How to Cook a Fresh Perch

By: Fred Decker

Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

For anglers of all ages, catching a meal of panfish is one of the pleasantest ways to spend an afternoon. These are fish such as crappies, bluegills and perch, which abound in the country's lakes and streams. They're all tasty and just the right size for a frying pan, a happy combination for any fish lover. Fresh perch can be eaten whole or in fillets, depending on the cook's preference. Usually they're pan-fried, but they can be baked for a lower-fat alternative.

Preparing the Perch

Step 1

Scale the perch if you want to cook them whole or if you like fillets with the skin left on and fried crisp. Gut the fish with a sharp knife and rinse out their belly cavities. If you plan to cook the fish whole, use your knife or a pair of kitchen shears to cut away the spiny fins from their backs.

Step 2

Fillet the perch, if you wish, by cutting along the backbone from the head to the tail. Turn the perch over and remove the second fillet the same way.

Step 3

Remove the rib bones by sliding your knife underneath them, angling the blade toward the bones to minimize waste. Make one long, smooth stroke to take off the rib bones and the thin membrane holding them together. Repeat for the remaining fillets.

Step 4

Skin the fillets, if you wish, by making a shallow diagonal cut at the tail until your knife blade reaches the skin. Hold the narrow tail in place with one hand, then draw your knife along the skin until it reaches the end and frees the fillet from the skin. The boneless fillets are now ready to cook.

Pan-Frying Your Perch

Step 1

Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season your fillets or small whole perch with salt and pepper, then dredge them lightly in flour or fine cornmeal. Shake off any excess.

Step 2

Pour a half-tablespoon of your favorite cooking oil into the skillet and fill the pan loosely with perch or perch fillets. Don't overcrowd the pan. There should be plenty of space between the portions, so steam can escape from the cooking fish and let them become crisp. Fillets should always be started with the skin-side facing up.

Step 3

Cook fillets for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side, until they're lightly golden and beginning to turn from translucent to white. Whole small perch will take longer, approximately 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 4

Turn the perch or fillets, and cook for approximately the same length of time on the second side. The thickest part of the fillet should just be turning white if you pull the fillet apart with the tip of your knife. Whole perch are finished when the flesh lifts away from the backbone.

Step 5

Remove the perch from your skillet and serve them immediately, or keep them warm in your oven while you fry any additional portions.

Baked Perch

Step 1

Brush or spray perch fillets lightly with vegetable oil, then season them with salt and pepper. Whole perch should be seasoned inside the belly cavity, as well as on the outside.

Step 2

Arrange the perch evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between the portions. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit for fillets, or 400 F for whole perch.

Step 3

Bake your fillets for 9 to 12 minutes, or until they're no longer translucent in the middle of the thickest part of the fillet. Whole perch take 15 minutes or longer, depending on their size, and should be turned halfway through their cooking time. They're done when the flesh lifts away easily from the backbone.