Ocean perch is a moist, lean, and flaky fish. It comes with a delicate flavor that makes it quite a popular choice amongst those who enjoy and love seafood.
It can make for a great, delicious, and healthy addition to any meal when you properly prepare it too!
That being said, not everyone has tasted this awesome dish yet, and if you are yet to try out this fish, then a big question you probably have is what it tastes like?!
Luckily, this lean fish is not quite as strongly favored as many other seafood choices, which makes it a good choice for those who may be new to eating fish, or who tend to prefer more bland fish, with a less potent, fishy flavor.
If you fancy learning a bit more about ocean perch, how you can cook it, and what it tastes like, keep on reading, because we have just about everything you’ll ever need to know about this fish!
What Exactly Is Ocean Perch?
Ocean perch also often goes by the name of rockfish or red perch. It is typically found in cold waters around the world, even found in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
This fish in particular belongs to the Scorpaenidae family, which is a family that is well known to have some of the most venomous fish species in the world!
Hold on! Before you panic, do not worry, ocean perch is not one of these venomous fish, so it is 100% okay to eat!
In terms of appearance, ocean perch has a hue that is red-orange, which is why it is also often called ‘red perch’. This fish also has large scales as well as 2 dorsal fins.
In terms of its size, the average size of this perch is generally 18 inches in length, and it could always weigh up to 4 lbs in weight.
It is a great fish for skin and filet, it is by far one of the best choices, thanks to it having a super simple bone structure.
What Is The Taste Of Ocean Perch?
Much like the obvious vibrancy of its external appearance, ocean perch has a moist, sweet, and mild meat which is pretty hard to dislike.
Its flavor may remind you of fish or tilapia, but perhaps with a bit more flavor.
This means that anyone can find this fish likable, as there are so many different ways you could prepare it and incorporate different flavors every time you make it.
Its texture is quite buttery, and it is not super firm, so it will also crumble quite easily.
This is the case, regardless of who you choose to cook it.
Sadly, it is not always good, and one downside of it is that this fish is likely to be quite bony, which many people tend to find rather off-putting.
It is possible that the bones in this fish could hinder your eating experience, and may even get in the way of you enjoying it.
But, let us consider the most important aspect of this food… Is it nutritious?
We are sure you would be able to guess, but just like any other fish, this fish is rich in vitamins, protein, and minerals.
Of course, since it is fish, you also get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids, which are synonymous with fish and its tasty goodness.
So, if you can handle this rather bony nuisance fish, it can be a great meal to bump up your brain, muscles, and even your digestive health as well!
We have to then ask if this fish is an overruling fish in the taste category.
Well, if you happen to get a fresh ocean perch, with perfect glimmering flesh, then you are surely in for a very tasty and flavor-filled meal.
It might sound like an over-exaggeration, but this fish does have a superior taste in comparison to a majority of other fish.
Ocean Perch has versatile flavors which are ideal for any recipe type.
How Do You Cook & Use Ocean Perch?
This is a pretty versatile fish, as you can cook it in a wide variety of ways, depending on how you like your fish.
Of course, the most ideal and most used methods include grilling, baking, and frying.
That being said, this fish also goes well in stews and soups as well.
So, when you have some ocean perch fillets, there are several options available for you.
One idea that many may not think of is that you can craft yourself a really tasty fish sandwich by simply adding some lettuce, mayonnaise, tomatoes, and ocean perch between 2 slices of bread.
You can also put together a very tasty but healthy fish taco, by simply wrapping up the filet of fish in a soft tortilla alongside some shredded cabbage and diced-up tomatoes with a sauce of your choosing.
Another way that you can use fillets of this fish is to craft your fish cakes, which can be super delicious, tasty, and well worth all the effort too!
To make your fish cakes, all you need to do is mix the cooked, then shredded fillets with some bread crumbs, seasonings, and eggs. Mix everything, create patties with the mixture, and then cook them up in a lightly oiled pan.
Brown the fish cakes on both sides and voilà, you have delicious fish cakes now!
So, as you can see, there are many ways that you can enjoy ocean perch fillets!
The main concern when cooking this fish should always be the cooking time, you want to be very careful about accidentally overcooking this fish.
How long should it be cooked for? Well, this depends on the thickness of the filet. However, a majority of cookbooks will recommend that you cook your fish until it becomes flaky.
In our opinion, oftentimes if you do this, it will have lost its moistness and most delicate flavors.
Typically, our recommendation would be to use 8 minutes as a guideline cooking time for the ideal texture.
Overall
Ocean perch does not rank low on the briny scale, but it has a sweet and moist flavor that overwrites the brininess. It may be a bit bony, but it sure makes up for it in nutrition and divine flavor.
It can craft a wide variety of delicious meals and is well worth trying if you are someone who greatly enjoys seafood.
