Here’s What You Need To Know About Catfish Taste

Catfish are a unique type of aquatic life that is far more diverse than many people may think. This term doesn’t apply to just one species but many types that exist all around the world.

However, these different species have a fairly similar taste, depending on how they’re raised and prepared.

As a result, discussing catfish taste can be complex because of this diversity of species and their diets.

Most catfish are bottom-dwellers who eat off the lake bed, which heavily affects catfish taste. This fact is complicated further by the use of catfish farms throughout the world.

In this article, we’ll examine the different facts you need to know about catfish taste. These include how catfish differ in farm and wild settings and why farm-grown catfish may taste a little better.

We’ll also provide three unique recipes that will help you cook this exotic fish to your taste.

What Are Catfish?

Catfish species are immediately recognizable by the whiskers on the side of their face that give them their name.

Note that these are not truly whiskers but are called barbels, which are a fleshy appendage that helps catfish detect room in narrow spaces and avoid getting injured.

There are over 30 different catfish families and thousands of different species, which makes covering this topic challenging.

However, these fish are closely related and have very similar tastes between each species, with only minor variations between the different types.

That said, catfish do have many variations in size and shape, with some being only a few inches long while others can be more than eight feet long.

Fun Fact: in rural areas with bigger catfish, a practice known as “hand fishing” lets anglers catch catfish by getting the fish to bite their arm!

What Do Catfish Taste Like?

Catfish taste varies wildly based on whether they were caught in the wild or raised on a farm. While wild fish typically taste better than farm ones, catfish are the rare exception.

That’s because wild catfish are bottom-feeders and will eat just about anything they can swallow, including mud.

That gives their flesh a more fishy and muddy flavor than farm-grown catfish. While they’re not necessarily bad, most catfish you eat in restaurants won’t taste that way.

That’s because farm-grown catfish are on grain-fed diets in cleaner ponds that don’t include mud.

Farm-grown catfish have a fresher taste, one with a less fishy flavor. It compares favorably to similar fish like trout or salmon but with a slightly milder overall aftertaste.

That makes catfish a unique meal option that may fit well into many people’s cuisines.

What Does Catfish Look Like?

Living catfish are hard to mistake due to their fleshy barbel appendages. These give catfish an immediately identifiable nature that makes them easy to spot in lakes or rivers.

However, most catfish are hard to see because they spend most of their time around tree roots, hiding.

Cooked catfish is similar to other white fish, like tilapia or carp, and has a rather light overall look. Their flesh is a bit thicker than other white fish and is often easier to prepare as a steak.

However, you can also slice catfish thin to produce effective fillets for a main meal.

However, you may also commonly find deep-fried catfish in southern restaurants, particularly in New Orleans.

Catfish is a staple of many diets in the area and is commonly deep-fried to make it a bit more palpable. This cooking method is less healthy but enjoyable.

What Texture Does Catfish Have?

Catfish have a much firmer texture than many white fish due to their larger and more muscular builds.

While not all catfish are big, the majority are rather thick fish that typically spend a lot of time swimming and burrowing for food. As a result, their flesh is thicker and far less mushy.

Furthermore, catfish also flake less than other white fish and often compare favorably to salmon. While catfish steaks aren’t as thick as salmon, they have a similar look and texture.

That makes it easy to cook catfish as a primary meal without mixing it in soups or other dishes.

Types Of Catfish

As mentioned in the intro, there are literally thousands of catfish species. Categorizing all of them here would be nearly impossible. Instead, we’ll look at four very popular varieties that are caught and eaten in many parts of the world

• Blue Catfish – These are fairly large catfish that can be between 20-40 pounds but may also get as big as 150 pounds. They’re found heavily throughout southern areas in North America, throughout rivers. They can also be found in Mexico and Guatemala and are commonly eaten throughout these regions.
• Channel Catfish – Channel catfish are usually brown or gray but often have dark spots across their body. They usually have a forked tail and can weigh up to 30 pounds or more. Channel catfish have a somewhat sharper taste than blue catfish due to their more diverse diet.
• Flathead Catfish – Flathead catfish are a carnivorous species that has more protein-dense meat that is often harder to tenderize. Some can reach as big as 100 pounds or more, making them hard to catch in some areas. Their overall texture is a bit stringier and gamier, making them more of a niche fish to eat.
• Bullheads – Bullhead catfish come in multiple varieties and spread throughout much of North America and Canada. They’re much smaller than many other catfish and are commonly eaten due to being easier to catch. Bullheads also have better-tasting meat when grown in cleaner waters.

