Fish is notoriously challenging to grill successfully over hot fire, often sticking to grates, flaking away or overcooking. Yet when done right it can be sublimely light and fresh with delicious simplicity; every backyard griller can learn how to get this right with just some tips and techniques.
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How to Select Fish
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to selecting the perfect fish. A grill has ways of handling everything from delicate fillets and giant steaks all the way through whole fish. But since going through each and every type and cut would likely test our patience, in this post, we will focus on those species best suited for throwing over flames with nothing more than oil, salt and pepper; no special tools or procedures necessary!
When selecting fish for grilling, one should carefully evaluate how hearty and resilient its composition is–in other words, can it withstand being heated on an open flame. Flaky or delicate varieties like flounder or sole won’t do. Instead, thicker fillets or steaks from robust contenders such as:
Halibut, tuna, swordfish and haddock will stand up well under heat and strain of flipping, giving your flips maximum chances for success.
With thick-cut seafood pieces on your hands, food prep doesn’t get easier than simply brushing on oil, salt and pepper for optimal grilling results. All the hard work for delicious results lies within.
How Can You Prep for Fish Success One key component to ensure successful grilling experience is proper prep; I’ve experienced it many times now when grilling seafood; the stickiness sometimes goes beyond anything the seafood itself could cause; oftentimes the result comes down to improper prepping of your grill which is key here.
First and foremost, your grill must be properly cleaned. One method for accomplishing this task is covering it just after all the coals have ignited and at their hottest points; five minutes will give enough heat for you to easily brush away any leftover residue on its grates using an appropriate grill brush.
Oiling the grates afterward is also vital, and can best be accomplished using a cloth or paper towel soaked in vegetable or olive oil and used to grease them over searing-hot grates.
Failing to do either or both can result in disaster when grilling fish on medium heat fire. With both steps completed, your meal should be ready for submission over your grill!
Flip It
Once your fish has been cooking for some time and the bottom has started changing from translucent to opaque, it may be time for its final flip. A clean and well-oiled grill grate combined with oiling your fish should provide adequate insurance against total stickage; however, several key considerations need to be met successfully for an ideal execution of this step.
Before beginning, make sure you have the appropriate tool at your disposal. A wide spatula with thin edges works very well; its thin shape enables it to slide easily beneath fish fillets while still supporting them as you flip. For added simplicity, pair this tool with an adaptable turner which can keep it steady as its larger sibling slides underneath the fillets.
If the turn proves too challenging for you, stop and back away. A properly cleaned and oiled grill grate should alert the fish when it’s ready for its turn by unsticking itself from it, or using a spatula will assist a bit with light sticking issues; but if turning seems counterproductive to its success then allow some time – perhaps more time is required on that side before moving forward with its turn?
Now You Are Nearly Done!
Once the fish is on, you should feel great pride at accomplishing such an extraordinary grilling achievement. But do not linger too long, or else the results could turn disastrous if that fish becomes overdone and begins drying out before you know it!
Contrary to my approach with other meats, when it comes to testing fish I rely on both visual inspection and my instant-read thermometer to gauge its readiness. If your goal is undercooking tuna or salmon (so as not to affect carryover heat during its rest after grilling) pull the fish just before its completion of cooking – you should easily be able to tell when this point has been reached!
Fish cooked completely is both flakey and opaque; therefore, to test for doneness use a fork to gently pull back some flaky sections at its center using gentle force. When opaque with only faint translucent areas remaining within, then remove from heat immediately.
Of course, thermometer-guided fishing remains another safe approach; I should probably switch up my methods here! When using an instant-read thermometer to cook fish at 130 to 135degF (54 to 57degC), remove and let rest before continuing up to 140degF (60degC).
Be mindful when extracting the fish from the grill using spatulas; use care when unwrapping it all so as not to undo your hard work so far.
Are You a Master Fish-Grilling Artist Take a bow for all the hard work that has gone into masterful fish-grilling skills! Grilled fresh fish is something to be proud of – with its deep sear marks and faint smokey flavor, ready to serve right off the grill without needing much else (a squeeze of lemon will liven things up slightly, however for seafood enthusiasts this might suffice!).
As someone who does not appreciate seafood in its more raw state, I appreciate having various tasty topping options at my disposal to enhance fillets’ appeal. A little pesto adds Italian charm while fruit-forward solutions such as pineapple salsa are deliciously fruitful options to experiment with. Other possible add-ins for consideration: Romesco sauce, chimichurri, gremolata or cilantro pesto as accompaniments can add something special and delicious; not forgetting black olive tapenade!
Fish is delicious when served fresh off of the grill! I hope that this guide has dispelled your fears of it and enabled you to become an adept seafood griller.
Halibut Recipe | Simple Grilled Halibut Dish
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