Let's say you went out fishing and you caught yourself a fish. You're excited about your catch and you started thinking up ways of how to cook it. Then you realize that you need to go through the tedious task of cleaning and preparing it first before you toss it in the grill.Now you're wondering how to scale it.If you've ever tried to scale a fish, you know that it's not an easy task. It can be messy, time-consuming, and downright frustrating. Many people are interested in learning how to scale a fish, but they don't know where to start.In this guide, we'll show you the proven way to scale a fish, one that's easy, fast, and leaves your hands looking great (we're talking no residue).Is scaling a fresh fish necessary?Scaling fish is an essential part of cleaning them, and it's something that anyone can do with a little practice. The process can seem daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder why you didn't start scaling your own fish sooner.When you scale a fish whole, you're removing the slimy, hard skin that protects it under water. This is known as the protective barrier and it prevents your fish from being exposed to bacteria. Removing this barrier allows cleaning fish more thoroughly than if you did not remove it. This can help reduce the risk of food poisoning if the fish becomes contaminated with bacteria during the cleaning process.It's also important to note that your fish will taste better if you scale it before cooking. The scales are often the first part of a fish to begin breaking down, so removing them early on can help keep your fillets fresher for longer.What are the steps in removing fish scales?Fish scales are a pain in the butt. They stick to your fingers, and they're slippery as all get out. Plus, they're not exactly safe to eat, so you want them off before you start cooking your fish.Here's how to scale a fish fast and easy:Step 1: Prepare Your FishFirst things first: make sure your fish is ready to go! If it isn't already gutted and cleaned, do that now, it will make scaling much easier. If you have a whole fish, make sure there are no pin bones left inside of it. Then pat the fish dry with paper towels or a clean cloth. This will help keep moisture from making scaling more difficult.Step 2: Keep Your Knife SharpNext up: get yourself a sharp knife! Dull knives make scaling more difficult because they require more pressure to cut through the skin than sharp ones do, so be sure to keep yours nice and honed for this step! If you're using scissors instead of a knife, make sure they're super sharp as well, just like with knives, the dull side will make scaling take longer than necessary because they require more pressure than sharp ones do.Step 3: Make Sure Your Fingers Are Clean And DryNow that you have your knife and scissors (or another tool) ready, it's time to get down to business! One of the most important things to remember when scaling fish is to keep your fingers clean and dry at all times. If they're wet or covered in moisture, this can cause problems with scaling because it makes it harder for you to grip the fish properly and can also cause your knife or scissors to slip. If you're working with seafood, make sure it's been drained of water and thoroughly pat dry before scaling it.Step 4: Wear GlovesIf you're scaling a large fish or one that's very slippery, it can be helpful to wear rubber gloves. This will help keep your fingers clean and dry while also giving you an extra layer of protection against cuts or scrapes.Step 5: Position Your Fish ProperlyOnce your fingers are clean and dry and you're wearing rubber gloves, it's time to position your fish. Place the fish on a cutting board with its head facing up and its belly facing down. If you're working with fillets, make sure that they're laid flat on the cutting board so that it's easier to scale them evenly all around.Step 6: Remove the Protective LayerThe fish's skin is its protective layer, so the first thing you need to do before scaling is to remove that layer. There are two ways to go about this: You can either use your fingers or the blunt edge of the knife. If you're using your fingers, gently run them around the edge of the fish where it meets its skin and then peel off as much as possible. If you're using a butter knife, run it along the edge of the fish, but don't apply too much pressure. If you do, you'll risk cutting into your fish and ruining its texture.Step 7: Start Scraping Away!Now that your fish is positioned properly and the area around it is clean, you can start scaling. To do this, hold your fish firmly with your non-dominant hand while holding your knife with your dominant hand. Begin by scraping away at all the scales from its tail fin to its head, using the sharp edge of the knife with steady motions so as to not cut into any meaty areas. Flip the fish on the other side and repeat the process until you scraped all the scales off. Try to scrape around the sharp fins as much as possible.If you're working with fillets, make sure that you're careful to go all around as evenly as possible so that when it comes time for cooking you have a nice even surface. As you go, use your free hand to hold the fish steady on the cutting board so that it doesn't slip away from you or move around too much. This will help prevent any accidents from happening.Step 8: Wash Off Any Remaining ScalesOnce you've scraped all of the scales off of your fish, it's time to wash it off thoroughly with cold running water. This will help remove any excess dirt or debris that may have gotten onto your fish during cleaning, as well as make sure that there aren't any more scales left on there. If you're working with fillets, try not to handle them too much at this point so that they don't become damaged from being handled too much.Step 9: Prepare for CookingOnce you've thoroughly washed off your fish, it's time to prepare it for cooking. You can do this by removing any bones that may be left in the fillets or steaks and then preparing them for the types of cooking methods that you prefer like spreading salt on the fish or pouring a bit of olive oil on it. Maybe you can use a portable grill to grill up your fish if you're out camping! If you're using a whole fish, try not to cut into it too much so that its natural shape is still intact when you're going to cook it.Congratulations! You've successfully cleaned and prepared your fish for cooking. Now you can enjoy it knowing that it's safe to eat and won't make you sick.Fish scaler: Is it the easiest way to descale a whole fish?Scaling a fish is a great way to get the most out of your fish. But it's not always the easiest method, and can be a bit messy and time-consuming. If you're looking for an easier, mess-free way to scale a whole fish, there's an option for you: using a fish scaler.A fish scaler is a fish scaling tool that you can use to scale a whole fish without having to cut it up. It's also an easy way to remove the scales from your fish before cooking so that you don't have to worry about them falling off into your food.How to use a fish scalerA fish scaler is a handy tool that will make scaling your fish much easier. It's designed to remove the scales from your meat without you having to cut up the fish first.Here's how it works:Step 1: Clean and wash your fish thoroughly with cold water. This will remove any dirt or debris from inside the body cavity as well as from the scales themselves.Step 2: Hold the fish firmly by its tail with one hand and use a filet knife to scrape off any remaining scales. This will make it much easier for you to remove the scales with your scaler.Step 3: Hold the fish firmly in one hand and use the other to gently press down on the flat side of each scale with your scaler until it pops off of the body. Step 4: Rinse off any remaining scales that may have fallen into your sink or onto your work surface countertop.Step 5: Pat the fish dry with a paper towel and use it immediately or wrap it up with parchment paper, and store it in an airtight container with a bit of water to keep it fresh until you are ready to cook it.Now your fish is ready for cooking and it only took some short minutes compared to traditional fish scaling methods!There you have it: all the information you need to scale a fish, without having to worry about getting hurt or ruining your fish.You can use this technique to scale any fish, from small fish to trout. You can even use it on fish that are still alive! Just be careful not to squeeze too hard or leave any scales behind.Going Camping?If you're looking for some camping equipment to use or equipment for scaling a fish, check out Koala Outdoor! We have the latest camping and fishing equipment you can find!
