Perch Fillets Delivery or Pickup

Perch is a common, versatile white fish that offers an array of cooking options. Perch fillets, with their medium texture and mild taste, are well-suited to various recipes.

Perch can come from the ocean or from freshwater. In general, saltwater fish have a fuller flavor but may have a saltier taste, while freshwater fish have a milder flavor profile. For example, that mild taste makes freshwater perch fillets a popular choice for making homemade fish tacos or fish sticks. A number of fish species fall under the blanket term of perch. While slight differences do exist from species to species, perch species are very similar from a culinary standpoint.

When you shop for perch fillets, you can expect fish with white flesh that delivers excellent flavor. The flavor can be described as sweet and is similar but often more appealing than walleye's flavor. Because perch is a relatively mild fish, it's easy to pair with various side dishes and recipes.

Perch has a firm and crumbly texture. The tender fish breaks down delicately with every bite you take, as the soft flesh becomes smooth and flaky when you cook it. Lean, moist perch fillets tend to stay stable at different cooking temperatures, so you can look forward to experimenting with various cooking methods without worrying about damaging the flaky, soft feel that perch fillets deliver.

Three main types of perch come from American waters: yellow perch, silver perch, and white perch. The taste and flavors of these types are very similar. For example, yellow perch is the most common freshwater fish species in North American and is considered one of the best available panfish.

You'll have many options when it comes to cooking perch fillets. You can create mouthwatering dishes by baking, frying, grilling, sauteing, or poaching perch fillets.

The FDA lists 145 degrees Fahrenheit as the recommended internal temperature to safely consume fish. You can determine the internal temperature of perch fillets using a food thermometer at the thickest part. If you do not have a thermometer available, make sure you cook the fish until it becomes opaque. Completely cooked fish will also flake with a fork.

Perch fillets work well for pan-searing. Start cooking by heating oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season your perch fillets to taste, using seasoning, such as thyme, salt, and pepper. Then, add your perch fillets to the skillet, cooking for around three minutes on each side until the fish is cooked through.

If you're frying perch fillets, you'll want to keep some general frying tips in mind regarding the oil, cooking temperature, and coating used on the fish. Oils with high smoking temperatures work best. You can try oils, like canola, corn, or avocado oil; butter or olive oil tend to burn at the temperature you need to fry fish fillets. Flour coating is also an essential step, as it protects the fillet from soaking up too much oil and keeps it in one piece. Heavy-bottomed pans help distribute heat evenly.

Perch fillets are also a great option for easy yet delicious baked fish dishes. After coating the perch fillets with your favorite breadcrumb recipe, you can cook the fillets in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You'll bake perch fillets this way for around 25 to 30 minutes until the coating has browned and the perch flakes easily with a fork.