to produce a stronger scent. To minimize this, opt for poaching or steaming.
Beat It with Bleach
An open cup of bleach in the kitchen will combat all kinds of odors—just make sure to keep it far away from the food.
Let's Go Fishin'
Now that you know the basics of cooking seafood, use this chart to find your ideal flavor. Shellfish and lean white fish have a more delicate flavor than dark and oily varieties.
Shellfish
crab, crayfish, lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops, shrimp
White, Lean & Flaky
black sea bass, flounder, red snapper, tilapia, rainbow trout
White, Lean & Firm
catfish, haddock, cod, halibut
White, Firm & Oily
albacore tuna, white sea bass, Chilean sea bass
Medium & Oily
Arctic char, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna
Dark & Oily
anchovies, herring, mackerel, sockeye salmon, sardines
Seafood Recipes
Fried Shrimp Ramen
Pasta, Pasta & Pizza, Seafood
45M
4
With so many ways to customize it, think of this recipe as inspiration for your taste buds.
Nashville Hot Fish Sandwich
Sandwiches, Tacos & Wraps, Seafood
1H
30M
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Hot Fish. We see your Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and raise you a Nashville Hot Fish Sandwich.
Baja Fish Tacos
Cinco de Mayo, Sandwiches, Tacos & Wraps, Seafood
30M
4
Baja Fish Taco Tuesday doesn’t have the same charm and roll off your tongue quite like Taco Tuesday does. It must mean it’s for eating any day of the week.
Shrimp & Pork Dumplings
Appetizers, Pork, Seafood
1H 15M
10
Serve as an appetizer or as a meal–Shrimp & Pork Dumplings are a crowd favorite.
Pesto Salmon Gnocchi
Mother's Day, Pasta, Pasta & Pizza, Seafood
40M
4
It’s delicious no matter how you pronounce it. It’s nyawk-kee if you want to be Italian; nok-ee or noh-kee if you’re feeling more American.
Cajun Catfish Po’ Boys
Sandwiches, Tacos & Wraps, Seafood
20M
4
If Louisiana were a sandwich, it would be this Cajun Catfish Po’ Boy.
Seafood & Spinach Lasagna Alla Vodka
Pasta, Pasta & Pizza, Seafood
1H 20M
12
Perfect comfort food for a family gathering…or if you want it all to yourself. We’ll never tell.
Fresh Salmon Cake Salad
Salad & Slaw, Seafood
35M
4
Cake and salad come together to create the delicious dish that is Fresh Salmon Cake Salad.
Niçoise Salad Flatbread
Lunch, Seafood
45M
6
Niçoise Salad is a salad that usually consists primarily of olives, tomatoes, anchovies, tuna, and beans or green vegetables. We took it up a notch and put it on a flatbread.
Seared Scallops with Parmesan Green Peas
Dinner, Seafood, Valentine's Day
25M
4
For quick meal ideas, Seared Scallops with Parmesan Green Peas tops the list. It has less than 350 calories and is ready in under 30 minutes.
Savory French Toast Benedict with Crab
Breakfast, Dinner, Pork, Seafood
45M
4
Breakfast for dinner, but make it savory! Anything bacon can do, sausage can do better.
Cajun Mac & Cheese
Dinner, Pasta, Pasta & Pizza, Pork, Seafood
1H 5M
12
The ultimate comfort food just leveled up. We recommend doubling the recipe to guarantee leftovers.
Jerk-Spiced Trout with Banana Salad & Coconut Rice
Dinner, Seafood
50M
4
Of the jerk trout recipes out there, this one is a winner. Packed full of flavor and color, give your taste buds something to talk about.
Roasted Jack Salmon with Asparagus
30-Minute Dinner, Dinner, Mother's Day, Seafood
30M
6
One of our favorite healthy recipes, Roasted Jack Salmon with Asparagus is a full meal ready in 30 minutes and under 300 calories.
Southwest Surf & Turf
Dinner, Mother's Day, Seafood, Valentine's Day
1H 45M
4
Surf’s up! Try this southwest take on Surf and Turf–where seafood and red meat meet. (Hint: it’s in the taco seasoning.)
New-Manhattan Seafood Chowder
Seafood, Soup & Chili
1H
6
The best part of chowder is that you can make it thicker or thinner to your preference.
