How do you prevent fish from sticking to the BBQ grill? (James)
Aha. I can read so much frustration in your question. Here you are, watching with ravishment your beautifully grilled fish. You then delicately try to take it off the grid and your beauty disintegrates before your very eyes, its head and half its bottom stuck on the grill. So gory, yet so true. Here are a few tips that will make this nightmare a distant memory:
1. Choose the right fish: the thicker and firmer the better. A whole fish or 1 inch thick fillets/slices are ideal, thin fish fillets are best fried or broiled under the oven grill.
2. For a whole fish it is worth investing into a two sided fish grilling basket. Easy to clean and oil, it will allow you to turn the fish around without breaking it apart
3. Ask your fishmonger to keep the scales on the skin of the fish, it will be less prone to sticking when grilling
4. Make sure the grill (or basket) is sparkly clean before grilling, this will make the fish less likely to stick
5. Oil both the fish and the grill well beforehand
6. For fillets on the thin end, only cook them skin side down,slightly removed from the heat
7. You can prepare straight on the grill a bed of herbs, e.g. rosemary sprigs, and grill your oiled fish on top. Not only will it prevent the fish from sticking but it will also give it a wonderful flavour
8. You can also cook your fish wrapped in an aluminum foil papillote with a bit of olive oil and herbs, removing any sticking problem. With this method the fish is steamed rather than grilled, but the barbecue flavour will still permeate its taste.
Enjoy!
1. Choose the right fish: the thicker and firmer the better. A whole fish or 1 inch thick fillets/slices are ideal, thin fish fillets are best fried or broiled under the oven grill.
2. For a whole fish it is worth investing into a two sided fish grilling basket. Easy to clean and oil, it will allow you to turn the fish around without breaking it apart
3. Ask your fishmonger to keep the scales on the skin of the fish, it will be less prone to sticking when grilling
4. Make sure the grill (or basket) is sparkly clean before grilling, this will make the fish less likely to stick
5. Oil both the fish and the grill well beforehand
6. For fillets on the thin end, only cook them skin side down,slightly removed from the heat
7. You can prepare straight on the grill a bed of herbs, e.g. rosemary sprigs, and grill your oiled fish on top. Not only will it prevent the fish from sticking but it will also give it a wonderful flavour
8. You can also cook your fish wrapped in an aluminum foil papillote with a bit of olive oil and herbs, removing any sticking problem. With this method the fish is steamed rather than grilled, but the barbecue flavour will still permeate its taste.
Enjoy!