Cooking With Grouper, All You Need to Know
As they say, “There are plenty of fish in the sea.” Still, with hundreds of different fish to choose from, sometimes buying fish for a wholesome, sea-scented dinner is everything but easy.
Well, that’s where grouper comes in. Grouper is one of the most versatile fish out there, and it’s effortless to cook! Grouper is just easy to love! Here’s all you need to know about this noble fish, how to source it and how to cook it perfectly. From sea to table, adding seafood to your weekly meal plan is easy with Seed to Table!
What Type of Fish is the Grouper?
There are many types of fish in the grouper family, but they all share similarities — they’re stout, fast-swimming fish that can grow quite large. Rare examples can grow up to seven feet! The most popular groupers for cooking are the red grouper and the black grouper, which thrive in the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico and all the way down to Brazil.
Skilled fishers catch grouper sustainably with hook-and-line gear, including longlines and handlines, which are much friendlier fishing methods with the environment. The best part? Grouper is available all year round, and it’s delicious!
How to Get the Finest Grouper?
Not all grouper is created equal, though. If you want to enjoy the finest fish, Seed to Table is an excellent option. For starters, Seed to Table’s national shipping guarantees the fish arrive at your doorstep in prime condition. Beautiful, clean grouper filets ready to hit the grill or skillet.
Seed to Table works with the most experienced captains, who catch, clean and deliver both red and black grouper through the company’s Captain Jerry’s seafood distribution facility in Florida. Seed to Table’s seafood branch grades, filets, packages, and delivers every order for a reliable sea-to-table experience!
How to Cook Grouper Perfectly Every Time?
Grouper’s flesh has a mild, attractive flavor and a flaky texture; it’s also incredibly lean, making it compatible with a wide range of cooking methods. For most experienced cooks, there are three ways of cooking grouper to make the most out of the delicious fish.
Pan-Fried Grouper
Pan-fried grouper is one of the most popular ways of cooking this noble fish. If thawed, pat the filets dry with a paper towel, rub them with olive oil or butter and your favorite seasonings. Then, cook over high heat in a thick-bottomed or cast-iron skillet with half-an-inch of cooking oil. Cook for about 4 minutes and flip once. Cook for 4 more minutes. If cooking frozen grouper filets, cook for 6-8 minutes before flipping. It’s that easy!
Grilled Grouper
Grilled grouper is just fun as the smoky fish is hard to forget. Since fish is prone to sticking to the grill or breaking apart, the best way of cooking grouper on the grill is rubbing it with a tablespoon of butter and your favorite herbs and spices and cooking it wrapped in aluminum foil. Place the fish on the coolest part of the grill for between 8 to 10 minutes. Add 3-4 minutes for a frozen filet.
Baked Grouper
Bake grouper filets in a baking tray coated with a thin sauce based on butter and elevated with minced ginger, shallots, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Of course, you can create your own dressing with your favorite herbs and spices. A pound of Grouper filets should be ready between 5-7 minutes in the oven at 450°F (232°C). Add 3-4 minutes if you’re cooking frozen grouper filets.
Grouper FAQs
Can you cook frozen grouper filets?
Of course you can! Frozen filets just take a few more minutes to cook, and they end up as flaky and tender as a fresh filet.
What’s a safe temperature for cooked filets?
Whether you’re cooking frozen grouper filets or fresh ones, aim for a core temperature of 145°F (62°C). Use a meat thermometer and stick it in the filet’s thickest part.
What to serve with grouper filets?
Grouper is a noble fish that goes great with leafy greens, tossed salads with a light vinaigrette, roasted potatoes and even noodles. Let’s just say grouper is so tasty that it has a good relationship with many side dishes.
Where to get the best grouper filets?
For red and black grouper filets, freshly caught and prepared with the highest-quality standards, Seed to Table is a fantastic alternative with nationwide delivery. This passionate company has a tremendous reputation for legitimate “sea to table” seafood!