How to Cook Perch

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

The mild flavor of perch makes it a great fish for preparing a lot of different ways. The most common way to cook perch is to fry it. You’ll need flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. Be careful not to burn the fish as it fries. You can also easily bake perch by covering it with a basic breading mixture and cooking it at a high temperature for a few minutes. Poaching perch is great for bringing out the flavor of the fish without adding too many calories.

Ingredients

Fried Perch

  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of flour per fillet
  • 1 egg
  • 1  c (240 mL) breadcrumbs
  • 1 US tbsp (15 mL) oil per fillet
  • Lemon juice to taste

Baked Perch

  • 2 US tbsp (30 mL) dried bread crumbs
  • 1 US tbsp (15 mL) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 US tbsp (15 mL) paprika
  • 1  tsp (4.9 mL) dried basil
  • 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of butter

Poached Perch

  • 1 medium leek or onion, shredded or finely chopped.
  • 2 strips of lemon peel
  • 1 pinch each of salt and pepper
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making Fried Perch

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Pat the fish fillets dry with a piece of paper towel. Then sprinkle salt and pepper over both sides of each fillet. Use about 1  tsp (4.9 mL) of each seasoning per fillet. [1]
    • If you caught the perch yourself, you'll want to fillet your perch first.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Pour 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of flour per fillet in a large bowl. Place one fillet at a time in the flour, then flip it over and press the opposite side into the flour. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Beat 1 egg in a bowl until the yolk and white are scrambled together. Then dip the fish fillet in the beaten egg so that both side are covered. [3]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Once the fillet has been dipped in egg, place it in a bowl of breadcrumbs and press both sides in the crumbs so the whole fillet is covered. You can use whatever breadcrumbs you like. You can also use cornmeal instead of breadcrumbs for a sweeter flavor. [4]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    It’s easiest to dip one fillet at a time in the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. As you finish coating each fillet, lay it flat on a plate or platter. Don't stack the fillets, since this can cause the breading to come off. [5]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    You should use about 1 US tbsp (15 mL) per fillet you’re frying. Pour the oil in a large fry pan or iron skillet and heat it over medium high heat. [6]
    • You can use any oil with a high smoke point. This includes grapeseed, extra virgin olive, and sunflower oil.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Once the oil is hot (you can tell if the oil starts to pop), place the fillets in the fry pan. Check them every few minutes, especially if you’re adding fillets at different times.The side is done when it's a light golden brown color. [7]
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Once 1 side of the perch is brown, it's time to flip it. Use a large spatula to get completely under the fillet and flip it over. Once the second side is golden-brown, you can remove the fillet from the pan. [8]
    • It should take about 2 minutes per side to fry the fish.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    If you’ve fried the fish in an iron skillet, you can also use the skillet the serve the fish – just make sure you place a pot holder under the skillet before you set it on the table. If you’ve used a fry pan, use a spatula to carefully remove the fish. Garnish the fillets with the juice of half a lemon. [9]
    • You can store leftovers for up to 3 days in a refrigerator.
    10. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making Baked Perch

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Fish requires a high baking point so that it can cook all the way through before it burns. It might take your oven a while to preheat to such a high heat, so make sure you start preheating before you prepare the fish. [10]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Mix together 2 US tbsp (30 mL) dried bread crumbs, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) grated Parmesan cheese, 1 US tbsp (15 mL) paprika, and 1  tsp (4.9 mL) dried basil in a small bowl. You can adjust the measurements slightly depending your preference. Less paprika will make the fish less smoky. [11]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Melt 1 US tbsp (15 mL) of butter in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Brush each fillet on both sides with the melted butter. If you don’t have a brush, pour a bit of the butter over each side of the fillet and spread it with your fingers. [12]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Press 1 side of each fillet in the mixture. Then flip each fillets over and press the second side into the mixture. Shake off any excess mixture. [13]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    You can pre-grease the pan with cooking spray, butter, or your choice of oil. Place the fillets in the greased baking pan. Try not to let the fillets touch. If they do, they might not cook evenly. [14]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    You can check the fish after 10 minutes. If they’re finished, the fillets will flake easily with a fork. If the fillets don’t flake easily after 10 minutes, put them in for 2 minutes longer at a time. [15]
    • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They'll keep for up to 3 days.
    7. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making Poached Perch

