8 Tips for Cooking a Freshly Caught Trout

Food will always be one of the finest delicacies in life. Cooking it can be fun, and finally eating it is even more exciting. The possibilities of the recipes are endless, and you can cook a different meal every day for the rest of your life, so it's definitely a great activity to get involved in. The biggest challenge with cooking is the fact that it isn't easy if you're not used to it. Sure, you can make food easily enough, but to become a good chef takes time and effort. More importantly, it requires making some challenging dishes, like trout. This is one of the most delicious seafood meals out there, but you have to learn how to make it first. 

These 8 tips for cooking a freshly caught trout will help you.

Find the right trout

Trout needs to be eaten fresh, and there's no other way around it. Some fish can be eaten frozen or packed, but with this particular type, it needs to be fresh so you could enjoy a delicious meal. The trick is in finding good quality brands in stores if you don't plan on going fishing because these fresh options will help you create the perfect trout dish. You can find some great farm shops selling different types of trout that are grown and looked after. They offer excellent quality that is not much different from that of trout you fished out yourself. 

Clean it

After you've managed to find a great trout, you need to clean it properly so you can cook it right. You can start by removing the entrails by cutting the belly from the bottom of the fishtail of its throat. Do so after cutting the head, although some people prefer to leave it. Then you can clean the insides of the fish from any blood or inner parts using an old toothbrush, and wash it with cold water. Some people prefer scaling the fish if you're dealing with a large trout, but that isn't obligatory, and you may skip that part with smaller fish.

Prepare the fish first

You next need to prepare the fish for cooking. You can start by putting it under cold water again, and then dry it with paper towels so it doesn't steam when you cook it. After that, you should cut some diagonal slashes on both sides of the fish, and then move on to the next step. 

Seasoning

Your next step is seasoning the fish, and there isn't a single way to do that. People season trout in different ways, and you will have to experiment for a while until you find seasoning that works for you. In general, you can start by rolling the trout in flour, salt, and pepper until you cover its entire body. You can then choose how you want to cook the trout. You can do it in the oven or a pan, for starters. 

Cooking the trout

The easiest way to cook trout is in a pan. After the seasoning mentioned above, you can add some butter to a heated pan. Wait until the butter is bubbling, and then start frying the trout in the pan. You should do it for five minutes per side, roughly, or at least until the color changes to golden brown. Then, you have a deliciously cooked, fried trout. You can also make a grilled trout by using a broiler. Repeat the previous steps, and grill use the broiler instead of frying in a pan. 

Checking if it's done

The key to cooking a fresh trout is to do it perfectly, avoiding under- or overcooking the fish. You can easily check if it is done by sticking a fork in the thickest part of the trout. It should be quite moist and the meat will flake with the fork. 

The color

One more thing you should know about cooking trout is its color. It should be opaque when you properly cook it. If the fish is under-cooked, it will feel translucent because it is still raw. So make sure to check for that too before you turn off the heat. 

Garnish

Garnish makes a significant difference in the taste of the trout and fish in general. You should experiment for a while until you find something you like to add to the plate while serving, but slices of lemon are always a good idea as they add a very nice taste. 

Unlike a lot of difficult meals, trout are relatively easy to make once you follow certain steps. The challenge lies in doing each step properly, which requires practice. With enough time and with high-quality trout, you will be able to create a delicious dish.