How to clean crucian carp scales quickly and correctly

Rules for processing and preparing fish

Before you start cleaning crucian carp, it must be properly prepared for this procedure. Experts recommend using some tips to make the cleaning process easier and faster.

Important! To speed up the process of thawing crucian carp, it is recommended to place them in salted cold water, so that the carcass does not soften and does not absorb excess moisture.

These include:

It is advisable to clean freshly caught fish from scales;
if it is not possible to immediately clean the crucian carp, it is better to wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the freezer;
a live fish must be stunned by hitting the head with a knife handle or a kitchen hammer;
for convenience, you can use fabric gloves (so that the fish does not slip out) or a special cutting board with a clamp for the fish tail;
It is recommended to purchase medium-sized crucian carp - they are easier to clean and contain fewer bones;
the product must be defrosted naturally;
It is easier and more convenient to clean fish that is not completely defrosted.

Tools and accessories

A cutting board equipped with special clamps is very helpful for cleaning.
Before you start cleaning fish, you need to prepare the place, tools and dishes. There is a simple, effective device that helps make processing much easier. A cutting board equipped with special clamps is very helpful for cleaning. They are a great help to ensure safety and speed up cleaning of scales. The clamps firmly fix the crucian carp in the tail, which prevents the carcass from slipping out. Thanks to this, the scales can be easily removed with a knife.

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Experienced fishermen prefer multifunctional fish scalers with serrated blades.

A great helper is a grater. It will not only allow the process to be carried out quickly, but will also prevent the scales from scattering. A four-sided grater works best. They take it in one hand, and the crucian carp in the other. Then remove the scales using an up and down motion.

If you have time, you can place the carcasses in a plastic container and sprinkle with salt. Cover with a lid and leave in the refrigerator until morning. By this time, the scales and skin will fall off on their own.

Experienced fishermen prefer multifunctional fish scalers with serrated blades.

If there are no special tools, then an ordinary fork and spoon will come to the rescue. Hold the carcass with a fork and peel it with a spoon moving against the direction of the scales.

Required Tools

To quickly and easily rid a crucian carp of scales and giblets, it is advisable to acquire the necessary tools.

It will be useful for you to know at what atmospheric pressure crucian carp bites best.

Namely such as:

cutting board;
table knife for all basic manipulations;
kitchen scissors for removing fins;
bone tongs;
pure water;
large capacity for carcass.

Also, at the end of the work, you can use a vinegar solution or squeezed lemon juice, wiping the used equipment and hands with them to eliminate the unpleasant odor.

How to clean crucian carp from scales

The prey is butchered alive or unconscious. When choosing the second option, she is stunned in the head with the handle of a knife. You can place your meal in the shade, covering the top of the bowl to prevent evaporation and protect it from pets. In a few hours the fish will fall asleep, but will not have time to dry out. It is more humane to start work after this, since she will not feel anything.

The easiest way is to clean the crucian carp immediately after catching it.

The mucus and moisture present on the surface help to quickly remove all excess from our trophy before it gets into the frying pan. But you can do this after rest, after wrapping it in cellophane and putting it in the refrigerator to avoid moisture loss.

First, use a double-horned fork to pin the tail to the board. This is done so that the fish does not slip out of your hands and does not “ride” on the cutting board.

Then we begin the process of removing the scales. Much has been written on the Internet and videos have been shot about how to clean crucian carp and prepare it for frying. Difficulties should not arise even for those who are doing this for the first time. The proposed method of how to clean crucian carp will help you understand the intricacies of this simple matter.

When removing scales, there are no fundamental differences: whether it will be done with a sharp small knife, a large cutting knife, not very sharp, or a completely dull one. By the way, this procedure is freely carried out using the thumbnail instead of this tool.

The crucian carp should be cleaned in the direction from the tail to the head.

The first and basic rule is to clean from tail to head. The smaller the fish, the easier it is to remove the scales. We start by removing it closer to the dorsal fins and finish cleaning it in the area of the pectoral and ventral fins. The closer it is to the bottom of the abdomen, the harder it becomes. If there is no special fork, you will have to hold the trophy by the tail or press its head. Small specimens can be taken in your hand with your head facing you. We carry out this procedure on the other side of the fish.

At the same time, we get rid of the fins to minimize the risk of accidentally getting stuck with them. You can cut off the head and tail, leaving only the carcass. This is convenient if you fry it as two halves separated from each other. Remember to use water to remove any excess before cutting it. Having done this process with several copies, you will get the hang of it and the problem of cleaning crucian carp will not be relevant for you.

Methods for cleaning crucian carp

The principle of cleaning crucian carp occurs in a certain sequence. For greater convenience, experts advise first removing the scales from the fish, then taking out the insides, washing thoroughly in clean water several times, if necessary, cutting into pieces, placing in a colander and letting the water drain. In cases where carcasses will be prepared without heads, they need to be cut off and the gills removed. Also, at the very beginning, you can use scissors to cut out the fin on the spine.

Did you know? The lipstick shimmers thanks to the content of special substances obtained from fish scales.

From scales

You can correctly remove scales on the body of a crucian carp as follows:

Use scissors to trim all fins to avoid pricking yourself.
On a cutting board, secure the tail of the fish with a clamp or nail it with a knife.
It is necessary to remove the scales in the direction from the tail to the head with a knife (the blunt part), fork, grater, fish scaler or other object.
It is advisable to do this work under running water or in a large container so that the scales do not fly apart in different directions.

For better comfort, fresh fish can be doused with boiling water or placed in a weak vinegar solution for several hours. Thanks to this procedure, the scales will be easier to remove from the carcass.

