Droolinggimps Big Guide to Fish

Soldato
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HI guys. Sorry I have not updated the OP yet. I have some personal issues to sort out so I didn't have time to do what I said. Now things have been sorted I will be adding some new items soon.

I will be making a video on how to fillet fish all being well. I have to get permission from my GM at work to record on the department first. Yesterday I was watching some Youtube videos on filleting salmon and to be honest they was rubbish. People taking 3-4 minutes to do the job, doing extra things to the salmon before filleting that is not needed.. very strange. Anyway, like I said once I get permission I will do a few videos and upload them so you can see on here.

@Deanje If you are wanting to eat raw fish I would suggest you try and get it from the sea yourself.:p I suggest to people who buy from me to make sure they have a strong stomach and they take full responsibility if they fall ill.

The reason. As fresh as our fish is you need to use WHOLE fish and not buy filleted fish. When a fish is whole there is a less chance on foreign bodies getting into/onto the fish. When its been filleted etc, such as Tuna, swordfish, salmon fillets in some cases you have to know that apart from the fishmonger you buy it from there could be at least 5 other pair of hands various chopping boards, packaging that has come into contact with said fish. Even though hygiene is very good at Morrisons and our depots etc there is still a risk of slight contamination as is the case pretty much everywhere.

If you buy whole fish you can get the monger to sort it for you and you know the meat has been touched and open to the elements that you can see. best way. For eating raw salmon even though ours are pre gutted the actual meat is still untouched and this is the best way to buy it for Sushi. Same again the monger can prepare it for you.

Hope this helps.

On a side note I see a few of you are wanting a meat guide. I will make one for you. It will be easier than the fish guide too. :)
 
Soldato
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Got some lovely sea bass my from monger yesterday. £8 a kilo, bargain! Got them to fillet it for me aswell, the woman in the shop had some fantastic skills.
 
Soldato
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I had some 'Time Specialists' at work the other day. They are responsible for timing everything that each department has to do from how much time is spent washing hands. walking from the counter to sink to prepare fish for customers etc. Its to see how many hours a week each department can be run on. Pretty boring stuff really.

Anyway. They asked me loads of questions and one stood out. "how long does it take to fillet a whole salmon"

I replied " 'bout 50-60 seconds"

They sat back in shock/awe/disbelief and laughed.. "60seconds?"

"yeah"

Apparently the average time they have from asking other fishmonger inc fish managers within Morrisons is 3 minutes 20 seconds. They kept asking if I was being serious. I was. So I invited them all down to the counter to watch me carry out the task.

45 seconds it took me. from whole (gutted) to trimmed fillets. Not bad eh! :) I will be doing those videos next week on filleting so stay tuned.
 
Soldato
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I've tried filleting a few times, and just make a total mess of the fish. I've given up even trying now. Just get the monger to do it for me, much easier (and cheaper). Very impressed that you can do it so quickly!

I really like my fish monger, it's down a dodgy wee alley in a pretty dodgy area of Glasgow. I took my girlfriend in there, and she wasn't that happy about it. The poor bunnies nailed to the board concerned her a bit I think. However, I think it's important for people to see that food doesn't just come in neat little packaged trays in the supermarket. Cheap as chips, great service and a huge selection! Exactly what you want. And they wrap the fish in newspaper, which is cool.
 

DcD

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I had some 'Time Specialists' at work the other day. They are responsible for timing everything that each department has to do from how much time is spent washing hands. walking from the counter to sink to prepare fish for customers etc. Its to see how many hours a week each department can be run on. Pretty boring stuff really.

Anyway. They asked me loads of questions and one stood out. "how long does it take to fillet a whole salmon"

I replied " 'bout 50-60 seconds"

They sat back in shock/awe/disbelief and laughed.. "60seconds?"

"yeah"

Apparently the average time they have from asking other fishmonger inc fish managers within Morrisons is 3 minutes 20 seconds. They kept asking if I was being serious. I was. So I invited them all down to the counter to watch me carry out the task.

45 seconds it took me. from whole (gutted) to trimmed fillets. Not bad eh! :) I will be doing those videos next week on filleting so stay tuned.

Okay I can fillet trout pretty fast using the outside method (not sure what the specific name is) - but 45 seconds for a salmon? Bloody hell.

Video please? :p
 
Soldato
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I am trying still to get my GM to let me use a video camera in store to record myself. Once she agrees I will record it and upload it. Bare in mind the Salmon is already gutted, as all ours are but they are still whole fish with out anything trimmed. I shall see if I can do it during the next week. :)
 

DcD

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I am trying still to get my GM to let me use a video camera in store to record myself. Once she agrees I will record it and upload it. Bare in mind the Salmon is already gutted, as all ours are but they are still whole fish with out anything trimmed. I shall see if I can do it during the next week. :)

If it's gutted already then I suppose one precise and fast cut down each sides of the backbone, then straight through underneath to butterfly. Then trim!

