Pecan Encrusted Halibut Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does halibut need to be cooked for? ›

The recommended cooking temperature for halibut by the USDA is 375°F (190°C) for approximately 10-15 minutes per inch of thickness. Internal temperature should reach 145°F (63°C) for safe consumption, ensuring the fish is cooked thoroughly while remaining tender and moist.

When searing halibut in cast iron, use plenty of oil or butter (or both, like in the recipe above) to prevent your fish from drying out. Trying halibut recipes that call for moist heat, like poaching or braising, are also a great way to go.

Some recipes for sous vide halibut recommend soaking the fish in a saltwater brine before cooking, in order to season it more deeply and to give it a denser, firmer texture.

Fish steaks and portions such as salmon, tuna, halibut, mahi mahi, or monkfish. 6-10oz per person for an entrée portion. 3-4oz per person for an appetizer or starter portion.

For halibut, an internal temperature between 120-140 degrees is suitable for a medium to well-done outcome, and cod is best served at 140 degrees. Grab your food-grade thermometer and insert at the thickest part of the fish to get the most accurate reading.

Beware the temptation to overcook… that lovely fillet of halibut can become tough and dry faster than you think. Always err on the side of undercooking your fish; as a matter of fact most people enjoy fish that is still a little translucent in the center.

Halibut is notoriously difficult to grill due to its low fat content. The brining process helps solve that problem, but there are a few more tricks as well. First, don't overcook it. Halibut is best when cooked to a low internal temperature.

Before you start cooking halibut, it will look glossy. As it cooks, it becomes more white and opaque in color. You'll also notice that the fish will easily flake off if you gently scrape it with a fork.

The fillets may ooze water and are mushy when cooked. While the cause of the condition is unknown, it is thought to be the result of nutritional deficiencies. Microscopically, there is muscle fiber atrophy and sometimes infiltration by inflammatory cells, fibrosis, and calcification of atrophied fibers.

Remove the scales from fish if a recipe calls for it, but leave your fish unrinsed to prevent your kitchen from becoming a breeding ground for germs.

Why do you soak halibut in milk? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

In this scenario, the protein in the milk binds with the compounds that cause that fishy odor, in essence extracting if from the fish. What's left behind is sweet-smelling, brighter flesh with clean flavor.

When you overcook fish, it can become dry, tough, and lack flavor. Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture. The proteins in the fish also begin to tighten, which can make the fish tough and rubbery.

It sits on a pedestal for fish eaters and is sustainably harvested from pristine, glacial-fed waters. However, compared to other types of white fish like haddock, wall eye, blue gill, farmed tilapia, cod, or others, Alaskan halibut can be relatively expensive due to its high quality and small-boat fisherman sourcing.

Halibut weighing between 30 and 80 pounds are generally considered the best-eating fish, as they offer a good balance of flavor and texture. As you learned, larger halibut are usually female fish, and while they may be meatier, they are often less flavorful.

Halibut is a higher-priced fish compared to cod. Its larger size, limited availability, and popularity contribute to its higher cost.

Know the Right Internal Temperature for Halibut

For a firm-but-flaky fish, shoot for a perfect medium (130 to 135°F). The center will be opaque, but not glossy or pink. If a rare, or medium-rare is more to your liking, look for temperatures around 120°F for rare and 125°F medium rare.

Fresh Halibut will keep in your fridge for 2-3 days. To prolong the shelf-ife of your Halibut, freeze it—it will keep in your freezer for six months.

Rather than cooking using time and temperature, you're looking for an internal temperature of 130° - 135° F. for the firm, flaky and opaque results. If you prefer your fish more medium-rare, shoot for 120° - 125°F internal temperature.

Halibut is done when it's white and opaque in color, and easily flakes off when scraped with a fork.