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How to Clean a Whole Fish Through the Gills

How-to-Clean-a-Whole-Fish-Through-the-Gills-tips-step-by-step

Fish to he served whole are cleaned through the gills in order to maintain their shape. If the fish is cleaned by your fishmonger, make sure you specify “through the gills”. If the stomach is cut open, it will curl unattractively during cooking.

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INSTRUCTIONS

How to Clean a Whole Fish Through the Gills-step by step

STEP 1: Hook your fingers through the gills and pull them out.


How to Clean a Whole Fish Through the Gills-step by step-with photo

STEP 2: Reach through the gill opening and pull out the stomach contents.


How-to-Clean-a-Whole-Fish-Through-the-Gills-tips-step-by-step-with-photo

STEP 3: With scissors, make a small slit at the ventral or stomach opening and pull out any remaining contents.


TAKE CARE ! The gills can be quite sharp so be careful when putting in your fingers.

How-to-Clean-a-Whole-Fish-Through-the-Gills-tips

STEP 4: Run cold water into the gill opening and out through the ventral opening to clean the cavity thoroughly. “Cold running water cleans stomach cavity thoroughly”