Oven-Fried Cod Recipe (Crispy & Delicious!) (2024)

FAQs

How do you fry cod without it falling apart? ›

The key to pan-frying cod without it falling apart is to handle it as little as possible during the cooking process. Make sure your pan is hot before adding the oil and then the fish. Allow the cod to cook undisturbed until it naturally releases from the pan, which means it's ready to flip.

Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture. The proteins in the fish also begin to tighten, which can make the fish tough and rubbery. In addition, overcooked fish can have a severe lack of flavor, as the heat causes the natural oils in the fish to evaporate.

You'll know your cod is done when it flakes easily when pressed with a fork, and the flesh is opaque white and no longer translucent. In terms of doneness, the official FDA recommendation is an internal temperature of 145˚F as measured by a food thermometer, which will be a very firm piece of fish.

Thanks to its neutral flavor, affordable price, and high smoke point, canola oil is the most popular oil for frying fish. Peanut, cottonseed, and coconut oil are also great fish frying oils.

Cut fish fillets into 4 serving pieces if needed. Place pieces, skin sides down, in the pan, folding thin ends under if necessary for even thickness. Mix remaining ingredients; drizzle over fish. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.

Pan-frying is a great option for cod fillet or loin as there is time to produce a lovely crispy skin without overcooking the delicate, flaky flesh. This is the way cod and similar white fish are often cooked in restaurant kitchens and is very simple to do at home.

Try a gentle cooking method: Instead of adding fat, you can also try a gentle cooking method like steaming or cooking en papillote. Both of these methods help to preserve Pacific cod's high moisture content and produce incredibly tender results.

A mushy fish is a sure sign that it was not only once frozen, but thawed out improperly. And sadly, no matter how good your seasonings and marinades are, the texture of a mushy fish makes any meal unpleasant. A good way to avoid this is to slowly thaw out the fish overnight in the refrigerator.

One of the reasons fish will taste bitter is due to incorrect manner of slicing the fish. Sometimes the gall bladder of the fish, which contains bile which of course is bitter, gets punctured when the fish is being cut. The leaked bile gets quickly absorbed in the fish body. This gives it a bitter taste.

Bake in 400 degrees F heated oven for about 10 minutes or until the cod is cooked through. The fish is ready when it turns a beautiful white opaque and flakes easily when you take a fork to it. Garnish and serve! I love adding some parsley for a pop of green!

Can you overcook cod? ›

If cod separates in pieces, it is overcooked.

The flesh should still be slightly tender and in one piece. As you start cooking with cod, remember: You don't need to move the cod once in the pan. Instead, add some liquid (broth, wine, or just veggies) and the steam will cook it.

If the fillet is an inch thick, just cut the fish into 2-inch squares. “It's better to undercook cod than to overcook it, so test the fish after cooking 2 minutes on each side. And remember it will continue cooking a little as it rests,” says Dunlap.

Another option is to hold off adding the oil until it's been baking for 5-10 minutes, then toss in oil, then cook it for another at least 10 minutes. This was the secret for me for getting crispy chickpeas, where as when I would oil them first, they'd just come out sort of mushy, but hard.

Pat your fish dry before cooking.

Excess moisture will cause the fish to steam rather than sear. Steaming causes that squishiness.

Pan-searing to achieve a crispy skin is one of the most delicious and quick ways to cook a piece of a fish! To nail shatteringly crunchy skin every time, you just need dry skin, hot oil and press down lightly to help the skin contact heat as it cooks.