Have you ever asked yourself or your friend how to cook cod on the stove or perfectly pan fried cod? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.
It’s easy to be intimidated by cooking fish, though it shouldn’t be. The biggest issue with cooking fish is making sure to not overcook it.
This is why cod is a good choice for beginning seafood chefs and seasoned ones alike. Cod is easy to cook well since it is somewhat harder to overcook than more delicate fish.
How to cook cod on the stove:
- Dry off your cod filets and season or bread as desired.
- Heat your fat in a large skillet.
- Cook your filets on one side for around 2 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Remove promptly and add lemon or herbs, as desired.
Cod cooks very quickly, so make sure you don’t overcook. Read on for all the tips you need to make perfect cod on the stove.
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How To Cook Cod on the Stove
Cooking cod on the stove is actually very easy! Cod is a firm, flavorful, mild fish that doesn’t need a lot of extra seasoning or fancy prep to taste great.
This means you can cook it in just a few minutes on the stove, with just a few ingredients.
- Dry off your cod filets. If they are damp they won’t sear evenly.
- Heat fat in a large skillet on medium heat. You can use 2-3 pats of butter or use a thin layer of good high-heat oil.
- Place your filets gently in the hot skillet and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add two more pats of butter, and flip over your filets.
- Spoon the melted butter over the filets. This is kind of like basting a turkey.
- Cook another 2-3 minutes until the fish is flakey.
- Squeeze with lemon or season as desired.
See below for all the best ways to season your sauteed code. You can’t really go wrong with this mild fish.
How To Season Cod
Cod is a versatile fish that can be dressed up in a lot of ways. You can serve it totally basic with just butter, salt, and pepper if you like, or you can add a few other ingredients for a little more punch.
- Add some sliced green onions on top after cooking.
- Add some lemon juice at the end of cooking and serve with lemon wedges.
- Season with Old Bay seasoning.
- Season with fresh herbs. Thyme, basil, parsley, or dill are great on fish.
- Season with garlic salt, or place some chopped garlic in the pan with the butter.
- Spice it up with Cajun seasoning.
- If you want it even spicier, add some red pepper flakes while cooking.
If you are adding spices, you can rub them onto the filets before cooking or you can season in the pan. Whichever is easiest for you. Fresh herbs should be added at the end.
What To Serve With Cod
Cod is a nutritious, dense fish that pairs well with a variety of rich sides. Pair with coleslaw, corn on the cob, or hush puppies for a fun fish-fry.
Fish goes beautifully with rice (you can add lemon juice if your fish is cooked with lemon), or you can enjoy it alongside roasted or mashed potatoes. Add a colorful veggie alongside your cod, like broccoli or green beans.
If you want a lighter meal, you can add a simple green salad and some crusty bread, or enjoy it with a cup of soup.
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How To Store Leftover Cod
Cooked fish lasts in the refrigerator for around 2 days. After this time, it begins to develop a fishy flavor. Make sure you put in an airtight container or wrap tightly with foil.
When storing foods like fresh or cooked fish, make sure your fridge is set at 40℉ or slightly lower to account for frequent opening.
If you don’t think you can use up your leftover cod in 2 days, you can freeze it in an airtight container for around 3-4 months.
Keep in mind that you shouldn’t leave cooked fish at room temperature for over two hours. If your fish has been sitting out for a very long time, you may want to discard it.
How To Use Leftover Cod
If you want to use up your leftover cod, but don’t want to repeat the same dinner, you can use leftovers in a few fun ways:
- Fish tacos
- Fish soup or add to chowder
- Rice bowls
- Salads
- Fish cakes
How Do I Reheat Cooked Cod?
You can do this in the microwave, though the best way is to reheat it with a small amount of butter or oil in a skillet on medium heat.
Cook until just heated through, don’t overcook.
Ingredients
The best thing about cooking cod on the stove is that it requires few ingredients. You will need the following for basic cod:
- Cod filets. These are usually 8 oz portions, though if they are larger you may have to cut them up or cook them for slightly longer.
- Butter or oil for frying.
- Salt and pepper for seasoning.
If you want to add some special seasonings as listed above, you can probably find herbs and spices in your pantry that will jazz up cod. Or just squeeze on some lemon and maybe add some fresh green onions.
Nutrition Facts per Serving
Cod is a healthy lean protein. One 8 oz. serving of pan-fried cod above contains around 300 calories, 23g carbs, 31g protein, and 21g fat.
Of course, using butter will add to the fat and cholesterol count. If you want to make this a leaner dish, use olive oil or canola oil.
Cod also provides a decent amount of calcium, potassium, and iron.
Equipment and Cooking Time
You will need a skillet that is big enough that you can spread out your filets. You definitely don’t want them to be touching–try to put at least ½ inch in between so they can cook adequately.
You will need a good, flexible spatula for flipping! Fish can be tricky to flip, as it tends to flake apart. Make sure your spatula is big enough to get under your filets.
Cod does not take long to cook! Resist the urge to overcook fish. It will only take a total of 4-5 minutes, which means 2-3 minutes on each side.
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How Do I Know if Cod is Done?
It will flake apart with a fork, and it will be cooked to an opaque white throughout. If you want to use a thermometer, the Cod should reach 145℉.
Tips for Cooking Cod on the Stove
- If you don’t love cod or just can’t get your hands on any fresh cod, you can substitute any white fish that has a fairly firm feel to it. This includes halibut, sea bass, haddock, pollock, hake, and grouper.
- You can make this recipe breaded by rolling your fish in some breadcrumbs before cooking. For optimal results, coat your fish with flour, then brush with egg, then coat with a layer of breadcrumbs.
- Don’t move it around too much! Just put it in the pan and leave it, since fish is somewhat fragile.
- Use oil with a high smoke point, so you don’t burn your oil. This can be olive oil with a high smoke point or use grapeseed oil.
- Make sure your fat is hot before putting your filets in the pan.
Cooking Cod on Stove FAQs
How long to cook frozen cod on the stove?
While many recipes will advise that you defrost fish before cooking, you can cook fish from frozen if it can get hot enough. If your fish is frozen, you will need to cook for around 3 minutes on one side, and then flip it and cook it for another 6-8 minutes.
If you need to defrost cod, leave it in the refrigerator overnight. If you are in a hurry, you can submerge your filets in a sealed plastic bag in ice water (or, if you are really in a hurry, you can use hot water for 5 minutes).
Does cod need to be washed before cooking?
No, food safety experts actually advise against washing fish and other meat before cooking. This is because the cooking process kills a lot of harmful bacteria and washing beforehand may contaminate your kitchen.
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Conclusion
You are going to love this pan-fried cod, and you will be very proud of yourself for not being too scared to cook fish.
You can season this fish however you like, which may impress even the pickiest eaters.