Deep Fried Fish

Hello –

My 2 sons(age 7 and 4) caught about 10 nice sunfish off the dock last night and finally they wanted to keep some. They usually want to throw everything back so they can catch them again or think they can catch them again! Anyways, my 7 year old is starting to like fish and my 4 year old is on the edge of liking fish. I am deep frying them for supper and was thinking of just using shore lunch. What is your opinion of the best fish batter and oil used for the deep fryer? I am looking for a store purchased batter as now is not the time to experiment with homemade batter!

Thanks – Chad

you could use just plain flour with seasonings added, otherwise i like fry magic, or the stuff from fleet farm…….think its called andy’s and orange in color.

i prefer a batter made by some guy up in the grand rapids ….deer river area but that would be a hike for ya!

as far as oil………peanut oil is good or canola oil!

Regular shore lunch is good – I just add a little salt and pepper or seasoning to it. Canola oil works great but just make sure the oil is hot before you put the fish in. Get the oil to 375 and start – the oil will cool when you drop them in so I like to have a thermometer in the oil at all times.

Maybe you already know this but there is nothing worse than greasy fish because the oil isn’t hot.

My kids (3 and 5) like Lefty’s Fish and Chicken Mix. The wife and I like it, too.

If I use Shore lunch I use original mixed with Cajun taste great. My go to just cooking for me smashed up Saltine crackers with salt and pepper mixed in.

Kinda like Hoyt, my go to is Ritz crackers fine ground in a blender, add black pepper, dip in an egg wash (egg & milk), into the Ritz and into the hot (375* or better) oil. Drain, season with a bit of salt, lemon and eat… of course you can use tartar sauce, but its good fresh panfish, right???

Mark

Andy’s from Fleet Farm or Hy-Vee is some of the better stuff I have found if you don’t want to make your own. Mix one red bag with 2 white bags. Add more of the red bag if you want it to be spicier.

Cajun flavored shore lunch is great.

Tuma wrote:

Andy’s from Fleet Farm or Hy-Vee is some of the better stuff I have found if you don’t want to make your own. Mix one red bag with 2 white bags. Add more of the red bag if you want it to be spicier.

tgruenke wrote:

Cajun flavored shore lunch is great.

I agree the hot flavors are great but the OP is asking what to give his kids…. most kids would not appreciate the heat.

I have a 3.5 and 5 year old that devour fish fried in plain Fry Magic. I cut the fish in strips. French fry looking pieces. Then place the moist fish into a bag of Fry Magic. Coat the fish by shaking and pressing the batter onto the fish. Place the battered fish into the hot oil. Good luck!

I love that my kids love fish. They ask for it on a regular basis.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

My kids (3 and 5) like Lefty’s Fish and Chicken Mix. The wife and I like it, too.

leftys original and spicy is all i get now too

Louisiana Style Cajun flavor. Comes in a yellow bag at cub foods. super easy to use and it is a nice light coating than a thick batter. Awesome taste. All I use now.

Hmmm……..i noticed that BK guy and that Tom guy from rochester hasnt added there 2 cents yet???????? wonder if its a fish thing?????

Egg & a bit of milk dipped in Crushed Corn Flakes, doesn’t get any crispier.

I go with a 50/50 mix shore lunch and Ritz crackers. Kid cant get enough of it.

Lefty’s gets my vote

Very good batter for deep fried pheasant also

Half n half fry magic and McCormick golden dip.Canola oil 375 degrees for the oil. DK.

glenn57 wrote:

Hmmm……..i noticed that BK guy and that Tom guy from rochester hasnt added there 2 cents yet???????? wonder if its a fish thing?????

Not sure about Tom but BK would have plenty to say about this. He is a Sturdiwheat celebrity. I’m sure he is just being modest but here he is featured on the Sturdiwheat site!

http://www.sturdiwheat.com/klawitter-sturdiwheat-fan/

I myself have used the Sturdiwheat fish batter…nothing better except Classic Spam.

