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Cooking fish in a microwave

(38 Posts)
HelterSkelter1 Sun 18-Aug-24 19:29:25

Any hints and tips please. I was looking at the Lakeland microwave fish cooking bags. And also the lidded container which had poor reviews. I have dishes I could use but my microwave lids are too small and round and I no longer use cling film. Any recipes would be welcome as wwll. Thank you.

ferry23 Fri 30-Aug-24 14:57:59

HelterSkelter1 - great news! So glad it was a success for you.

Just be aware that salmon and smoked fish if it's not natural (ie it's yellow) will discolour the tray and container after a time. It doesn't affect the cooking or the taste of anything.

I've also used mine to steam vegetables and it's particularly good for asparagus.

HelterSkelter1 Fri 30-Aug-24 10:01:57

My fish steamer arrived yesterday and I cooked a salmon fillet last night in it. Brilliant. No oily fishy pan to wash. Cooked perfectly. Thankyou ferry23 for the recommendation. I shall cooked smoked haddock this weekend.

HelterSkelter1 Thu 22-Aug-24 20:06:07

A microwave fish steamer is on its way to me and I look forward to trying some of the ideas you have given me
Tonight maybe I have fried my last trout fillet!

megan777 Thu 22-Aug-24 18:31:22

I've had success with microwave fish bags and a plate or silicone lid for lids. Here's a simple recipe:

Quick Microwave Cod

Cod fillet, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper
Cook on high for 3-4 minutes
Add garlic, paprika, or thyme for extra flavor.
Hope this helps! Happy cooking!

Kim19 Wed 21-Aug-24 18:29:38

I simply put raw fish on a dinner plate and cover with an upturned one. Usually about two minutes in the microwave has great results.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 20-Aug-24 17:27:24

No it won't wreck my electricity bill. Hahahaha.
I currently fry my fish, but want a change and was asking for some tips and recommendations.

grandtanteJE65 Tue 20-Aug-24 17:07:39

I have just got rid of my microwave, as I dislike using it.

Fish needs so short a time to cook, that it cannot possibly wreck your electricity bill to cook it in a frying pan.

Vykk Tue 20-Aug-24 14:08:39

I use a Lékué Microwave Cookware Red Shallow Steam Case 650ml from Lakeland. It's superb especially for Salmon !

cc Tue 20-Aug-24 13:05:01

I also microwave uncoated white fish, not using full power and checking after three minutes. I've got a couple of plastic bowls with vented lids, but if the fish is too big for the bowls I use an oval porcelain dish and cover with cling film that doesn't touch the food. I make a hole in the film and put a little patch of film on the hole, it will blow off when it fills with steam. I have tried the venting plastic bags but they're expensive and can't really be cleaned and re-used.
I find that the fish is perfectly cooked, tender and moist, ideal to eat with or without sauce.
I also use it if I'm going to make fish pie so that it doesn't take so long to bake the dish once I've added the potato.
I have tried with oily fish but prefer it grilled, though kippers are OK using the lower power.
There are loads of vented covers for microwaving on a plate and perhaps this would be a good solution for you if you could get one that fitted one of your plates?

Vintagegirl Tue 20-Aug-24 12:43:21

I do fish fillet lightly wrapped in tin foil (gluten free) in main oven at same time as other half has his battered/crumbed fish baked. I suppose I dont think of microwave as dont want smell of fish in it? Someday an airfryer but still use a main oven especially when cooking more than one item. Kitchen gets warmed up and plates too!

mabon1 Tue 20-Aug-24 11:59:33

glass dish with lid.

Eirlys Tue 20-Aug-24 11:51:00

I am not keen on cooking but I do eat well, according to my Offspring! I cook fish on the "automatic" button of my Panasonic microwave and it's always done perfectly. I use my two Mini Airfryers for all food that requires oven cooking and the results are also great. I place the fish on a Pyrex plate ; add butter and lemon juice and cover the fish with another Pyrex plate , or lid. Easy!

welbeck Mon 19-Aug-24 20:47:26

by the way, re above people cooking fish in two saucers etc; i thought you always had to have a vent in the top cover, so how can you use a saucer ?
i'm here to learn. thanks.

welbeck Mon 19-Aug-24 20:45:11

i've only got a microwave, and a kettle.
i have something that you plug in, meant to make omelettes, also something for heating sandwiches, but i don't use them.
i have just microwaved defrosted fishcakes, bought many months ago.
only been out of freezer since y'day.
anyway i zapped them for 2 mins, inspected, seemed OK, then zapped for another minute, to be sure.
i hope nobody tells me that was v unhealthy . . .

ferry23 Mon 19-Aug-24 20:04:49

Sago - a microwave is actually the perfect vessel for cooking fish, one of the few things it does really well. (As endorsed by a number of Michelin starred chefs for the home cook).

