Before cooking a fresh fish, it’s always necessary to properly clean it. Luckily, this is an easy process that can be learned by anyone. Here are few of the following steps, and you’ll be ready to cook in no time:

  1. Wash the fish using fresh tap water. It’s important that you use uncontaminated water, so if you have a filter system be sure to use it.
  2. Scrape the fish with a fish scaler or dull edge of a knife to completely remove the scales. You may be able to purchase this fish scaler tool made for cleaning a fish at some Asian grocery stores.
  3. On the bottom of the fish, make a cut from the gills down to the vent. The cut should be about four inches long.
  4. Open the hole wide enough so that you can fit a few fingers in it, and remove all the entrails with your fingers. Check to make sure that that everything has been removed from the cavity.
  5. Rinse the cavity with fresh tap water.
  6. If desired, remove the fins of the fish by cutting completely around each one. Then, carefully pull the fin completely out with your fingers. If necessary, sometimes a plier may be used to pull the fins out.
  7. Wash the fish inside and out with cold, fresh water.
  8. If you are storing the fish, be sure to store it in clean ice that can be drained from the container as it melts. Remember: store the fish with the cavity facing down to prevent water from collecting inside the fish.