Fluther: Can fish be ordered rare, medium rare or well done, like ...

Can fish be ordered rare, medium rare or well done, like a steak?

Asked by Dutchess_III (46812

) March 11th, 2019
19 responses
“Great Question” (1

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I ordered salmon at dinner Friday night. The waiter said the salmon is always cooked “medium well,” and wanted to know if that was OK with me. I have always assumed you just cook fish until it’s cooked thorough, but not over cooked because it gets dry.
I said it was fine (?) and the piece I got was cooked just like every other salmon filet I’ve ever eaten.

Do people order different degrees of doneness with fish?

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Topics: fish, well done, medium rare

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Answers

I can see it on a thick tuna steak or similar cut. But for fillets it seems weird.

Call_Me_Jay (13846

)“Great Answer” (2

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Yes. In good restaurants, they will often just sear a piece of fish or ask you how you like it. I usually will say I’d like it “cooked through” and that is not the norm.

janbb (62875

)“Great Answer” (2

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It is the first time in my life I’ve been asked that!

Dutchess_III (46812

)“Great Answer” (0

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@Dutchess_III You live a very sheltered life. :-)

janbb (62875

)“Great Answer” (1

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I guess. Or I’ve never been to an upscale restaurant. And I would not consider the place we went on Friday to be upscale. The food was mediocre and way too expensive. It was loud in there too. Echoing.

Dutchess_III (46812

)“Great Answer” (0

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I am often asked how I want my salmon.

hmmmmmm (6865

)“Great Answer” (0

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Salt-water fish can often be eaten raw or cooked to different levels of doneness. As far as I know, fresh-water fish must be cooked through but need not be cooked dry.

Hawaii_Jake (37346

)“Great Answer” (2

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Very common to have Tuna this way.

ARE_you_kidding_me (20021

)“Great Answer” (0

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Well, you learn something new every day!

I don’t think I’ve ever seen tuna on a menu…but if I did I just ignored it. Tuna is a common fish, IMO. But…since I’ve never had it except in tuna fish sandwiches, I could be wrong.

Dutchess_III (46812

)“Great Answer” (0

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A fancy yellowfin tuna steak is light years above and beyond what comes in a can. That’s like comparing a porterhouse to a can of corned beef.

ARE_you_kidding_me (20021

)“Great Answer” (1

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You know what…I’ll try it! I will try it the next time I go someplace that serves it. Is it best served alone, or with lemon juice or what?

Dutchess_III (46812

)“Great Answer” (0

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All I know is that some folks like their fish raw and some like it cooked. I consider locks (smoked salmon) to me somewhere in between raw and cooked. I personally like my parasites well done.

gondwanalon (22872

)“Great Answer” (1

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LOL! Me too. I can’t bring myself to eat sushi. I have tried and tried. It gets as far as touching my lips and and I freak out.

Dutchess_III (46812

)“Great Answer” (1

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It was the rise of sushi that brought about requests on the degree of cooking with fish.

stanleybmanly (24153

)“Great Answer” (1

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I always say just seared since I like both fish and steak rare.
Salmon cooks after taking from heat, so its a little different and very easy to dry out.

KNOWITALL (29689

)“Great Answer” (0

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Baked salmon tonight for dinner. I use an oven thermometer and cook until it’s 145 deg.

hmmmmmm (6865

)“Great Answer” (1

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