Best Kitchen Tools For Cooking Seafood

If you love fish and seafood, you’ve probably tried to prepare it at home at least a few times. You might have discovered that while delicious, seafood can be a little tricky to prepare and serve. The best things in life can often take a little more work!

Thankfully, there are some seafood tools and equipment that make preparation at home easier. So, let’s take a closer look at what you need in your seafood utensils set. 

A Sharp Knife

This  addition is arguably one of the most essential tools you can have in your kitchen (whether preparing seafood or not). There are many different types of knives and, in the end, it comes down to what you are using the knife for and your personal preference to decide which knife is right for you. The most important thing is that your knife is sharp. This will make cutting your fish much safer and much easier. Below are a few different types of knives that are useful when preparing seafood, particularly when cutting fish. You do not need each type of knife (though maybe knife enthusiasts would disagree).

Fillet Knife

Probably one of the most popular types of knives for filleting a fish is the aptly named fillet knife. They tend to be very thin, flexible, and sometimes are curved. They work well for removing the skin from a fillet and getting close to the bones when filleting. Your fillet knife doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy as long as you keep it sharp. You can pick up very inexpensive knives at bait and tackle shops or fishing supply stores. 

Boning Knife

Boning knives and fillet knives are pretty similar. However, boning knives, while thinner than most kitchen knives, tend not to be as thin as a fillet knife blade and are not always flexible. Boning and fillet knives are used to cut around bones, not typically through them. They are also very practical for filleting and removing skin. 

Deba

A Deba is a Japanese-style knife used to cut fish or meat. The Deba is heavier than the fillet or boning knife and is sharp and thin at the front and a bit thicker towards the handle. It is versatile and can be used to fillet, but is also particularly good at cutting through the bones of the fish, such as to remove the head or cut through the ribs. 

Chef’s Knife

A chef’s knife is a multi-purpose knife. It is designed to perform well at many differing kitchen tasks, such as chopping vegetables or slicing meat, rather than excelling at any one in particular. Chef’s knives come in varying sizes. We recommend when filleting using a knife that feels comfortable to you, seems appropriate for the size of fish you have, and you feel you have control with. 

Fish Spatula 

Nope, not every spatula is the same – your usual spatula is not designed to turn fish, which is why when you try, you probably make a mess of those delectable fillets. 

A proper fish turner or fish slice is longer and thinner so you can gently flip over your fillets or crab cakes with ease, and this spatula sports long slots so liquid can pour away when you’re moving a fillet that’s poaching. If you don’t already own one, add it to your fish kitchen accessories shopping list. 

Fishbone Tweezers or Needle Nose Pliers 

Fishbone tweezers are designed for removing the pin bones from a fillet of fish. They are inexpensive and are way easier to use than trying to pull the bones out with your hands. However, needle nose pliers work equally well and are easy to find at any hardware store. 

Regular tweezers will work well in a pinch, but do you really want to use your personal tweezers on fish? 

Fish Scaler 

In most seafood markets, even those inside grocery store chains, you can buy whole fish. This offers you the freshest option on the market. Some seafood departments will scale and fillet them for you, but not all. If you’re cooking a whole fish or a fillet with skin on, you’ll want to get rid of the scales – a mouthful of them could ruin a meal. 

A fish scaler will make cleaning a whole fish a breeze. Scaling can be done with a knife, but not as quickly as with a scaler. If you want to purchase fresh whole fish, invest in a good scaler. 

Seafood Scissors

You may already own kitchen scissors for snipping herbs or cutting up poultry pieces, but seafood scissors are specially crafted with curved blades that slice through tough shells to free shrimp, crab, and lobster intact. (Whole pieces mean your recipes look a lot prettier.)

Seafood scissors are also very helpful when dealing with a whole fish. Use them to trim the fins, cut out the gills, cut through thin bones when filleting, or open up the belly to remove the guts without slicing open the stomach.

Shell Crackers 

While some might prefer just going ahead and using their teeth to crack the shells of Dungeness or other crab legs, using a metal nutcracker might instill better table manners. This isn’t anything special – it’s the same metal top-hinged tool you’d use to crack walnuts, almonds, and pecans. Just be gentle while using them – you want to crack the shell, not crush the tender meat.  

The best models out there have different size jaws so they can handle small claws, large claws and everything in between. 

Seafood Forks

If you’re still struggling to pick the meat out of a crab or lobster shells with a kitchen fork, you’ll need to invest in a set of seafood forks. 

These are a must-have for any shellfish lover. They’re double sided with a sharp pronged hooked fork on one side and a spoon-like device on the other end. Depending on where the meat is lodged in your seafood, they’re able to get right into the crevices and make sure you get it all out. 

Crab/Lobster Mallet

A crab/lobster mallet is a good alternative to a shell cracker. It serves the same purpose, namely to crack open the tough shells of crab and lobster claws. Both tools work equally well, and it really just comes down to preference. 

Crab/lobster mallets are designed to break the shell of crabs, lobsters and other such delicacies without smashing the shell into the meat. You will spend less time picking parts of the shell out of your meal when you’re ready to serve. 

Shrimp Deveiner and Cleaner

Shelling and deveining shrimp is a slippery business, which is why a seafood tool that can carry out both tasks is so handy. Even with wet shrimp, you can get a solid grip with a shrimp deveiner to remove both the shell and the gritty dark vein (the intestinal tract).

Yes, you can do this with a knife or even a toothpick, but a good shrimp deveiner does the job faster and more thoroughly. 

Oyster Knife 

If you like oysters, you should have an oyster knife. Oysters are the perfect briny appetizer to whet your appetite for the main seafood course. Oyster knives are perfectly designed to pop the shell open safely and with minimal effort. 

If you don’t have an oyster knife, do not use a sharp knife. One slip and you could be headed to the emergency room for stitches. In this case, you’re better off using a butter knife or a flathead screwdriver. 

Prying open a tight oyster, clam or mussel is best accomplished with the right knife, as the angled steel blade and sharp point can both open the mollusk and loosen the tasty treat inside. 

Fish Cutting Board

You should always cut different foods on different boards. The best cutting board for fish is one that won’t slide over counters and has some grip on the surface to hold the fish while you work. Buy the best cutting board for fish you can afford and make sure it’s easy to clean – no one wants a fishy smelling board in their home. 

Fish Skillet

Yes, there are skillets that are made just for fish. Add one of these to your fish kitchen accessories collection for perfectly crispy fish skin. They’re designed to release fish quickly, so you won’t ever have to deal with fish that’s stuck to the pan. They do this with a clever dimpled surface that’s unique to this kind of pan. You can use a regular skillet for fish, but you will probably struggle with this problem, so it’s worth upgrading, especially if you cook fish often. 

Choose a skillet that is large enough to cook enough fish for your family or guests without crowding the pan. Look for a heavy base, which is less likely to warp and will distribute heat more evenly. 

Tools Can Make All the Difference 

There’s no denying you can cook anything, including fish and seafood, without too many fancy tools. But there’s also no denying that if you don’t have them, it will be harder, and your results may vary. So, if you love cooking and eating fish and seafood, consider investing in the seafood tools we’ve mentioned here. You’ll enjoy the process a lot more, and your guests and family will love the results. 

Just a Thought 

Are you ready to cook fish and seafood with your new knowledge of seafood tools? If so, then give it a try. But, even with these seafood tool tips, you might not feel up to the task. If that’s the case, visit Skull Creek Dockside for a delectable and tasty seafood dinner. No prep, no fuss, no stress, no tools required….and no cleanup.