Catch ‘Em and Cook ‘Em: Campfire Fish Cooking Tips
Fresh fish makes a tasty meal in the wild. Keep these tips in mind when preparing a fish feast.
Fish can be grilled directly on a grate or in a grill basket to get that smoky campfire flavor. It’s best to use a whole fish that has been gutted and scaled, with the bones remaining. Fillets are hard to grill directly over a fire because the flaky flesh falls apart easily. The bones help the meat stay together, which helps when flipping the fish over to create beautiful grill marks on each side. Make sure to spray the grill first because the fish will otherwise stick to the grate.
The easiest way to cook fish over an open fire is in a foil pouch. Spread out a piece of aluminum foil and pile on cleaned fish fillets, fresh veggies and seasoning. Fold the pouch up and leave a small opening for steam to escape; you don’t want fish soup. Place the pouch on the grilling grate over the campfire. Steam will cook the fish until it’s flaky, and the vegetables until they are tender. Best of all, this process is virtually fool proof because the fish won’t burn.
Cooking fish over a campfire can be tricky, but these tips will help bring out the succulent flavors of any catch.