I suppose in theory it can be done very fast, but still... It drives me absolutely mad when I've asked for fish to be prepared for me at the Tesco nearby, the people behind the counter don't want to even touch the fish and wear three pairs of gloves and refuse to touch guts etc etc... I just buy it all whole and do it myself because they make such a pigs ear of it...

Very intrigued to see what method you use to do the salmon though. Get a ~2lb trout and we'll have a fillet-off. ;)
 
Man of Honour
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I'm a competent filleter - I was taught by my Mam and Dad who were both filleters in a fish factory when they were younger. My fillets aren't as neat as the fishmonger's but then, he's doing it all the time and I rarely do it and I don't have a proper filleting knife so I usually just get him to do it for me. If someone gives me a bag of whole fish, I can definitely do it for myself - just not all that neat.
 
Soldato
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If it's gutted already then I suppose one precise and fast cut down each sides of the backbone, then straight through underneath to butterfly. Then trim!

I suppose in theory it can be done very fast, but still... It drives me absolutely mad when I've asked for fish to be prepared for me at the Tesco nearby, the people behind the counter don't want to even touch the fish and wear three pairs of gloves and refuse to touch guts etc etc... I just buy it all whole and do it myself because they make such a pigs ear of it...

Very intrigued to see what method you use to do the salmon though. Get a ~2lb trout and we'll have a fillet-off. ;)

The method I use to fillet Salmon is Head on my right, back facing me. Cut head off, knife on top of back bone, one push to tail, turn over so bone is on block, knife on top of back bone one push to tail. Done. Then just trim off the rib cage and fatty bits. I will really have to get a video done this week.

We never get trout that size. 1lb is probably biggest we get and that's rare. I do most of my filleting that way. Obviously if people want it done differently I shall do it.

Pocket filleting is cool....Gut fish and take all bones out with out cutting anything off.
 
Soldato
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If it's gutted already then I suppose one precise and fast cut down each sides of the backbone, then straight through underneath to butterfly. Then trim!

I suppose in theory it can be done very fast, but still... It drives me absolutely mad when I've asked for fish to be prepared for me at the Tesco nearby, the people behind the counter don't want to even touch the fish and wear three pairs of gloves and refuse to touch guts etc etc... I just buy it all whole and do it myself because they make such a pigs ear of it...

Very intrigued to see what method you use to do the salmon though. Get a ~2lb trout and we'll have a fillet-off. ;)

Even if it was still with guts in. Taking them out is a case of adding 5-7 seconds max...:D
 
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Brilliant post and you seem damn good at your job as well. :)#

Just wondering what you know about Jack-fish, how to cook them and what they taste like?

Seen them at my local fishmongers but have no idea what they are or what it tastes like. Should have asked I guess but was in a rush. :p
 
Soldato
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OK here it is. My attempt at filleting the whole Salmon. Ok for starters it's not my best effort as the knife wasn't very sharp. I did sharpen it but rushed it. The trimming wasn't to standard so I do apologise :p I will, once I get more time record all the ways to fillet, skin, scale etc and put them up on here.

It wasn't my best time as I have mentioned before but I will beat 45 seconds...:D

 
Tea Drinker
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Nice thread, I'm well into my fish, fishmongers has just opened up here and I try to frequent it as much as possible, I shore sea fish as well hunting for the big bass one day but usually ending with mackerel / dab / whiting / plaice, have been on a boat which sort of spoilt the beach fishing as we were catching big cod.

Red gurnard is nice baked whole in a tomato sauce then on some pasta.

Mackerel is nice with horseradish and bay leaves inside then on the BBQ

For anyone interested in exotic fish Wingyips do a large frozen selection and clearly labelled so you can see where and when it was landed I try to avoid the Vietnamese Mekong Delta farmed stuff, last week we had a large fillet of red snapper which was interesting.
 
Tea Drinker
Don
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Well this thread made me all fishy this weekend

Saturday Lunch 1/2 dressed crab, fillet of smoked mackerel, one roll mop and 50g of hot smoked salmon with samphire and spring onion with a drizzle of olive oil and some nice fresh pain champagne

Saturday Dinner mackerel BBQ with bay leaves and horseradish spread inside with a couple of merguez a nice tomato and mozorella salad and greens

Sunday morning 2 kippers with a slice of buttered bread

Sunday lunch see Saturday lunch

Sunday dinner roasted sea bass with white wine lemon bay leaves and spring onion with mashed new pots asparagus and carrots

The sea bass was a line caught Sussex fish, no Greek farmed jobber and cost £20 fed all the family with enough for a salad each for me and the missus to take to work with cold carrots and asparagus
 
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