Mushy crappie flesh

[Pat P]

Does anyone know how to firm up the soft, mushy flesh of warm water crappies? Here in Michigan all of the crappies caught in the summer months are very soft and squishy in texture and also have a very bland taste. I have eaten them fried up crisp using a corn meal based dry dredge but the mushieness still sneaks its way through.

[DrJohn]

Put 'em in a cooler...top with a bag or two of ice, wait 24 hours and then fillet.....That's how I do 'em in Tn.!!!

[olduckhunter]

Does anyone know how to firm up the soft, mushy flesh of warm water crappies? Here in Michigan all of the crappies caught in the summer months are very soft and squishy in texture and also have a very bland taste. I have eaten them fried up crisp using a corn meal based dry dredge but the mushieness still sneaks its way through.

pat, people get mad at me when i tell them crappie meat is too soft. i'm glad someone else feels the same or admits it maybe is a better word. i'd much rather have a bass fillet.

[DonDon]

Crappie CAN be mushy and I've messed up a couple times and let it get that way. Question for ya. When you caught them, did you get them straight on Ice or did they get put in the live well, die and allowed to get warm? I've noticed that when they get warm after they die, they'll get mushy

[olduckhunter]

either way they will still be soft meat. it's the nature of the beast.

[Pat P]

I ice down all my fish as soon as I take them off the hook. The ice firms them up enough to fillet them easier but after cooking they are mushy, even if I purposely overcook them a little to try to get them a bit firmer. Just to confirm things, this is only a problem when the water warms up. In fact, it's very common for people in Michigan to give their summer crappies away to the "unsuspecting" or throw them back in the water.

[PIGINTHEPIGPEN]

Try putting your fillet's in a bowl filled with ice. About an hour or 2 before you fry em up. It will firm them up a little.

[olduckhunter]

no matter how you try you can't make a slik purse out of a sows ear.

[shuorc]

After the fish comes out of the water it goes on ice, filet in bag on ice, before frying on paper towel in freezer for a few minutes(not frozen) into the beer batter and grease. Pieces should not be too large or the steam will make soft. Never put fish in water unless you return it alive to the lake.--shu

[PIGINTHEPIGPEN]

no matter how you try you can't make a slik purse out of a sows ear.

Guess I would'nt know, never tried. Then again, I have never had a problem with mushy fillet's. I did see a guy once that polished a turd and made it look like a Diamond.