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Crappie Texture? ? ?
#12253976
05/20/17 12:17 AM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 372
Jezreel
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Angler
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OP
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Posts: 372 |
I have been fishing for 45 years, but unbelievably have never fished out of a boat. It's just been stock tanks and bank fishing. Got a new boat, and was out last Saturday for the first time. Fished for Crappie with a jig for the first time. Felt my first thump. Came home with crappie and sand bass.
Question I have is. . . The crappie were a bit mushy. The sand bass had a fir texture. I kept them in the same cooler of ice. The crappie were on ice for about 5 hours, the sand bass for about 2 hours.
Generally, what texture should the crappie be? I was surprised when they were mushy. Oh Yeah, they were skillet fried.
I'd post a pic, but can't figure out how.
Thanks
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254004
05/20/17 12:46 AM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,056
MilesHunter
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,056 |
Very light and flakey. It should almost melt in your mouth. Definitely not mushy though. My guess would be that the skillet was not quite hot enough. The time on ice shouldn't be a problem. I'm hungry now!
Miles
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: MilesHunter]
#12254015
05/20/17 12:54 AM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,439
Gamblinman
TFF Team Angler
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Posts: 4,439 |
Very light and flakey. It should almost melt in your mouth. Definitely not mushy though. My guess would be that the skillet was not quite hot enough. The time on ice shouldn't be a problem. I'm hungry now! I agree..oil was not hot enough. I like to deep fry rather than skillet fry crappie filets. They're good either way, but the deep fried filets are firmer and crisper on the outside, while remaining flaky inside. Made me go get a package out of the freezer for tomorrow night!
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254027
05/20/17 01:02 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,155
bush hog
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I've run into the same results when frying fresh fish. I deep fry mine at 350 to 375 degrees for about 3 or 4 minutes until golden. If they are fresh caught chances are they will be a little mushy on the inside. I don't have that problem if they have been frozen first....they turn out flaky.
To whom much is given, much is required.
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: bush hog]
#12254046
05/20/17 01:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,863
SlabWhisperer
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
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Posts: 1,863 |
Use only peanut oil @ 375 degrees... when they float, they're done!
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254053
05/20/17 01:13 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,036
Spiderman
TFF Guru
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Could be also that you left them in a bowl of water after you fileted them at room temperature for awhile.
The meat is soft & will absorb water.
I usually put filets in ice water soon after cleaning & straight into the fridge until they are ready to drop in the grease.
The Truth is six of the seven Dwarfs are not Happy!
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254059
05/20/17 01:17 AM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 372
Jezreel
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Posts: 372 |
Okey Doke, I just talked to the wife. She Cooked the crappie first, and then the sand bass. So, odds are the oil wasn't up to temp. Good call, folks. She also said, she had them in ice water before coating them for just a few minutes.
Thanks! ! !
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254507
05/20/17 02:17 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,462
PKfishin
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,462 |
Crappie are always soft. My wife refers to them as "fried mashed potatoes". What does she know. I eat the crappie and give her the sandbass ( dog also gets sandbass), as I love them both.
John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254589
05/20/17 03:41 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,029
Fishbonz
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Posts: 7,029 |
Okey Doke, I just talked to the wife. She Cooked the crappie first, and then the sand bass. So, odds are the oil wasn't up to temp. Good call, folks. She also said, she had them in ice water before coating them for just a few minutes.
Thanks! ! ! The soaking in ice water is what did your filets in.The water retained by the filets lowered the temp of the pan frying technique. If frying in a skillet always make sure your filets are pat dry before introducing them to the oil.IMHO Deep frying Crappie is best for crispy and flaky texture. I prefer mustard dipped filets coated in Louisiana fish fry and a lil Slap ya mama mixed in.
Last edited by Fishbonz; 05/20/17 03:48 PM.
HE aka Fishbonz
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254597
05/20/17 03:46 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,526
DFW-fisherman
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
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Posts: 1,526 |
Jezreel - What lake do you fish? Sandbass is firmer, and takes more work to make it taste like crappie!
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12254607
05/20/17 03:52 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 15,303
Mo
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I never cook fresh crappie for this reason. One of the only fish I prefere to freeze than cook fresh Mo
MY BACKYARD , 20,000 ACRES , NO MOWING
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: DFW-fisherman]
#12254787
05/20/17 07:40 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 372
Jezreel
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Posts: 372 |
Well, as I said in my post, last Saturday was my first time out on the boat. I went to Ray Hubbard, just cause it is closest. But I will be going to Lavon, Ray Roberts, and Fork. I am such a greenhorn at this, I will put my boat in, and have no idea where to go, or what to do. Last Friday nite I read a post about RH, and somebody posted to fish the Hwy. columns of I-30. So that's what I did. I am learning as I read these posts.
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12255019
05/21/17 12:16 AM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 395
SARG
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 395 |
They get softer when the water gets warmer and they are feeding better then in winter months Winter crappie is much firmer but never as dense as sand bass any time of the year. Freezing in water makes them even mushier and I avoid it(thats a whole nother thread) How much fish do you see in the store floating in water? Exactly why you dont do it . . . . . . .
Last edited by Sarg; 05/21/17 12:18 AM.
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: SARG]
#12255416
05/21/17 12:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,233
dwmoore
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They get softer when the water gets warmer and they are feeding better then in winter months Winter crappie is much firmer but never as dense as sand bass any time of the year. Freezing in water makes them even mushier and I avoid it(thats a whole nother thread) How much fish do you see in the store floating in water? Exactly why you dont do it . . . . . . . This I never freeze fish in water .And I thaw in colander
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Re: Crappie Texture? ? ?
[Re: Jezreel]
#12255437
05/21/17 01:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665
Muzzlebrake
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,665 |
Too much water soaked in the meat before breading and cooking makes for mushy feesh. Everybody has their own way I guess. I freeze all my feesh in water so they stay fresh for long periods, even a year or more. When I cook some I drain the thawed fillets and then pat dry with paper towel. Salt and roll in yellow corn meal. Nothing else!!! When my grease is hot enough to strike a match the cooking starts. Got to be quick here and get them feesh out as soon as they float. Always flaky, even the catfish.
From Genesis: "And God promised men that good and obedient wives would be found in all corners of the earth."
Then He made the earth round...and He laughed and laughed and laughed!
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