Grilling fish – a comprehensive guide 

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By Aleksandra Mojka
October 9, 2023

Do you like healthy and tasty grilled food? If you don't want to eat fatty meats and are looking for a lighter but still delicious alternative, then what about grilled fish? Full of vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, you can eat them guilt free. 

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Do you like healthy and tasty grilled food? If you don’t want to eat fatty meats and are looking for a lighter but still delicious alternative, then what about grilled fish? Full of vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, you can eat them guilt free. 

Which types of fish are good for grilling? 

If you plan to serve grilled fish, find out first which types are best for grilling. First of all, you should always grill fresh fish – frozen fish is much more delicate and could fall apart during marinating or even grilling. Then consider which parts of the fish you want to serve. Fish fillets, which work well when fried or baked in the oven, aren’t so good for grilling – they are too delicate, although in some forms they might be ok, such as thick salmon slices. On the other hand, steaks and whole fish are much better – a sure success when grilled. 

The best types of fish for grilling: 

As you can see, there is a wide choice, so you should always manage to choose something! 

Grilled fish marinade 

In the case of grilled meat, before grilling it is usually good to marinate it in order to tenderise it and develop a wide range of flavours and tastes. It is no different in the case of grilled fish – to achieve the best results, you can marinate it and enjoy perfectly prepared grilled fish a few hours later. 

There is no one right recipe for grilled fish marinade – but when preparing it yourself, choose flavours that combine best with the mildness of the fish. Olive oil is a good base, although for many people butter is better, which is a delicious addition to the fish. Lemon juice and other citrus fruits are also a great complement to fish. Some people choose to add white wine, giving it a specific flavour. When it comes to seasoning, it’s best to stick to the basic options. In addition to salt and pepper, you can use rosemary, garlic, thyme and a little sugar. 

If you do not want to prepare the marinade for grilled fish in advance, then you can stick to salt, pepper and some of your favourite herbs. When ready, you can sprinkle the fish with lemon juice to enhance its taste. 

Preparing fish for grilling 

Both marinated and seasoned grilled fish can be prepared in several ways. To make sure that the delicate fillets do not fall apart, you can grill them in aluminium foil. In the case of whole fish, it is worth choosing special grill grates for fish, while steaks can be prepared directly on an aluminium tray. 

Grilled fish in aluminium foil lets you be the most creative, allowing you to add a variety of vegetables and additives, so that when you unwrap it you have a full meal waiting for you. Together with the fish you can wrap paprika, courgettes, new potatoes, slices of lemon and whole sprigs of herbs such as fresh oregano or rosemary. The outcome will definitely delight! 

Types of grill for grilling fish 

Which should you choose for grilling fish – a charcoal or gas grill? And can you prepare fish on an electric grill? Fortunately, each of these options will be perfect for preparing flavoursome, delicate fish. The size of the grill is more important than the type – especially if you plan to grill whole fish. Be careful when using a charcoal grill – if you lose control of the fire, a moment will be enough to burn the delicate fish. Preparing fish on gas and electric grills is much easier. 

Tips for grilling fish 

What else should you know about grilling fish? 

How long should you grill fish? 

How much time do you need to prepare tasty, tender and perfectly juicy grilled fish? There is no one answer to this question – a lot depends on the temperature of the grill and the thickness of the fish itself. However, you should definitely not overdo it, especially when it comes to the fish directly on the grill grate and not in aluminium foil. In this case you could end up with too dry fish. For fish with a thickness of 2 cm, grilling each side for approx. 6-8 minutes should be sufficient. 

Grilling fish in the oven 

What if you don’t have an electric grill at home, but you dream about preparing delicious grilled fish? In this case you can prepare it in the oven – preferably with a grill option. If you don’t have this option, use the hot air function. Bake the fish in aluminium foil and open it at the end to let it brown. 

Grilling frozen fish 

If you have fish in the freezer and you absolutely want to grill it, then choose an electric grill, on which it is easiest to keep it in one piece. However, the best option is definitely using fresh fish – not only is it firmer, but it also tastes better. 

Catering equipment for grilling fish 

Grilled fish is tasty, healthy and easy to prepare, so it should come as no surprise that it is not only a popular choice for barbecues, but also on restaurant menus. Equipping your restaurant with a professional catering grill will allow you to serve grilled fish to your customers all year round, regardless of the weather. 

You can choose between open gas and electric hobs, and closed single and double grills. The wide choice of catering equipment to choose from provides you with many possibilities. If you additional equip your restaurant with heating devices to keep the food warm, serving several dishes to one table at the same time will no longer be a problem. 

How to grill fish – summary 

Grilled skewers and vegetables are no longer the only option for those who do not eat meat. Grilled fish is a great choice for those who want to eat healthy but tasty meals. Preparing grilled fish is easy and there are many recipes to choose from, so fish does not have to be boring! 

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