Do sprats need to be gutted?
Do you need to gut sprats before cooking & eating them?
i.e.
- is it safe to eat them (so long as they're cooked).
- do they taste ok (to the average non-squeamish person happy with a bit of fish offal).
Research so far
I've searched online but can mostly find the question asked without answer, or with people stating that they've only had them gutted; but with no advice on whether ungutted is acceptable.
e.g. There's a recipe for Grilled Sprats about halfway down the page here where it's advised that you can eat the heads, but the recommendation to remove the guts and gills remains (gills so they don't get stuck in your teeth; guts aren't explained). Since this chef is known for eating most things, I assume there's a good reason to avoid the guys; though perhaps he's tweaked his recipe for the paper's audience: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/oct/07/features.food7
Best Answer
- It is safe to consume the guts.
- Many people do.
More Info:
After digging deeper into the above article I spotted it contains the answer. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/oct/07/features.food7
They're so small (only up to 12cm long) that they're often cooked whole - head, guts and all. If you prefer, however, you can open up the belly with your thumb and rinse out the innards, and prise out the gills with your thumb and forefinger.
Regarding their association with brisling, it seems that the two terms are synonymous (though somewhat contextual):
Sprats are sometimes also known by their Scandinavian name, brisling, especially if they've been smoked and canned.
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Quick Answer about "Do sprats need to be gutted?"
Preparation. Sprats are mainly sold whole, so the head and guts need to be removed. This is easy enough to do, but ask your fishmonger to do it for you if you want to avoid the mess. Lightly rinse the gutted sprats, roll in seasoned flour and pan-fry, grill or bake, then serve with a splash of lemon.Are sprats eaten whole?
Sprats are small, oily sea fish which swim in huge shoals. They are extremely nutritious and tasty but one factor which may put many people off eating sprats is the fact that they are frequently eaten whole, without even being gutted.Do you have to debone sprats?
You can leave the sprats intact, head on and guts in and eat them whole.Are sprats safe to eat?
Sprats are particularly useful for those wishing to increase their omega-3 intake, but they also provide large amounts of protein, B vitamins, and selenium. Overall, sprats are a tasty and extremely nutritious small fish.Can you eat sprat fish?
Sprats are a small fish similar to herring that are used for bait as well as for eating. Sprats are often found prepackaged in a manner similar to sardines, usually packed in oil, mustard or another type of sauce. Canned sprats are often smoked before being packaged to give them an extra flavor component.Jamaican Fried Sprat
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Answer 2
I live in Weymouth Dorset, I've been eating Sprats for 60 years and never gutted one yet, just wash them coat in flour and shallow fry for 1 minute on each side, drain on kitchen roll. Hold the head and the tail in each hand and the fish will fall off the bone into your mouth, absolutely delicious.
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