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BK modest??? We talking about the same person??:?:

egg wash, panko bread crumbs seasoned with lemon pepper, lemon or lime juice sprinkled on when done, tarter sauce would be similar to throwing ketchup on filet mignon

kids love the crunch!

50/50 shorelunch and crushed corn flakes. It’s a nice light batter with good taste and the corn flakes give it a really nice crunch.

I have been know to substitute cajun shorelunch when I want to spice things up….

I also like to use a variety of ingredients to make up a coating. Lately it’s been ½ cup of Shorelunch, ½ cup of Corn Flakes crumbs, and ½ cup of Panko. I will sometimes use Potato Buds in place of the Panko.

The fillets get nice and crispy with this mixture but make sure your oil is nice and hot before you start as this mixture will turn into a huge oil mess if the fish is not met with hot oil to seal them.

I dip in shorelunch and then an egg wash then panko. This way the pieces get super crispy. My niece and nephew (2 and 3) seem to gobble them down. They also like it with just plain shorelunch too. I usually double coat the shorelunch to give it more coating.

Joe Scegura wrote:

I agree the hot flavors are great but the OP is asking what to give his kids…. most kids would not appreciate the heat.

That’s why I suggested mixing one red bag with 2 white bags. It knocks the spiciness down and my 5 year old eats it up.

Q: Does anyone fry fish in butter vs oil? Use either seasoned flour or Shore Lunch coating in a pan with a bit of butter (doesn’t take much) ….. hard to beat, especially for pan fish.

If feeding the masses or cooking outside, frying in oil works fine. If in the comfort of my kitchen, will always opt for butter vs oil.

Best summer meal in the world is new potatoes, creamed peas out of the garden, fresh tomatoes, homemade bread and a plate of fried sunnies.

Pete

glenn57 wrote:

i prefer a batter made by some guy up in the grand rapids ….deer river area but that would be a hike for ya!

as far as oil………peanut oil is good or canola a batter made by some guy up in the grand rapids ….deer river area but that would be a hike for ya!

as far as oil………peanut oil is good or canola oil!

That stuff is great if the same stuff I’m thinking of. I get it from Freds bait and tackle out of deer river. I like Andy’s, my back up when I run out of that stuff. Can, t remember which one but its either “Charlies gone fishing” or “Fishing Fever”. I believe Fishing Fever” is the spicier one.

Tuma wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Joe Scegura wrote:</div>
I agree the hot flavors are great but the OP is asking what to give his kids…. most kids would not appreciate the heat.

That’s why I suggested mixing one red bag with 2 white bags. It knocks the spiciness down and my 5 year old eats it up.

\
My kids think regular lemonade is “too spicy”. I have to add water

I might have to try to add a small amount of red next time though as you suggested

I was inspired by the discussion so I fried up last nights walleyes using shore lunch original but I took the advise to use panko also . I was very happy with the results and will adopt the method as my standard . I coated in shorelunch then egg/milk wash then panko , fried in canola oil then sprinkle with old bay seasoning. If I had kids I would skip the bay seasoning or let them add if they wanted .

1hl&sinker wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
i prefer a batter made by some guy up in the grand rapids ….deer river area but that would be a hike for ya!

as far as oil………peanut oil is good or canola a batter made by some guy up in the grand rapids ….deer river area but that would be a hike for ya!

as far as oil………peanut oil is good or canola oil!

That stuff is great if the same stuff I’m thinking of. I get it from Freds bait and tackle out of deer river. I like Andy’s, my back up when I run out of that stuff. Can, t remember which one but its either “Charlies gone fishing” or “Fishing Fever”. I believe Fishing Fever” is the spicier one.

yea i think thats the names!!! i’ve bought mine at the cenex in deer river or highbanks when i get over there. i believe the guy that makes it is Charlie Worwrath!!!!!!!

several of you’s mentioned panko, i respectfully wanna say thats the worst tastin stuff i’ve ever eaten. i never had it on fish, my wife had a reciepe for something with burger………i threw out the leftover burger and the rest of the panko.

maybe its just me!!!!!