Other catfish, like wels, white, Mekong giant, and upside down catfish are either harder to catch or rare. For example, the Mekong giant catfish is rarely eaten because they are critically endangered and may become extinct.

Fun Fact: striped Raphael catfish, while rarely eaten, are popular aquarium fish because they make human-like sounds!

Where Do Catfish Come From?

Catfish live in lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, and other freshwater sources worldwide. They live in North America, South America, and just about every other continent on this planet.

While heavily concentrated in North America, there are Asian and European catfish species, which makes them one of the most prominent fish types in the world.

Are Catfish Healthy? Or Dangers Of Eating Catfish?

Catfish are a very healthy fish to eat that is very low in calories and high in many vitamins and nutrients. These include vitamin D, vitamin B12, many omega-3 fatty acids, and phosphorous.

Their low-fat content is also lovely, though they have a bit more fat than some white fish species.

However, wild catfish do have a very high risk of mercury poisoning because they are bottom-feeders. Mercury is heavier than water and sinks to the bottom, where it may collect in mud.

Farm-grown catfish have almost no mercury risk, though and this fish is not poisonous beyond mercury dangers.

How Do You Eat Catfish? What’s The Best Cooking Method?

Catfish is very often fried because it helps bring out many of its underlying flavors and undertones. However, you can also easily bake catfish or even broil it.

In some regions that have catfish, particularly in Louisiana, catfish may be combined into a soup called gumbo.

Deep-fried catfish is a popular meal or side dish in regions that eat this species. For example, catfish and chips is a meal found in New Orleans-themed restaurants or in restaurants in this city.

Cajun cooking focuses heavily on catfish and uses many unique spices to make it more enjoyable. Broiling catfish is probably the best cooking method for this fish.

RELATED: What Are Shrimp? (Fish, Seafood, Or Shellfish?)

Can You Eat Catfish Raw? Does It Have Worms?

Catfish is not considered suitable to eating raw because it has many parasites. These include worms that could spread to your body and cause intestinal distress. Thankfully, cooking should kill these worms. 

How Can I Store Catfish?

Like most fish, you can store catfish for about three days in your refrigerator before it probably needs to be thrown out. Preserved catfish, such as canned, pickled, or smoked varieties, may last longer, including several weeks.

It is important to pay attention to signs of spoilage to avoid any food poisoning risks and to throw out any catfish in your home that’s obviously gone bad.

Can You Freeze Catfish?

Yes, you can freeze catfish for several months in an airtight freezer bag before it goes bad. Frozen catfish may become mushy after thawing it out, though, so be prepared for that problem if you preserve your fish in this way.

After about six months, you should throw out any frozen catfish to avoid freezer burn and damage to the fish itself.

How To Tell If Catfish Is Bad?

Catfish should have a very light smell and white flesh when fresh. If you smell any signs of rotting or if your catfish smells very potent, it has gone bad or is going bad.

Similarly, if you see any black on the flesh or notice obvious mold, it is time to throw it out.

Like with other fish, eating spoiled catfish is a bad idea because the mold may make you very sick.

Even worse, bacteria could spread food poisoning and other contagions to your body. Throw out spoiled catfish and tell your doctor if you ate any by accident.

Catfish Vs. Tilapia

Tilapia and catfish are two very common white fish, though their tastes vary. Tilapia has very lean and mildly flaky meat with a mild flavor that mixes well with various types of meals.

By contrast, catfish is a little sweeter and firmer than tilapia, which makes it easier in steak-like meals. Both deep-fry very well, though catfish is easier to serve as a stand-alone dish.

How Do You Cook And Clean Catfish?

Catfish is most commonly deep-fried, though it can be baked, grilled, and broiled to produce many types of meals.

Cajun cuisine often seasons catfish with paprika and other specialized seasonings to give catfish its unique flavor in meals, such as gumbo and even catfish and chips.

Catfish also goes very well with various spices like oregano, parsley, basil, and garlic.

Minced garlic goes perfectly in many catfish batters and is a common ingredient in many cajun meals. Rice pilaf and asparagus often pair well with many catfish meals.

