How to Grill Fish | The Right Way!

Fish is one of the most delicious food you can grill plus it is also one of the healthiest. If you have been grilling for a while or if you are just starting, you know that fishes are a bit challenging to grill properly. Which is why I’m making this how to guide for all of you who want to learn how to grill fish. I love fish, especially grilled fish. Learning how to grill a great steak or chicken is fulfilling but I find being able to grill fish the right way more fulfilling and it also helps me keep my family’s diet healthy.

6 Easy Steps on How to Grill Fish

Step 1 – Choose your fillet or fish steak.

Although there is a way to grill a whole fish, in this how to grill fish guide we’ll be focusing on filleted fish as this is more common. Choosing your fillet will matter when you start grilling, you can opt for the thicker cut fillets like Halibut, Tuna, Swordfish, Salmon, and etc. as these will be easier to grill. But if you want to do a delicate fish then it would be better using a grilling basket or placing it in aluminium foil. Ideally, fish steak should be no less than 1 inch thick and about 11inches long.

Step 2 – Make sure the fish you’re using is fresh.

This is crucial in grilling that perfect fish. Use both your eyes and your nose to make sure that the fish is fresh. It should not smell fishy, it should smell clean. The flesh should be firm and unblemished. Make sure you drop by your grocery store the same day you want to grill your fish. And always keep your fish cold, wrap it in paper towel to get rid of the excess moisture and place it on a large plate in the fridge till you are ready to grill.

Step 3 – Preheat your grill on high.

Now if you’re wondering why you should preheat your grill on high temperature, it’s simple. Because doing so will help caramelize your fish and it will also lessen the chances of your fish sticking to the grates. If you throw your fish on a warm grill, it will surely stick. This should only take about 10 – 15 minutes. You should also take this time to oil up your grates.

Step 4 – Seasoning your fish.

The next step in learning how to grill fish is to season or marinate your fish. Allow your fish to sit for 5- 10 minutes before applying oil and seasoning. If you want to marinate your fish, make sure you don’t keep your fish in for too long; generally should only be under 30 minutes as it might make your fish taste bad if left too long. I personally would only pat my fish dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper and I am good to go.

Step 5 – Grill your fish.

Fish steaks are the easiest to cook and will only need for you to season before grilling. If your fish has skin on it, put it on the grill skin side down diagonally. Make sure to put all your fish diagonally, this helps in creating those lovely grill marks and helps you flip easier later on as it is in an angle. Leave fish cooking for 3-5 minutes approx. Unlike grilling steak or chicken, tongs do work with fish BUT it is much more recommendable to use a metal spatula to slowly flip the fish, be very careful with this step you don’t want your fish to crumble everywhere. Leave your fish for another 3-5 minutes, to ensure doneness of fish you can use your fork and see if it flakes off without effort. Once this is happening, you can remove your fish and put it on a plate.

For less firm fish as mentioned, you can use a grilling basket or aluminium foil. Place the fish on the foil, put your seasoning and fold up the aluminium packet. Depending on how thick your fish is, it will cook generally around 3-5 minutes per side as well.

In order to learn the proper ways on how to grill fish, you should remember to not flip it a lot while grilling it. As this can intensify the chance of the fish to break apart while grilling.

Step 6 – Once fish is done, enjoy!

Learning how to grill fish can be quite intimidating and definitely challenging. But if you follow these steps and practice, you will get the hang of it no time. There is no greater reward in learning this than the nice juicy fish you get to eat after you grill. And once you have perfected this skill, you get to share your culinary mastery to your family and friends.