HelterSkelter1 try this - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176349401638

same one, a few pence difference in price. Mine is due to be delivered tomorrow or Wednesday.

Sago Mon 19-Aug-24 19:40:34

Different fish requires different methods of cooking.

Trout, salmon and oily fish should be treated very differently from white fish such as sole, plaice etc.

Most methods are great for oily fish, poaching or grilling for more delicate fish.

A hot stone on a barbecue also gives excellent results for sole, halibut and tuna steaks.

A microwave IMO should never be used for fish.

Tonight I have grilled sea trout with a little seasoning and lemon so simple and delicious

HelterSkelter1 Mon 19-Aug-24 19:25:27

The link was on e bay and the seller is on hols till 21 Aug. but in the meantime 39 people are "viewing" it!
There must be 38 other GNs looking at it!!! If I am lucky I will follow your recipe ferry23. And let you know how it goes.

Janiepops Mon 19-Aug-24 14:56:50

I put a salmon fillet on a saucer,put another saucer on top, cook for one minute thirty seconds,perfect.

welbeck Mon 19-Aug-24 14:24:45

i've just read this after i tried to cook some defrosted basa fillet.
it said 5 mins at 800w.
so that's what i did. it was hard and rubbery. threw some powdered soup over it, with old bread and boiling water. managed to eat it.
then realised that those instructions were probably for hard frozen fish, not defrosted . . .
you may have guessed i am not a gourmet.

nanna8 Mon 19-Aug-24 10:20:14

nanna8

Floradora9

Sorry I air fry mine with a coating of sweet chilli sauce and some panko brreadcrumbs for 12 minutes . It comes out lovelt . I did buy a container to microwave fish and never used it .

Oh I just bought some panko breadcrumbs and I have chilli sauce in the fridge. Now I know what to do for tea so thanks !

I did it for tea. My husband loved it and now one of my daughters is going to do the same. So once again, a big thanks !

ferry23 Mon 19-Aug-24 09:32:35

HelterSekelter1 the baked apple cooker for a portion of mash is a genius hack!

I think the microwave is more of a friend if you live alone. I do use my slow cooker a lot and I swapped my loved and well used halogen air for an air fryer which I absolutely hate. It's not anything as versatile as the halogen.

I cook 2 salmon fillets for 3 minutes in the fish steamer. Half fill with water then I dot the fillets with butter, a little lemon juice and sometimes a couple of bay leaves or some fresh dill if I have any.

Smoked haddock I usually do for 3 mns but sometimes need an extra 30 seconds if it's thick.

Always moist and flaky. Let me know how you get on.

HelterSkelter1 Mon 19-Aug-24 09:13:00

That looks good. I shall order one. Thanks for the link.

I have other microwave pots with lids which I use all the time. Invluding a small round baked apple cooker which I use to reheat an individual portion of mashed potato. Love my microwave.

ferry23 Mon 19-Aug-24 07:46:18

HelterSkelter1 - googled and this came up straight away, it's exactly the same as mine - ebay.

I was so pleased to find it that I've just bought myself a new one!

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICROWAVE-FISH-STEAMER-/266947104105?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&cu

ferry23 Mon 19-Aug-24 07:43:32

HelterSkelter1 - I've got feeling we bought them in a local shop - one of those shops that sells everything, bit like the forerunner to Poundland.

I'll see if I can find a similar one and post a link. I'd take a pic of mine but owing to recent move, I think it's still lurking in one of many unpacked boxes!

JackyB Mon 19-Aug-24 07:21:24

The best fish I ever did was a fillet of plaice in one of those sealed bags with a little bit of stock. (Only instant vegetable stock which I use for most things - often in place of salt).

I must have got the timing just right. I've never been able to reproduce that perfect texture and taste again!

So: Yes to the bags, but a pyrex dish with a fitting lid should be just as good. Add a little lemon, butter, salt, instant stock powder. Don't cook for too long. It's the best way to do salmon, too - and no fat required!@