To remove excess salt from salt fish, you can use a combination of rinsing, soaking, and potentially boiling, based on the severity of the salting and desired final saltiness.
Methods to Desalt Salt Fish
The primary techniques involve rinsing under running water followed by an extended soaking period. An additional step of boiling can also be used to further reduce salt content.
Rinsing and Soaking Method
This is the fundamental step for reducing salt in fish.
- Step 1: Rinse Thoroughly
- Begin by rinsing the fish under running water. This removes any surface salt crystals and the initial layer of salt.
- Step 2: Soak in Water
- After rinsing, soak the fish for several hours or overnight in water. The water helps draw out the salt from the fish's flesh through osmosis. You may need to change the water periodically if the fish is very salty.
Boiling Method (Alternative or Additional)
For fish that is extremely salty or if you need to speed up the process after rinsing and soaking, boiling can be effective.
- Step 1: Rinse and Soak (as above)
- First, rinse the fish and soak it as described in the primary method.
- Step 2: Prepare for Boiling
- Place the rinsed and soaked salted fish in a deep pot.
- Fill the pot halfway with water (to prevent overflowing during boiling).
- Step 3: Boil the Fish
- Place the pot over a medium flame.
- Boil the fish for 10-15 minutes. This process helps to extract more salt from the fish.
Combining these methods allows you to control the final saltiness of the fish before cooking.