PDF download Download Article
  1. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    A good basic mix of seasonings includes onion or leeks, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add 1 medium leek or onion, shredded or finely chopped, to the pot. Then add 2 strips of lemon peel, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. [16]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Bring the water to a boil. Once it’s boiled, cover the pot and simmer the liquid for 20 to 30 minutes. [17]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Turn the heat under the water down to low. Then add the fish, one fillet at a time. If the fish is not covered at least 2/3 of the way up, add more water until they are. [18]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    When the fish is in and the pot is covered, bring the water back to a boil. Once you get a boil, turn off the heat. [19]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Keep the lid on the pot after you remove it from the heat. Let the fish steam for 7 to 10 minutes. The fish is done when it’s opaque – solid white that you can’t see through. [20]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Cook Perch
    Use a slotted spoon to remove the fish from the water. Be careful as you lift each fillet out – the fish will be very tender and can break apart easily. Place the fish on a plate and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil or lemon juice. [21]
    • Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They should keep for about 3 days.
    7. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Things You'll Need

      Fried Perch

      • 2 mixing bowls
      • Plate or platter
      • Large iron skillet
      • Fish spatula

      Baked Perch

      • 2 mixing bowls (1 microwave safe for melting butter)
      • Greased baking pan

      Poached Perch

      • Pot for poaching
      • Serving platter

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Tell if Fish Has Gone Bad
      How to
      Eat Mussels
      How to
      Clean/Gut a Fish
      The Best Way to Peel and Eat Boiled Crawfish
      How to
      Cook Smoked Haddock
      How to
      Debone a Trout
      How to
      Clean a Trout
      How to
      Eat Sea Urchins
      Easy Ways to Store Mussels in the Refrigerator & Freezer
      How To Fillet Trout (Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, & More!)
      How to
      Bake Frozen Tilapia
      How to
      Purge Crawfish
      How to
      Cook Shark
      How to
      Skin and Clean Catfish
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ http://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/How-To-Cook-Fish/Fifteen-Ways-To-Cook-Perch.html
      2. ↑ http://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/How-To-Cook-Fish/Fifteen-Ways-To-Cook-Perch.html
      3. ↑ http://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/How-To-Cook-Fish/Fifteen-Ways-To-Cook-Perch.html
      4. ↑ http://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/How-To-Cook-Fish/Fifteen-Ways-To-Cook-Perch.html
      5. ↑ http://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/How-To-Cook-Fish/Fifteen-Ways-To-Cook-Perch.html
      6. ↑ http://chestofbooks.com/food/recipes/How-To-Cook-Fish/Fifteen-Ways-To-Cook-Perch.html
      7. ↑ http://allrecipes.com/recipe/222336/brown-butter-perch/
      8. ↑ http://allrecipes.com/recipe/222336/brown-butter-perch/
      9. ↑ http://allrecipes.com/recipe/222336/brown-butter-perch/
      1. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-perch
      2. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-perch
      3. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-perch
      4. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-perch
      5. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-perch
      6. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-perch
      7. ↑ https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/simple-poached-white-fish/
      8. ↑ https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/simple-poached-white-fish/
      9. ↑ https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/simple-poached-white-fish/
      10. ↑ https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/simple-poached-white-fish/
      11. ↑ https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/simple-poached-white-fish/
      12. ↑ https://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/simple-poached-white-fish/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      The most popular way to cook perch is to fry it. Start by patting your fillets dry and sprinkling them with salt and pepper. Set up a dredging station with a bowl of flour, a bowl of beaten egg, and a bowl of bread crumbs, then dip the fillets into each bowl, in that order. Heat up cooking oil in a frying pan and fry the perch on each side for 2 minutes. Garnish your fried fillets with lemon juice and enjoy! For tips on other popular cooking methods, like baking or poaching your perch, read on!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 72,676 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Anonymous

        May 13, 2018

        "I had no idea if was edible! To know how to prepare it is great. Thank you."
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement