Fish is extremely delicate, much more so than other types of meat. That’s why you can’t cook it the same way. If you’re not sure how to cook fish right because you’ve never tried or were unsuccessful in the past, keep reading to explore the easiest way to creating a fresh fish dinner in your home kitchen that everyone will love.

Always buy fresh

You can certainly buy frozen fish, but it’s not going to have that same fresh wow-factor that fresh fish will have. Go to your local seafood market and talk to the fish monger and you’re likely to get some wonderfully-fresh recommendations. If you buy it from the supermarket, make sure it looks bright and clean. It shouldn’t smell fishy or look discolored.

Pan-seared perfection

Fresh fish makes a divine yet speedy dinner option any night of the week. Searing it in a pan is one of the best ways to get that restaurant flavor. You should always pat your fish dry before searing. Then, put it in your hot pan with a little olive oil. Don’t turn it until it’s seared on the top side. It should lift up on its own when it is seared just right.

Time it

The thing about fresh fish is that it’s very easy to overcook. It really takes no time at all. A good rule of thumb is to cook it 8 to 10 minutes per inch of thickness. If you choose shellfish, like shrimp, it only takes a few minutes. Remove it from heat when it’s opaque or else it will have a tough and rubbery texture.

Try poaching

Poaching is another nice way to cook fish. But the thing most home cooks get wrong is heating the poaching liquid first. Instead, start with the fish in cool liquid and heat them together. Doing it this way will ensure it cooks evenly.

Bake it

A simple drizzle of olive oil or a few pats of butter, fresh-squeezed lemon and a dash of your favorite seasonings can create an epic baked fish dish. Generally, you’ll want to bake it for about 10 to 15 minutes per inch of thickness. This is why going to a fish monger helps when you’re new to cooking seafood because they will recommend what’s best for the cut of fish you’ve selected.

Keep it simple

Fresh seafood really needs very little to bring out the amazing tastes. You don’t need to slather it in sauce. Only use a little salt and pepper, go easy on the fat like olive oil or butter, hit it with a little bit of citrus (lemon, lime, or even fresh orange juice work great), and a few shakes of herbs. Less is definitely more when you’re making seafood. Why not make fish tonight? It’s simple and quick, not to mention healthy and delicious!