Thread: Crappie Taste

I should add. When we first met, we went camping at Lake James. I managed to catch a few really nice Brim, and cooked them for her. She did like that. Now I feel like her decision on the taste of Crappie is going to be tarnished by her friends and coworkers bad reviews of crappie...

Ask her (or her expert opinion friends) what fish she likes and secretly buy and cook that and say it's crappie. Wait to see what happens...

My favorite eating fish in order Yellow Perch, Crappie, Walleye and all are pretty much prepared the same way. Fillets are cut into 1" pieces, dredged in seasoned flour/cornflour mix and fried in canola oil. Served with a good tarter sauce and a spicy sweet and sour sauce. Most fish tends to be overcooked and a lot of people seem to think fish needs to be dry and chewy. Overcooked fresh water fish is IMO nasty and it should be a crime to serve.

I've always had an annual fish fry in February to clean out my freezer and there are a few people that can identify all 3 species by taste but most just crunch and munch away. Crappie IMO get a bad rap because most non crappie fans have never had them at eating size. I was one of those until I moved to central alabama in the early 80's. Went with some friends fishing proceeded to catch the biggest crappie I had ever seen and was told its too small, throw it back. In my mind, I had a world record fish 15". About that time someone caught a 18" and it made my Giant crappie look like a baby. Lesson learned and later while eating the freshly caught fish decided that crappie were good...

Being back in the north, I no longer catch the Big crappie, but learned that 12" and longer are better eating.

I always fillet mine & skin mine. It is very quick and easy with an electric knife. I then batter them with some good fish breader and deep fry them. My wife's aunt would rather come over and eat crappie than go to any seafood restaurant in Raleigh. A few weeks ago I cooked some at church for a couple of families and they loved them. There were four girls from age 5-10 and they liked them better than chicken fingers.

MNKK, some folks don't like crappie or any freshwater fish because they think they're supposed to taste like saltwater fish. I've had some friends tell me that crappie tasted like cotton, or didn't have much taste. Plus, lots of folks don't know how to cook fish at all. They don't have to always be fried and battered. I fillet my crappie, then coat them lightly with cornmeal, place them in an oiled baking pan and bake them for ten or fifteen minutes (depending on their thickness). The fillets come out lightly brown, tasty, but not dry or cottony. I also believe in using spices like cumin or pepper or seasoned salt. I use olive oil to bake them in. Crappie.com has a very large array of crappie recipes these folks can try, too. Good luck. Flatfoot

Thank you all. You've boosted my confidence in this. :D

Fillet and deep fry with a coating of your choice and the taste and texture is very similar to walleye in my opinion. I like the Zatarains fish fry mixes but I'm sure there are a ton of other good ones out there. My wife and kids will only eat venison in stews or jerky, but they will eat fried crappie like popcorn.

I would never give anyone that's iffy about eating a certain type of fish one that has bones in it!!!!!!!!!!!! I fillet all crappie regardless of size!!!!!!!!!!!