What "begin to flake" means in the context of sauteing a fish?
I encountered
When you see the bottom of the fish fillets turn opaque, tilt the pan and, using a large spoon, baste the tops of the fish with the hot oil. Do this constantly until the top of the fillets begin to flake, about 3 minutes.
in a recipe. It is unclear to me what it means. For example in https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flake closest to this use is "To break or chip off in a flake" what seems to make no sense - especially as recipe explicitly mentions "preventing your fish from falling apart". Example images in recipe also display the fillet in one part, without small parts separated away.
What is the meaning of "begin to flake" in this context?
relevant recipe: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/cod_sauteed_in_olive_oil_with_fresh_tomatoes/
Best Answer
When the fish cooks, the meat will start turning opaque; at one point, you will see that the fish will start to "split" into flakes or layers.
see this video (at about 2:15 and onward) you start to see layers in the fish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gluRaUv88sk
For example in the following video, you see the salmon has "layers" of fat and meat; when the meat is just right, the layers will be easily "flaked" when the fish is cooked.
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What is flaking a fish?
Flake is a term used in Australia to indicate the flesh of any of several species of baby shark, particularly the gummy shark. The term probably arose in the late 1920s when the large-scale commercial shark fishery off the coast of Victoria was established.How does the relative leanness of fattiness of a fish affect the cooking method you might choose?
Because of their low fat content (as low as 0.5percent in cod and other white-fresh fish), lean fish can easily overcook from dry-heat methods like saut\xe9ing, baking, broiling, and grilling. These fish are better suited to poaching or steaming, techniques that protect with added moisture.What does flake mean in cooking?
Flake. To pull food, such as cooked fish, with a fork, producing small pieces as a test for doneness.What are the factors to consider in cooking seafood dishes?
Here are some things to consider when deciding how to prepare your fish:- The thickness of the fish. One of the main things to consider is the size of the cut of fish. ...
- The natural flavor of the fish. ...
- The level of fat in the meat. ...
- Whether the skin is on or off. ...
- If you have a whole fish, fillets, or steaks.
Why Does Fish Flake?
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