How to Pan-Roast Like a Professional Chef
Would you like to cook fish fillets or fish steaks that are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside? Mastering pan-roasting is the answer. It is one of the best methods to use to make a restaurant quality seafood entrée. Grab your cast iron skillet or roasting pan and follow these simple tips.
What is pan-roasting?
Before we get started, you may be wonder what pan-roasting is. Pan-roasting is a method that is primarily used for cooking thick cuts of meat. You begin by searing the meat in a pan on the stove-top and then move the pan to the oven to finish cooking. It is an excellent cooking method for salmon, halibut and other fish that are available as thick fillets or steaks.
What type of pan should you use for pan-roasting?
You can use any skillet that is oven safe. Cast iron skillets and roasting pans are popular options. If you use a cast iron skillet, be sure that it is well seasoned so that the fillet will not stick to it. You don’t want to ruin the perfect golden crust you’ve worked hard to make.
How do you pan-roasting fish?
There are five simple steps to follow:
- Preheat the Pan Over High Heat
You want the pan to be hot before you lay down the fish steak so that you can sear the meat nicely without it sticking. You should add oil or butter to the pan as it is heating. Once the oil or butter looks shimmery, place the fish in the pan with the flesh side down and skin side facing up. It should sizzle right away.
- Don’t Flip It Until the End
If you’re familiar with pan-roasting steak, you may be used to flipping it frequently. When you are cooking fish, you only want to flip it once at the very end.
- Butter Baste It
When you see a nice brown color around the bottom edges of the fish, add in some extra butter along with any herbs you’d like to flavor your fish. Once the butter has melted and begun to foam, scoop it out with a spoon and drizzle it over the fish. Do this a couple of times until the butter turns brown.
- Bake It In The Oven
After you’ve finished butter basting your fish, place it in the oven (at 500 degrees F) for about 3 to 5 minutes depending on how thick it is. The best way to test whether or not it is done is to give it a little squeeze. If it bounces right back, it is done. It should also look darker around the edges.
- Plate It!
Now that your fish fillet is finished cooking, it’s finally time to see the delicious crust you’ve made. Use a thin spatula to pick up the fillet and flip it over onto a plate after removing the pan from the oven. You should see a nice, golden brown crust.
By following these five steps, you can pan-roast fish like a chef. Share your pan-roasting success stories with us in the comments.
Check out our Pinterest for more cooking tips and recipes! If you’re a native of central Connecticut, swing by our seafood counter in Wethersfield Connecticut to pick up fresh fish steaks for dinner tonight!