Whole & Butterflied

There was a time when whole fish was the star of the show in kitchens all across the country. As automation gave way to mass-produced packaged products, whole fish took a back seat to a variety of packaged cuts. However, many 21st century cooks are looking to the past for inspiration in the kitchen with an eye to sustainability. We have a wide variety of whole fish for sale online at FultonFishMarket.com.

It's long been understood among experts in classic cuisine that any meat that is cooked with the bone in has a superior flavor, but many people don't realize that this applies to seafood as well. Fish have gelatinous spines that infuse a delectable flavor into the flesh of the fish during the cooking process. Furthermore, certain types of fish, such as snapper and sea bass, have nutritious and delicious skin that crisps when grilled.

A well-prepared and artfully garnished whole fish over a bed of fresh baby greens and served on a platter makes an impressive dinner party entrée that's ideal for celebrations. Good choices for special occasion meals include snapper, grouper, and butterfish. You can also buy whole fish online for simple family dinners — it's quick and easy to prepare in the oven or on the grill and provides a nutritious alternative to many traditional meat options.

The difference between a great fish chowder and one that's just okay comes down to the stock used, and homemade fish stock leaves commercial replications in the dust. Simply use the parts of the whole fish that aren't eaten (the bones, the head, the tail pieces) to make fish stock on your stovetop. It can even be frozen to use later to make stock. Smoked salmon, clam, and whitefish chowders will taste sublime when you set the stage with homemade fish stock.

Read our blog to learn more about how to cook whole fish.