Fish Q

[luv2cook]

I have some catfish filets that were in the freezer for about 8 months. I am a relatively new fish eater and I'm concerned about flavor. Are there any telltale clues that the fish will be bad or is it potluck?
Also, I was thinking about coating it in egg and breadcrumbs and pan frying it. Any other suggestions on what to do with it would be greatly appreciated...:-)

[This message has been edited by luv2cook (edited 12-12-2000).]

[sneezles]

If it smells fishy then it's no good. I would suggest cornmeal instead of plain breadcrumbs and a little cayenne & paprika.
We love catfish and catch it fresh from our ponds.

[Anne]

Hi luv2cook. A lot of the success in freezing fish depends on how well the original glazing, wrapping, sealing, etc. was done. In general, fatty fish like salmon don't keep as long as leaner fish but I'm not sure where catfish fits in. If your fillets have white or yellowish patches on the margins or have lots of ice-crystals they are probably freezer burned. If not, they should be fine.

[LSB]

I make catfish tacos - squeeze some lime juice on the filets. Then roll in a mixture of cornmeal, cayenne and cumin. Pan fry in a little oil. Serve in soft tortillas with salsa, guacamole and fresh cilantro.

I agree - if the fish smells fishy - don't eat it!

[luv2cook]

Sneezle: Thanks for the rec. on the cornmeal. Excellent suggestion and it worked fine! well, i undercooked the fish, but I'm still learning...

[BarrieCov]

Better a little undercooked than overcooked. I think there's nothing worse fish-wise than a slab of overcooked fish!!