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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Jeff Schiller]
#6278872
06/09/11 02:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811
Sandwich Maker
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,811 |
I know people get all caught up in how they cook their fish but I use the KISS method - Keep It Simple Stupid.
My fillets are generally frozen and thawed before frying up. They stay in a cold water bath - usually the thawed/frozen water. If for some reason, I'm cooking fish just caught, I will rinse them really good with very cold water.
My coating is yellow corn meal, salt & pepper. Put that mixture in a ziploc baggie (been doing it that way for years) or one of those shaker basket things from BPS if you wanna be fancy). That's it. Take your wet fillets and coat them with the corn meal mixture. Drop them in peanut oil that is slightly over 350 degrees. Slightly over because the cold fillets will cool it off a little. Careful going over 350 degrees with cooking oils.
When they float, they are done. Break one open to confirm.
My other coating mixture and method is: corn meal, salt, pepper & crushed red pepper (purchased at asian food markets - don't know why this is better. It just is.) I fill up a bowl with sriracha hot sauce and run my fillets through that to drench them in the hot sauce. Then I coat them with the pepper/corn meal mixture. Cook in the oil. This is a spicy fish.
I do at least 1 300+ fillet fish fry every year and have never had a complaint....yet. 
Member Wally Marshall's Mr. Crappie Pro Staff
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Sandwich Maker]
#6279005
06/09/11 02:57 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 599
asudavew
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 599 |
I find the texture to be mushy too.
And I use a deep fryer set on 350...
I always think they are mushy and so does everyone else. But white bass cooked the same way are never mushy.
Just my opinion everyone. No flames please.
But I will definitely try frying at a little higher temperature, and I'll skip the egg wash.
Darn.. after reading Jeff's post I'm hungry for some fried fish!
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: asudavew]
#6279073
06/09/11 03:12 PM
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,217
Jeff Schiller
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,217 |
You might check your oil temp with a regular thermometer if you're just trusting the fryers thermometer. Never know when that might be a little off.
Remember that oils have smoke and flash points (temps) that vary by oil. The good thing about peanut oil - other than it's a clear tasting oil to me - is that it has a higher smoke and flash point. You can get away with a little bit higher temp.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Jeff Schiller]
#6279095
06/09/11 03:16 PM
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,740
Ken Gaby
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,740 |
As was said earlier; thawing fish in hot water is a sure way to get the meat mushy. Also, the meat of crappie caught in summer time hot water is not quite as firm as those caught in winter time. Those that suggested putting them on ice instead of the live well are right on.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: asudavew]
#6279102
06/09/11 03:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 17,346
Jacob
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 17,346 |
I dry out my fillets with paper towels completely before battering them. You would think it wouldn't stick as well, but I think it does better and your not frying any extra moisture to separate the cornmeal from the fish. Let a match float on your oil. When it ignites, the oil is ready to cook.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Jacob]
#6279209
06/09/11 03:45 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10
Flwrldy
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10 |
Drop a popcorn kernal in the oil and if it pops, the oil is ready.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Flwrldy]
#6279683
06/09/11 05:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,978
CCBIRDDOGMAN
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,978 |
2 Bedroom Lake house on CC for rent. P.M. me!
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Jacob]
#6279717
06/09/11 05:43 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 317
pugman
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 317 |
I dry out my fillets with paper towels completely before battering them. You would think it wouldn't stick as well, but I think it does better and your not frying any extra moisture to separate the cornmeal from the fish. Let a match float on your oil. When it ignites, the oil is ready to cook. Only way to do it in my book.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: pugman]
#6279872
06/09/11 06:23 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 705
dbzell
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 705 |
I don't know if good bad or otherwise, but I've always frozen my filets in slightly salty water and then thawed them slowly and have always had good results in 350 degree peanut oil...
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Flwrldy]
#6279886
06/09/11 06:24 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 705
dbzell
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 705 |
Drop a popcorn kernal in the oil and if it pops, the oil is ready. Haha! I hope no one on here is stupid enough to actually do that!!!
Last edited by dbzell; 06/09/11 06:25 PM.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: dbzell]
#6279910
06/09/11 06:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,217
Jeff Schiller
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,217 |
Drop a popcorn kernal in the oil and if it pops, the oil is ready. Haha! I hope no one on here is stupid enough to actually do that!!! Funny. They make these new things now called thermometers. They will actually tell you the real temperature of the oil. Run you a few bucks. Might even be able to find one at the dollar store for $5. 
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Jeff Schiller]
#6280043
06/09/11 07:05 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,712
Frenzy
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,712 |
You should never thaw meat in hot water. Fridge is best but cold water is faster and then microwave if you're in a real hurry(not recomended, plan ahead :P). Like almost all meat, you want it room temperature to cook. Hot water will do nothing better than what I listed but could have negative affects on the meat. Bacteria growth, starting to cook the meat, etc.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: Frenzy]
#6280582
06/09/11 09:11 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 163
olducker
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 163 |
ok, I agree with the other poster crappie are a little more mushy by nature than sandies or bass. I like crappie fine but I always felt this was the case.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: dbzell]
#6280792
06/09/11 09:58 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 446
dragonsdaddy
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 446 |
in a pinch, fish can be thawed in a microwave, but on minimal power, so they inner fish can be warmed by the outer while it is in the rest cycle. not perfect, but who can control when the necessity to have a fish fry will occur? i blackened some last night and it was to die for.
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Re: mushy crappie?
[Re: dragonsdaddy]
#6281746
06/10/11 02:49 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,635
FroggerZack
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,635 |
If you are frying whole (larger) filets they will come out mushy to me. I cut them into "fingers" and they always seem to fry up better.
PB Wht. Crappie 2.48 lbs 02-12-2011
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