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Pacific cod, cooked and plated
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Pacific cod

Mild, clean and slightly sweet, with big tender white flakes. The easy weeknight white fish.

  • Wild
  • Bake with lemon and butter
  • 10 to 12 min at 200°C/400°F for a 6 oz portion
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The short version

How to cook it

Thaw
Overnight in the fridge
Take it out of the vacuum pack, set it on a plate, cover it and leave it in the fridge overnight.
Best way
Bake with lemon and butter
Time
10 to 12 min at 200°C/400°F for a 6 oz portion
Done when
63°C/145°F
Flesh turns bright white and flakes easily. Thickest part.
Step one

How to thaw pacific cod

● Best

Overnight in the fridge

Take it out of the vacuum pack, set it on a plate, cover it and leave it in the fridge overnight.

● Faster

Cold water, sealed bag

Seal it in a leakproof bag and sink it in cold water, 20 to 30 minutes. Change the water if it warms. Cook it as soon as it is thawed.

Step two

How to cook pacific cod

Get it right

10 things that make the difference

  1. Quick dry-brine: 10–15 minutes

    Lightly salt fish 10–15 minutes before cooking; leave uncovered in refrigerator and pat dry before searing. Intended to improve seasoning, structure and surface browning.

    From Steven Courtney

  2. Quick wet brine

    Mix 1 tablespoon salt into 4 cups cold water; submerge fish for 10–15 minutes, remove and pat dry.

  3. Zest before; juice after

    Add lemon zest before cooking for aromatic citrus oils; finish with fresh lemon juice after cooking.

    From Steven Courtney

  4. Rice flour for a crisp crust

    Lightly dust fish with rice flour instead of wheat flour before pan-frying for a delicate, crisp coating.

    From Steven Courtney

  5. Finish with butter

    Add a small knob of butter near the end of pan-searing to enrich the flavour and baste the fish.

    From Chef Julian Bond

  6. Three pantry flavour boosters

    Worcestershire sauce for savoury depth; pomegranate molasses for tang; miso paste for sweet-salty umami.

    From Chef Julian Bond

  7. Don’t Be Afraid of the Heat!

    Chef Julian Bond recommends a very hot pan to sear and caramelize fish, developing a beautifully browned exterior and deeper flavour. Avoid overcrowding: too much fish at once lowers the pan temperature, causing the fish to steam instead of sear. Cook in batches and adjust the heat to the fish and cookware.

  8. Keep it simple; flip once

    Pat fish dry, use controlled heat, cook most of the way on one side and flip once. Avoid excessive handling.

    From Chef Vibber

  9. Parchment to prevent sticking

    Chef Bond suggests cooking fish over a piece of cooking parchment in a stainless-steel pan to reduce sticking.

  10. Let residual heat finish the fish

    Remove delicate fish from heat shortly before it would otherwise be fully cooked, allowing carryover heat to finish it without drying it out.

    From Chef Robert Clark

Make tonight

Pacific cod recipes

Where it came from

From the water to your kitchen

Wild or raised
Wild
Where it comes from
"Wild-caught in the North Pacific".
Did you know?

Pacific cod is so abundant and well managed it's often called the people's fish, a dependable staple in kitchens around the world.

Questions

Pacific cod, answered

Why does my cod fall apart in the pan?

It was moved too soon. Let it release on its own and flip once.

Why is there water in the pan?

Cod holds moisture. Pat it dry before cooking.

Is Pacific cod the same as Atlantic cod?

Close cousins. Pacific cod is mild and flaky, and cooks the same way.

In this guide

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