Knives for cleaning fish: types, manufacturers overview, selection and use

It has been repeatedly proved that fish is useful and must be included in the diet of a person of any age. So that such meals are not tired, the fish must be varied. Not all types of fish are equally popular. Increasingly, the choice is in favor of those whose cleaning will be easier. To avoid such a problem, you just need the right equipment and a couple of good tips.

First you need to figure out what exactly scares ordinary people in the process of preparing and cleaning fish:

• firstly, not everyone knows how to clean fish properly, while spending a minimum of time and effort on this;
• secondly, not all people like the effects in the form of dirty splashes, flying scales and smell.

To facilitate the task, you need to stock up on a good knife. Of course, it all depends on skill and experience, but such a knife should be:

• tough (so as not to spring when moving);
• moderately long and wide (for the convenience of work);
• with a comfortable handle (smooth, but non-slip);
• corrosion resistant (preferably made of high-quality stainless steel);
• with the right sharpening.

Sharpening should not be too sharp so as not to damage the skin. If the appearance is not important in the final dish, the scales can be removed with the skin. In most cases, the blade will be jagged or wavy. The teeth can be the same or alternate with different in size.

Do not confuse knives for cleaning scales and cutting carcasses (sirloin). The latter, as a rule, are longer, thinner and narrower. There are universal models, one side of which is sharpened sharply and the other is blunt or jagged. But they are less convenient for continuous use.Such knives are also called tourist knives.

Usually in the set of knives or among the houses that have accumulated, you can choose the appropriate option, which can serve for temporary use. In addition, all devices that perform this function (even unlike the knife in the usual form) are often called knives for cleaning scales. Such devices consist of a pen and a working part of various shapes.

All knives for cleaning fish can conditionally be divided into manual and electric. The following options are manual.

• Ordinary knives in the form that is most familiar to us when the blade and handle are in the same plane. Grooves can often be seen on universal knives to prevent splashing. Some models have a hook for ripping open the abdomen. To remove the scales, blades with the so-called serreitor sharpening are also suitable.
• Scraper knives. The essence of their work - in the presence of serrated planes, with which you can gently grab and scrape the scales. Such scrapers may be straight or curved. The teeth can be located around the perimeter, from one edge or in several rows - depending on the model.
• Knives with containers. They remind you of the appearance of a peeler with a metal blade and a container with a lid in the upper part (where the scales are going to).

Electric models of scale cleaning knives are more practical. Specifications may vary slightly depending on model and manufacturer. The advantages of such a device:

• strong, reliable working (moving) part;
• waterproof housing with anti-slip coating;
• high power with low noise;
• the presence of a visor or container restricting the spread of spray and debris;
• light weight;
• additional batteries for operation without access to the network (for example, outdoors);
• ease of washing and ease of storage.

It is believed that trusted manufacturers are a guarantee of good quality. This statement is rather controversial, because each product has its positive and negative sides. To make it clearer, let's look at a few examples.

• Fiskars essential - a fish knife made of high-quality stainless steel, which does not change its properties even over time. The Finnish manufacturing company gives a guarantee of service for five years. The special shape of the blade is designed for the most efficient and quickest cleaning of fish from scales. A convenient handle makes work easier.
• Borner toronto - made entirely from food grade steel, which can safely and safely come into contact with fish. The handle does not slip, there is a ring for hanging. On the working part from two sides are denticles that will allow you to clean absolutely any fish.
• Fissman - a well-proven fish cleaning knife, the hallmark of which is the built-in container for the remaining scales. In this model, only a blade is made of metal, which copes well with its task. On the back of the handle extends an additional blade, designed for gutting. Most of the complaints cause damage to the case and the handle, which are made of plastic and do not always withstand heavy work. For housewives, a bright addition will be a pleasant addition.
• VES Electric 4000 - an electric knife for cleaning fish. Pretty powerful device with good performance. It is lightweight, it is convenient to hold in your hand. Easy to clean and disassemble, meets all hygiene requirements. There is a protective container for collecting waste. It can be used remotely from the network, there is a charging indicator. The appearance is quite pleasant.

In order for cooking to bring only pleasant emotions, all kitchen utensils must be selected wisely. Many factors can influence the choice of a knife for cleaning fish - these are some of them.

• The convenience of the knife is of great importance, especially if you often have to clean fish. This primarily relates to the shape of the handle and the total weight of the product.
• Time-tested appliances are trustworthy. However, you should not be limited only to them - in new models, previous experience is combined with innovations.
• Among the materials from which such kitchen utensils are made, high-quality stainless steel is most preferred. It has the longest service life, but does not oxidize and does not give the product any taste. For the manufacture of pens often use wood or plastic. Wooden parts are less hygienic, although more pleasant to the touch. Plastic is inferior to the above materials in terms of strength, but such a product will be lighter and cheaper than all-metal.
• Now on the market you can find many fakes imitating knives of famous manufacturers. Poor kitchen utensils not only affect the quality of cleaning, but can also cause personal injury. Therefore, if you doubt the knife, it is better to refer to trusted brands.
• Universal options designed for both cleaning and fillet cutting are not always convenient in both cases. If funds allow, it is better to purchase two separate knives. Large kits for cutting fish are also useless. In addition to the scraper and sirloin knife, only scissors are usually needed.
• If you regularly have to clean a large number of fish, it is wiser to purchase an electric fish scaler. With her, time for such manipulations will be reduced several times.

Even the best knife will not be able to correct the situation if the person who works with him has no experience. For a good result, you must follow certain guidelines for cleaning fish.

• It is better if the fish is fixed. To do this, you can use a board with a clip. If the knife does not have a protective shield or container, the carcass can be placed in a wide plastic bag to prevent movements from being constrained. You can also get rid of flying scales if you clean them in water.
• Slime can be washed off as needed under running water. To prevent the fish from slipping, use salt.
• The fins are often sharp, so they are removed first. It is better to carry out all work with gloves.
• Dry scales require a lot of effort. If it is difficult to cope with it, you need to soak the carcass in water or pour over boiling water. In especially difficult cases, the scales can be removed with the skin.
• After preparation, the carcass should be placed with its tail to itself. The scraper should move in the direction from the tail to the head.
• To make cleaning of scales less troublesome, it is better to clean the fish directly at the place of catch or on the street - then cleaning in the kitchen is definitely not needed.
• All surfaces and tools that come in contact with fish need extra hygiene. In addition to household chemicals, soda, vinegar and lemon juice can be used for this. They will also help get rid of the characteristic fishy smell.

Next, watch the video review of the fish cleaning knife.