Removal of gills and gutting

The next step in cleaning crucian carp is removing the gills and offal. It is very important, because if you incorrectly remove the entrails from the carcass, damaging the gall bladder, the meat will be bitter and unsuitable for consumption.

Did you know? Effective for catching crucian carp is the use of bait with the addition of valerian drops, Corvalol, garlic, dill or fragrant hard cheese.

Therefore, you should adhere to these recommendations:

Make a shallow incision in the direction from head to tail on the belly.
Carefully remove all the insides and black film.
Wash the carcass thoroughly in clean water, removing any remaining scales and mucus.
Then use a knife to cut the bridge between the head and body of the fish and remove the gills.

How to quickly clean crucian carp at home

To protect your hands, wear gloves with a ribbed surface.
Thanks to this, the carcass cannot slip out. During the cleaning process, scales scatter throughout the kitchen. So that after preparing the fish you do not have to wash the furniture and walls, you should first fill the container with more water, then place the crucian carp there. The scales will not be able to overcome water resistance, so they will not fly out. But this method is dangerous because there is a high probability of cutting your hands.

Cleaning will be easier if the carcasses are first placed in the freezer and left overnight. Then take it out and leave it in the sink for a couple of hours. As a result, the scales will thaw slightly, but the crucian carp itself will still be frozen.

How to clean crucian carp from scales

If the fish is large and fresh, then the easiest way is to use your hands. To do this, you need to grab the carcass with your hand and clean it with your nails, scraping across the growth of the scales. There are always small scales on the belly and near the tail, which cannot easily be touched by nails. These areas will have to be scraped off with a knife.

There is another way - using a large package. The fish is cleaned in it without removing it. After cleaning, the scales remain on the inner surface of the bag.

How to remove gills and entrails

When the most unpleasant cleaning process is over, you need to start gutting.
The abdomen must be cut along its entire length. Remove all the entrails and intestines.

Important. The process is carried out very carefully so as not to damage the gall bladder, which will spoil the taste of the entire fish. If you suddenly accidentally pierce it, then very quickly sprinkle the place where the bile got in with salt. It will help neutralize its effect. Be sure to remove the black film. After this, rinse with water.

If you plan to cook the carcass with the head, you will have to remove the gills. To do this, cut off the jumper that connects the head and body. Then pick up the gills with the end of a knife and hold them with your thumb and pull them out. Rinse the vacant area with water.

If you plan to bake a whole carcass, then gut it through an incision made under the head, through which the gills are also removed. A variety of fillings are placed into the whole belly.

Video: how to clean crucian carp without crushing the bile.

How to cut fish for frying

After all the manipulations carried out, the last step is cutting the carcass for frying. To do this, you need to make transverse or diagonal cuts on both sides of the body every 0.5 cm. Thanks to these actions, the small bones in the meat will be crushed, softened during heat treatment and will not prick when consumed.

Read also the description and characteristics of silver crucian carp.

Proper cleaning of a representative of the carp family from scales and offal plays a very important role in the future. After all, how well this work is done will determine the taste of the prepared fish dish.

Removing the entrails

Next, the tail is cut off from the fish, washed with water and the cutting process begins. The crucian carp is carefully cut along the abdomen and the black film and all internal organs are removed. It is important not to rupture the fish’s gallbladder. Otherwise, the crucian carp will have to be soaked for some time to remove bile or rinsed with water and sprinkled with salt so that the dish does not become bitter later.

To prevent bones from pricking in already cooked fish, cuts are made on the crucian carp on both sides of the body in half-centimeter increments. They can be vertical or diamond-shaped. This way the bones are partially cut and softened due to the contact of oil or broth during cooking.

Simple processing rules

The main rule is that fresh fish is best cleaned. If you don’t have the time or opportunity to clean it right away, then you should put the carcasses in a bag and hide them in the freezer. This way, the crucian carp will not be deprived of moisture, and the scales will be easier to remove. Salt will help significantly ease the process. The carcasses are sprinkled with it and left for half an hour.

When purchasing, remember that large specimens are easiest to clean. To prevent the fish from constantly jumping out of your hands, wear fabric gloves. Before starting cleaning, the first thing to do is cut off the fins so that they do not prick your hands. It is most convenient to cut them with scissors.

On a note! Thawed crucian carp will be easier to clean if you first pour boiling water over it and then place it in a weak vinegar solution for one to two hours. To remove mucus, you need to rub the carcasses with salt and rinse.

If crucian carp have a strong smell of mud, then they are placed in salted cold water for half an hour and then washed thoroughly.

Useful tips

If you do not plan to cook the fish with its head, it must also be cut off along with its gills.
If crucian carp have an unpleasant smell of mud, then before cutting, deboning and cooking, they are soaked for an hour or two in a weak saline solution.
To prevent cutlery from smelling like fish, immediately after cutting and cleaning it, you should rinse it with cool water and soap. If the smell still remains, you need to repeat the procedure, but first wipe the dishes and utensils with heated salt.
To get rid of the fishy smell at home, in addition to simple ventilation, you can boil water with vinegar or heat coffee grounds in a frying pan.
If the crucian carp does not go into the fish soup pot or frying pan immediately after cleaning, then it should be stored in the freezer, wrapped in cling film so that other products do not absorb the fishy smell. For the convenience of subsequent cooking, it should be immediately cut into portions.
If the fish was bought for frying, then before doing this it is recommended to leave it in a colander or dryer for a while so that the excess water, which made cleaning so easy, can now drain away. Otherwise, the crucian carp will turn out more stewed than truly fried.