How to cook haddock

Whether you are cooking haddock steaks or fillets, this white fish offers a great deal of versatility. Like cod, it is often a popular choice for the British classic dish of fish and chips. And yet, haddock can be cooked in many more ways than simply deep-frying it in batter.

The best way to cook haddock

Cooking haddock is best done from fresh, as it ensures the fish is at its most tender and flavoursome. Fish steak with the bone intact or pre-boned fillets are often served battered, but there are plenty of recipes that offer alternatives to this approach. You can prepare a whole haddock by ensuring it’s descaled and gutted before cooking. Whole haddocks are suitable for barbecuing, grilling or roasting.

Cooking haddock in a pan

To pan-fry haddock:

1. Melt some butter in a frying pan or skillet until the pan is completely covered.
2. While it is melting, lightly dust your haddock fillets with plain flour and add a touch of salt and pepper to season.
3. Reduce the heat to prevent butter from splattering.
4. Next, pick your haddock fillets up at one end and carefully lay them down on one side in the pan.
5. Now, turn the heat back up to medium strength.
6. Allow the fillets to cook for three minutes.
7. Turn the fish over and keep it on the heat for another three minutes until it is cooked through.
8. Add a little more butter if the pan is drying out to prevent the haddock from sticking.
9. Once cooked, remove the fillets and plate up, adding a squeeze of lemon juice.

Cooking haddock in an oven

To cook haddock in an oven successfully, bake it at a high temperature to ensure thorough cooking without drying out the fish.

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C and wait for it to reach the desired temperature.
2. Meanwhile, pat dry your fillets using a sheet of kitchen roll.
3. Season the fillets with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sprinkle with chopped parsley for added flavour.
4. Place the fillets in an ovenproof baking dish.
5. Avoid pouring olive oil over your haddock fillets as it may lead to overcooking. Instead, a drizzle of olive oil at the base of the dish paired with a lemon slice on top can prevent dryness.
6. Bake the fillets for about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on their size, until the white flesh begins to appear flaky.

When preparing a whole haddock, follow a similar method, allowing approximately 15 minutes of cooking time for every pound of fish.

Cooking haddock in an air-fryer

Air-frying haddock is a healthy alternative to deep frying since it requires much less oil.

1. To begin, pat dry the fillets with kitchen roll and place them on a plate. The purpose of drying haddock is to make the seasoning stick to the fish.
2. Next, add salt and pepper to season, and drizzle the fish with a small amount of vegetable, sunflower or olive oil.
3. Transfer the fillets to one basket in your air-fryer, spacing them out as much as possible.
4. Set the air-fryer to 175°C and cook the fillets for 8 to 10 minutes, adjusting based on their thickness. The haddock is cooked properly when it easily flakes apart with a gentle fork press.
5. Check the haddock and put it back into the air-fryer for another minute if needed, rechecking it after that.

How to cook smoked haddock

Smoked haddock is prepared in advance in a smoker oven to provide it with a distinctive smoky flavour. However, this doesn’t mean it is fully cooked already. You should cook smoked haddock in the same way as fresh haddock. Use any of the methods outlined above for smoked haddock fillets.

Cooking smoked haddock in milk

There are two methods for preparing smoked haddock in milk. Either way, the smoky sweetness of the haddock infuses the milk, creating a delicious sauce to accompany your fish dish.

To poach haddock on the hob, use a wide saucepan or skillet. Melt butter and lightly fry some finely chopped onions, then add the smoked haddock. Next, slowly pour milk into the pan until just the tops of the fillets are visible. Turn the fish from time to time to ensure it cooks throughout.

Alternatively, you can add milk to an ovenproof baking dish and cook smoked haddock in the oven. To poach it completely, set your oven to a high temperature of at least 200°C. Remove the dish temporarily halfway through the process to turn the fish over.

Haddock cooking times

Haddock should be cooked quickly to prevent it from drying out. When cooking fish from room temperature, a general rule is to bake for around 15 minutes per pound in the oven. Allow a little longer if your fish has just been removed from the fridge. For shallow-frying haddock, aim for 2-3 minutes per side, ensuring the flesh flakes easily before serving.

Haddock recipes

Explore these HelloFresh recipes for preparing both smoked and fresh haddock.

• Creamy-Chivey Smoked Haddock
• Kedjeree Style Rice with Smoked Haddock and Green Beans
• Smoked Haddock, Cod and Salmon Puff Pastry Pie
• Haddock with Mediterranean Aubergine and Butterbean Stew

FAQs

How to cook haddock fillets?

You can shallow-fry, oven-bake or air-fry haddock fillets. These methods are generally healthier alternatives than battering and deep-frying them.

How long to cook haddock in the oven?

Aim for approximately 15 minutes of cooking time per pound of haddock when preparing it in the oven.

How long to cook smoked haddock in the oven?

Smoked haddock needs a similar cooking time to fresh haddock, so around 15 minutes per pound is ideal.