preparing crappies

[Guest]

with the good luck we have been having we have finally decided to keep some and cook them up.
any "best" way to cook them?
thanx in advance
Monty

[DARK30]

IF YOU WANT TO TASTE THE FISH AND NOT ALL THE SEASONING TRY JUST ROLL THOSE LITTLE FILLETS IN SOME FLOWER AND A LITTLE SALT & PEPPER. FRY IN BUTTER UNTIL DESIRED FIRMNESS. "OR" IF YOU DON'T MIND PULLING THE BONES OUT...JUST SCALE UM WITH A SPOON, GUT UM, OFF WITH THE HEADS AND FRY THE SAME WAY. I REMEMBER THE SPEED AT WHICH MY GRAMMA AND HER SISTER COULD MAKE A BUCKET OF PANFISH TURN INTO A MEAL FOR A DOZEN PEOPLE (WITH POTATOS AND ORANGE SALAD TOO!
WET NETS!

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cast,cast,cast,cast......

[Guest]

Thanx
Monty

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Say what you mean and Mean what you say.

[Guest]

I like to fillet them out and flour them, egg wash, then use corn flake crumbs. A taste of pure heaven when golden brown. If you want to "kick them up a notch" put some cayenne pepper in the flour or crumbs. Enjoy!

[Guest]

Many people tend to think crappie meat is mushy. The reason is they soak them in water for a day or more. Crappie is really good and flaky but can get mushy if left in water too long.

I wash my fillets off and pat them dry and keep them dry until they are prepared. If they can't be prepared soon and you need to freeze them, the best option is a vacuum sealer because you don't use water. If you don't have a sealer, get them frozen as soon as possible. Also when letting them thaw later, don't let them sit in the water.

Sitting in water for long periods of time is the worst thing you can do for crappie filets.

Now that the meat is nice and flaky, we are ready to prepare them.

I first cut the fillets into thin pieces. I I use crushed saltines, Shake and Bake fish seasoning (most flavors will work - but fish seems to be my favorite)and salt and pepper. I then whip an egg. Dunk the small pieces into the egg and then into the mixture of crackers and shake and bake and into the pan. Make sure they are fully coated.

I don't fry in butter anymore. I have found better options. I like either, Maurey's fish fry oil(almost impossible to find), Canola Gold oil, or Shore lunch oil. Any of these take very litte oil and can cook a ton of fish and not leave the fish tasting oily.

Good luck. If prepared correctly, crappie can and does taste every bit as good as walleye.

[NINETOE]

Heres an alternative to frying. Take a glass oven dish and cover the bottom with sliced onions. Then lay down a layer of fillets. Then another layer of onions and so on depending how hungry you are. On the top of the last layer of fillets put some sliced butter and some all season salt. The last part is another layer of onion so the top layer does not get to dry. Bake at 375 for 30-35 min and your done. I then mash some potatoes and use a white country gravy on top of it all!

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...GoodLuck.....

[Guest]

just curious as to why so many onions?
and also can other things be added and or substituted for the onions?
without taking away from the flavor.
Thanx for the tips
Monty

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Say what you mean and Mean what you say.
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