Catfish should be cleaned by carefully removing its skin, skeleton, and internal organs. Cut the skin first, open the body, and then cut away the flesh filets along the side to get the meat.

Nutritional Value Chart

Catfish Recipes: Quick Table 

1. Ca Kho To

Otherwise known as Vietnamese caramelized catfish, this recipe shows the broad reach of catfish across the world.

It also introduces the sometimes undervalued world of Vietnamese cooking. We suggest it for those who love Asian food and a little adventure in their diet!

Start by marinating the catfish in soy sauce and fish sauce for at least 10 minutes and then add shallots in an oiled pan and cook for about 30 seconds before adding garlic to the mix and cooking for another 30 seconds.

Make sure to add coconut water to give it a little extra flavor.

Now, simmer this mix for 20 minutes without covering the pan to thicken the sauce, and then add green onions before simmering for another 10 minutes.

We suggest serving this meal with white rice or a strong side, such as asparagus, to give your catfish dish a nice balance.

Calories: 135 

Total Preparation Time: 40 minutes

2. Restaurant-Style Fried Catfish

Catfish taste perfect when pan- or deep-fried and this recipe is very similar to the kind you’ll find in cajun-style restaurants.

You start by soaking catfish in buttermilk and then coating in seasoned cornmeal. The amazing thing about this recipe is that you’re already almost done!

Then, you can either pan-fry the fish in hot oil or deep-fry to create a rich coating on the fish’s flesh. Before serving, it is important to drain the oil on a paper towel.

It is best to wait at least several minutes before you serve this fish to let it cool down enough for easy consumption.

We strongly recommend this meal to people who want a fast and tasty meal that uses catfish to its full potential. It’s also great if you’re interested in legitimate cajun cooking and want to try it at home.

Try to serve this meal with delicious sides, such as Fried potatoes, to get the best result.

Calories: 1469 

Total Preparation Time: 20 minutes

RELATED: 25 Mexican Seafood Recipes With Balanced And Effortless Style!

3. Catfish Allison

Catfish Allison is a classic meal that brings out the best in this fish to produce a fantastic and adaptable meal. It is surprisingly easy to make and is one of the few catfish recipes that doesn’t require frying.

As a result, it is a great option for people who want to bake catfish and get a healthier overall meal.

Start by combining Parmesan cheese, mayo, soft butter, green onions, Tabasco sauce, and Worcestershire Sauce in a large bowl.

Line a baking sheet with paper while pre-heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the catfish fillets on the sheet.

Cover the fish with the ingredients you mixed in the bowl, making sure to coat both sides fully. Bake for 20-25 minutes and serve it directly on a plate with veggies like beans, peas, or broccoli.

The flesh should flake easily under your fork when it is done and basically melt in your mouth.

Calories: 302

Total Preparation Time: 32 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Way To Cook Catfish?

The best way to cook catfish will vary depending on a person’s preference, though deep-frying is by far the most common method. Deep-frying does add extra grease and fat to the fish, which may not appeal to everyone.

Baking catfish is also popular and is probably the healthiest way to prepare any fish meal.

Does Hand Fishing Affect Catfish Taste?

Hand fishing is a unique activity that you typically only see done with catfish because of their voracious appetite. While outlawed in many areas for being dangerous, this sport is still common.

Thankfully, it does nothing to affect the quality or taste of any catfish sold on the market.

Do Catfish Recipes Use The “Whiskers”?

Don’t worry, catfish recipes don’t use the barbels that give catfish their distinctive appearance. Like with other fish recipes, the catfish is carefully cleaned, including removing its skin, bones, and internal organs.

The “whiskers” are typically just thrown away when processing the fish for sale.

What Fish Can Catfish Substitute?

Catfish has a relatively mild and adaptable taste that makes it easy to use in many types of white fish meals. For example, you could use it for any dish calling for tilapia or similar white fish species, though the flesh will be firmer than that fish.

Catfish can also work well in carp-based dishes, though is fishier than that species.

Get Amazing Catfish Recipes With Exotic Taste

Wondering How Does Catfish Taste? Check Out Our Blog To Learn More About The Taste Of Catfish And How To Cook It

Ingredients

• Ca Kho To

• Restaurant-Style Fried Catfish

• Catfish Allison

Directions

• Pick a recipe from the list above
• Click the recipe name and visit the website
• Collect the ingredients and cook the food
• Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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